The two teams competing in the Class C3 sectional championship have very different histories. For No. 4 seed Notre Dame Batavia, it is a chance at the program’s 11th sectional championship. For No. 3 seed Arkport-Canaseraga, it is a chance at the first sectional title in program history. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 3 seed ARKPORT-CANASERAGA WOLVES (17-4/Steuben County)
vs.
No. 4 seed NOTRE DAME BATAVIA FIGHTING IRISH (18-5/Genesee County Division I)
Scoring offense: Arkport-Canaseraga (60.1 PPG), Notre Dame Batavia (66.3 PPG)
Scoring defense: Arkport-Canaseraga (44.1 PPG), Notre Dame Batavia (53.3 PPG)
Current streak: Arkport-Canaseraga has won six of its’ last seven games, holding opponents to 40 points or less in three of those games. Notre Dame Batavia has been victorious in seven straight contests, five of which have been double-digit wins.
How they arrived here: After a first-round bye, Arkport-Canaseraga picked up a win in the quarterfinals against No. 6 seed Mount Morris, 63-51. In the semi-finals, the Wolves took down No. 7 seed Northstar Christian 63-46. Notre Dame Batavia got past No. 13 seed Alfred Almond 85-29 in the first round before beating No. 5 Finney 87-73 in the quarterfinals. The semi-finals saw the Fighting Irish get past top-seeded Fillmore 72-65.
Players to watch for Arkport-Canaseraga: Caden Carey Fr. 18.5 PPG, First-Team All-Steuben; Ibrahim Ford So. 12.5 PPG, Second-Team All Stueben; Tim Vilkhu Sr. 9.0 PPG, Second-Team All-Steuben; Devin Moran Jr. 8.8 PPG; Alex Vilkhu Jr. 5.5 PPG; Kohler Preston Jr.; Dan Clark Sr.
Players to watch for Notre Dame Batavia: Jaden Sherwood Sr. G/F 20.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.8 SPG; Ryan Fitzpatrick Sr. G/F 11.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 SPG; Jay Antinore Sr. G/F 8.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 3.8 SPG; Makyell Walker Jr. G 7.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.7 SPG
Coaches: Max Houy (Arkport-Canaseraga), Mikey Rapone (Notre Dame Batavia)
History 101: As a combined program, Arkport-Canaseraga has never won a sectional title. When they were separate schools, Arkport made sectional finals appearances in 1996, 1983, and 1972. Canaseraga’s last appearance in the sectional title game was in 1999, in which it won the Class D championship. Notre Dame Batavia has won 10 sectional titles, with its last one being the D2 title in 2022.
What’s next: The winner earns a spot in the Section V Boys’ Class C regional qualifier.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 am on March 2nd at Blue Cross Arena.
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