By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Ne’Sean Fowlks connected on a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and top-seeded Greece Athena went on to defeat No. 5 Penfield, 61-57 in Section V Boys’ Basketball action from Gates Chili High School Tuesday night.
With the win, Athena (23-0) advances to the Class AA championship game, Saturday night at the Blue Cross Arena.
Trailing 55-54, Khorie Reaves drew a pair of defenders with a drive from the left wing before passing to Fowlks in the corner. It was the second shot from distance that the junior guard, who finished 4-of-6 for the game beyond the arc, hit in the final three minutes of the contest.
“He’s playing at such a high level,” said Athena head coach Mike Setzer. “We had a plan that if we were down at all and needed a bucket, he’s got to be on the floor.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
After trailing by seven points, the basket gave Athena a lead it did not surrender and was part of a 13-2 run to close the game.
“I’m really proud of how they battled,” Setzer said. “I think a lesser team would have folded, and they did not.”
Penfield’s Trevor Hofer led all scorers with 29 points. The senior guard converted a pair of free throws to give Penfield a 55-48 advantage with 3:16 on the clock.
“The Hofer kid can play,” Setzer said. “He can flat-out play. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. (Penfield head coach) Jason Ellis had a really good game plan on us.”
Athena led by by six early in the second quarter before the Patriots put together a 15-8 run to close the half. Hofer’s pull-up 3 gave Penfield a lead at 31-28, and Patrick Emling converted a pair of free throws for a 36-35 edge heading into halftime.
Penfield led for the first 12-plus minutes of the second half.
Trevor Hofer hits a leaner to give @PenfieldBball a 51-48 lead with 4:14 to go. pic.twitter.com/GMgq29ayVR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 27, 2024
“We ratcheted it up on defense,” Setzer said. “We had to take some risks. We had to take some gambles. We had to start blitzing screens.
“Our guys were saying three stops in a row, three stops in a row. That’s been our mantra in close games.”
Penfield had the chance to tie the game when Athena was whistled for a technical foul with 27.5 seconds remaining. Hofer sunk his two attempts from the free throw line to make it a 60-57 game. The Patriots could not take advantage on the ensuing inbound play.
“We had a great defensive stand at the end. That was hairy. They had one possession with the ball and 22 seconds to go. They could have gotten a three. They did not get a good look.
“It’s disappointing how we behaved at the end. That’s the thing that I can’t get past right now because I love these boys with all my heart. That’s not us. We’re not getting technical at the end to almost lose a game. We’ve got to better than that. If we’re going to win a championship, that requires a championship attitude, and we didn’t display that at the end.”
Athena (No.1 NYSSWA Class AA) will face No. 7 Victor in the championship game, Saturday night.
PENFIELD
Trevor Hofer 6 11-11 29, Jackson Green 2 0-0 4, Christian Zarzycki 4 0-0 11, Jacob Natale 0 0-0 0, Michael Moxley 0 0-0 0, Patrick Emling 1 3-4 5, Jake McCarthy 4 0-0 8 TOTALS 19 14-15 — 57
GREECE ATHENA
I’Zick Reaves 2 2-4 7, Khorie Reaves 4 6-6 16, I’Zayah Reaves 3 0-0 9, Zee Johnson 4 0-0 8, Connor Osier 2 5-9 9, Ryan Grasley 0 0-0 0, Ne’Sean Fowlks 4 0-0 12 TOTALS 19 13-19 — 61
PENFIELD 13 23 9 12 — 57
GREECE ATHENA 19 16 4 22 — 61
3-point goals: PENFIELD 5 (Hofer 2, Zarzycki 3); GREECE ATHENA 10 (I’Zick Reaves 1, Khorie Reaves 2, I’Zayah Reaves 3, Fowlks 4).
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