One program looks to continue its defense of the state title. Another makes its seventh regional appearance in the past 14 years. Buffalo State is the setting when Victor and Jamestown square off in the Boys’ Class AA Far West Regional. Here’s the breakdown:
VICTOR BLUE DEVILS (16-8 / Monroe County Division I)
vs.
JAMESTOWN RED RAIDERS (20-4 / Erie County Interscholastic)
Saturday, Buffalo State, 7:45 p.m.
How they arrived here: Victor opened with a 71-49 win over Webster Thomas, before defeating number-two-seeded Hilton (58-55) and Irondequoit (86-56) to advance to the Class AA championship. The Blue Devils then took down previously undefeated Greece Athena 70-61 to win their second-straight sectional title. Jamestown downed Clarence (61-54), Orchard Park (58-52) and Lockport (69-44) to win the Section VI Class AA1 title. The Red Raiders then defeated AA2 champion, Health Sciences, 59-57 to advance to the regional.
Scoring offense: Victor (61.8), Jamestown (66.2)
Scoring defense: Victor (57.9), Jamestown (54.9)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
SECTION VI NOTES COURTESY OF CHAD ANDREWS/VIEW FROM CENTER COURT.
Trends: Victor, the reigning Class AA NYS champion, has won six in a row after dropping three straight late in the season. Jamestown has won four in a row and 10 of 12.
Players to watch for Victor: Cam Ryan Sr. 6.2 PPG, 36 percent 3PT; Nick Leonard Sr. 11.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 37 percent 3PT; Griffen Hopkins Jr. 13.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 40 percent 3PT; Garrett Clar Sr. 19.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 46 percent 3PT; Owen Dake Jr. 6.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 39 percent 3PT; RJ Johnson Fr. 5.4 PPG
Jamestown: Jaydian Johnson Jr. G 19.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.0 SPG; Dominic Gonzalez So. G 13.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG; Bishop Butts Sr. F/G 9.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.8 SPG; Elijah Farmer So. G/F 8.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG; Greg Brumagin Sr. G 7.7 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.6 SPG
Coaches: Tyler Roberts (Victor), Bill Miley (Jamestown)
History 101: Victor is making its second-straight Far West Regional appearance. The Blue Devils took down Niagara Falls last year (66-59) and went on to win the NYS Class AA championship. Jamestown is making its seventh regionals appearance in the last 14 years with the others coming in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2022. In 2011 and 2014, the Red Raiders advanced to the state championship only to come up short. In two of the other three appearances, they didn’t advance past regionals, including against Aquinas in 2015. In 2022, the Red Raiders avenged their 2015 loss against Aquinas in the Far West Regional but fell in the NYS semifinal.
Similar Opponent: Both Victor and Jamestown have matched up against Bishop Timon (VI) this season and both lost. Victor fell 81-57, while Jamestown dropped a 100-68 decision.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Boys’ Class AA NYS semifinal against either Half Hollow Hills East (XI) or Elmont Memorial (VIII).
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