Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp Regional Preview: Lyons, Randolph to meet in rematch of 2023 Boys’ Class C Far West Regional

For the second time in as many years, Lyons and Randolph will clash in the Boys’ Class C Far West Regional. One team is the defending state champion. Another is making its 12th trip to regionals. Here’s the breakdown:

LYONS LIONS (22-2 / Wayne County)
vs.
RANDOLPH CARDINALS (21-2 / Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association)
Friday, Buffalo State, 6:30 p.m.

How they arrived here: Lyons opened the postseason with a 76-42 victory over Bloomfield before beating Gananda, 71-53. The Lions then defeated Pembroke, 71-53 to claim their 22nd title and dropped Byron-Bergen 61-45 in the Far West Regional qualifier. Randolph defeated Barker (91-47), Panama (57-33) and Westfield (54-48) to capture the Section VI Class C crown.

Scoring offense: Lyons (73.2), Randolph (59.8)

Scoring defense: Lyons (47.9), Randolph (43)

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
SECTION VI NOTES COURTESY OF CHAD ANDREWS/VIEW FROM CENTER COURT.

Trends: Lyons has won its last 12 games, with an average margin of victory of 19.0 points per game over that span. Randolph has won five straight and eight of its last nine, with the lone loss coming to Section VI Class B champion, Salamanca.

Players to watch for Lyons: JJ Johnson So. F 19.6 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.6 BPG; Mikey Briggs Sr. G 13.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, 5.4 SPG, 5.2 RPG; Devyn Williams Sr. G 11.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.5 SPG; Stephen LeBrecht So. F 10.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG; Dez Bell Sr. G 6.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 SPG.

Randolph: Drew Hind Jr. G 21.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.8 SPG; Kevin McElwain So. G 11.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 2.6 SPG; Roan Kelly Sr. G 9.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.7 SPG; Broden Brooks So. G 3.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG; Cooper Freeman So. G 3.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.5 SPG.

Coaches: Dean Schott II (Lyons), Kevin Hind (Randolph)

History 101: In the Far West Regional last season, the Cardinals prevailed 57-47 and went on to capture the Boys’ Class C NYS title. Lyons enters the Far West Regional for the 12th time in program history. The Lions are 5-6 in regionals and have two state titles, coming in 1980 and 1989. Randolph is making its fourth regional appearance in program history. In those four appearances, the Cardinals are 2-1.

What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class C semifinal against the winner of Moravia (IV) and Waterville (III).