Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp Championship Preview: East and Wayne set for rematch in Boys’ Class A

One program looks to continue its dominant run over the past two years. The other looks to add another chapter to its legendary history. For the second time in as many years, East High and Wayne will clash in the 2025 Section V Class A final. Here’s the breakdown:

No. 1 EAST HIGH EAGLES (17-1 / Rochester City Athletic Conference / No. 2 NYSSWA)
vs.
No. 2 WAYNE EAGLES (21-2 / Finger Lakes East / No. 8 NYSSWA)
Saturday, Blue Cross Arena, 1 p.m.

How they arrived here: Top-seeded East downed Rochester Prep (81-57) and Batavia (64-46) en route to the Class A title game. Wayne defeated Midlakes (78-17), Newark (66-53) and Geneva (46-39) to reach the sectional championship.

Scoring offense: East (79.9), Wayne (66.2)

Scoring defense: East (51.2), Wayne (43.7)

Trends: East has won 14 games in a row and has not lost to a NYS opponent this season. Wayne enters the championship having won five in a row.

Players to watch for East: Zion Parson Jr. G (13.7 PPP, 11 RPG, four SPG); Markell Kingston-Johnson Sr. G/F (7.7 PPG, 12 RPG, five SPG); Sha’vion Phillips-Jones Sr. F (12.1 PPG, 11 RPG, three BPG); Kesean Leonard Sr. G (10.2 PPG, 6.0 APG); Micah Johnson-Breedlove Sr. G (13.6 PPG).

Wayne: Cam Blankenberg Jr. (28.5 PPG, six APG, 11 RPG, two BPG); Aiden Twist Jr. (16 PPG); Richie Miles So. (12 PPG); Cory Jones Sr. (5.0 PPG); Kahlen Clark Sr. (5.0 RPG).

Coaches: Darrell Barley (East), Bill Thomson (Wayne)

History 101: For the second time in as many seasons, East and Wayne clash in the sectional final. Last season, Wayne pulled out a 48-42 victory and reached the NYS Class A final. East is looking for its 28th sectional title in program history and first since 2022, the backend of a three-peat. Since 1975, East has appeared in 22 Section V title games and boasts a 16-6 record. Wayne is looking to win its fifth championship and back-to-back titles for the second time in program history having captured consecutive Class A2 crowns in 2017 and 2018.

What’s at stake: A spot in the Class A Far West Regional against the Section VI Class A winner.