One squad has been a powerhouse of Section V and hasn’t lost a game since its first of the season. The other follows right behind with just two losses in search for its first title since 2001. It’s a Finger Lakes West showdown at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial as league co-champions Honeoye and South Seneca clash for the Section V Class C3 Boys’ Basketball title. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed HONEOYE BULLDOGS (21-1 / Finger Lakes West)
vs.
No. 2 seed SOUTH SENECA FALCONS (20-2 / Finger Lakes West)
Friday March 7, Blue Cross Arena, 5 p.m.
How the arrived here: Top-seeded Honeoye opened up postseason play with a 67-48 victory over No. 9 Mount Morris in the quarterfinals after receiving a bye in the first round. The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the semifinals with a 10-point victory against No. 5 Charles G. Finney (60-50) to advance to the C3 title game. No. 2 South Seneca also earned a first-round bye and tipped-off the postseason with a 47-36 win against No. 7 Northstar Christian Academy in the quarterfinals. The defense showed in the semifinals as well as the Falcons defeated Wheatland-Chili 51-41 to earn its spot in the Class C3 championship.
Scoring offense: Honeoye (71.3), South Seneca (61.9)
Scoring defense: Honeoye (50.4), South Seneca (40.9)
Trends: Honeoye has won 21 straight after its first loss of the season came at the hands of South Seneca in the season opener, 65-60. In the past two years, the Bulldogs have tallied just eight losses. Eighteen of Honeoye’s wins this season have came by 10-plus points and 12 by 20 points or more. The Bulldogs have scored 70-plus points in 14 outings while holding opponents to 50 points or less in 12. South Seneca enters the C3 title game on an eight-game win streak with seven victories coming by 10-plus points. Both of South Seneca’s losses have been within 10 points and the Falcons are just one of three teams this season to lose to Honeoye by single-digits. South Seneca has allowed 50 or more points in just three games all season and when teams do score more than 50, the Falcons are 1-2. On the season, South Seneca has seven wins by 30-plus points with a 3-1 record in games decided by two possessions or less.
Players to watch for Honeoye: Landon Washburn So. G 27.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 5.0 APG; Owen Cuba Sr. F 14.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG; Dylan Washburn So. G 13.0 PPG; Owen Reynolds Sr. G 12.0 PPG, 4.0 APG; Braiden Schneider So. G/F 9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
South Seneca: Kenny Halsey Sr. 19.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG; Kyan Miller-Hopkins Fr. 11.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG; Taj Amisano Sr. 10.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG; Logan Laverack Sr. 10 PPG, 7 RPG; Kyle Kempf Sr. 4.0 APG, 2.0 SPG
Coaches: Robb Delisanti (Honeoye), Ryan Clemenson (South Seneca)
History 101: Honeoye is searching for its first sectional title since 1997 and eighth in program history to tie Cuba-Rushford, South Seneca, Greece Athena and Charles G. Finney for eighth most Section V titles all-time. The Bulldogs three-peated from 1990-1992 and earned sectional champion honors in 1985, 1983 and 1946. In Honeoye’s most recent sectional title in 1997, current head coach Robb Delisanti earned Tournament MVP as he dropped 26 points in the championship against Bloomfield. This is the Bulldogs first appearance in a sectional title game since 2018 after a loss to Clyde-Savannah.
South Seneca is searching for its ninth sectional block in program history to move up to seventh all-time in Section V titles along with Aquinas and Mynderse. It has been 24 years since the Falcons’ last sectional title with its most recent coming in 2001. To go along with its most recent title, the Falcons raised the trophy in 1999, 1980 and also won five straight from 1970-1974.
What’s next: The winner earns a spot in the Class C regional qualifier.
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