One squad is looking for revenge after falling to the eventual state champion in the Far West Regional last season. Another is making its first appearance in the regional since 2013. UPrep and Niagara Falls clash to determine the Class AAA Far West Regional champion. Here’s the breakdown:
UNIVERSITY PREP GRIFFINS (14-9 / Private Parochial)
vs.
NIAGARA FALLS WOLVERINES (15-6 / Niagara Frontier)
Friday, Buffalo State, 8:15 p.m.
How they arrived here: UPrep defeated Rush-Henrietta (58-56) before knocking off top-seeded Aquinas (58-55) to advance to the Class AAA Section V title game. The Griffins then defeated Franklin (83-65) to advance to the Far West Regional. Niagara Falls downed Lancaster 73-43 to be crowned Section VI Class AAA champion.
Scoring offense: UPrep (67), Niagara Falls (59.2)
Scoring defense: UPrep (62.9), Niagara Falls (53.5)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
SECTION VI NOTES COURTESY OF CHAD ANDREWS/VIEW FROM CENTER COURT.
Trends: UPrep and Niagara Falls both are riding five-game win streaks and have won six of the last seven.
Players to watch for UPrep: Jermelle Cotton Jr. G 16 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG; Alex Webb Sr. F 12 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG; Gavin White Fr. G 12 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 7.0 APG, 3.0 SPG; Gregory Bodine So. G 10 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.3 SPG; Keone Manigault Sr. F 8.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG; Ja’yvion Sampson So. G 7.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.5 APG, 3.0 SPG
Niagara Falls: Ephraim Strong Sr. 11.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.6 SPG; Nick Estell Jr. G 12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG; John Strong So. G 9.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.9 SPG; Tre Gayle So. G 8.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG; Omarion Ralands Sr. G 9.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG; Michael Taylor So. 3.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.0 SPG
Coaches: Jerice Crouch (UPrep), Carlos Bradberry (Niagara Falls)
History 101: UPrep is making its second regional appearance in program history and the first since 2013. The Griffins captured the Section V crown in 2020, but no state tournament was held due to the pandemic. In 2013, UPrep faced Sherman in the Far West Regional and won, 71-55, before falling in the NYS semifinal to Martin Luther King (I). Niagara Falls enters the Far West Regional for a second straight year. The Wolverines matched up against Victor in 2023 but fell 66-59. Niagara Falls has advanced to regionals on 13 occasions since 2000 with a record of 7-6 in those previous games, including an 81-74 victory over McQuaid in 2019. The Wolverines’ last state championship came in 2005 when they defeated New Rochelle. Two of the five Wolverine losses this season have come to state champions from Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Common Opponent: The Griffins and Wolverines both have faced Franklin this season. UPrep went 2-1 against Franklin this season, including a win in the Section V Class AAA final. Niagara Falls downed the Bulldogs, 71-61, in January.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AAA semifinal against the winner of Bay Shore (XI) and Baldwin (VIII).
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