Blankenberg and Wayne make it two straight Class A titles

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y — After graduating four starters from a state finalist a year ago, Wayne boys’ basketball coach, Bill Thomson had tempered expectations for his 2024-25 squad.

Then again, that one returning starter? He’s pretty good.

Tournament MVP Cameron Blankenberg poured in game-high 31 points, as the No. 2 Eagles knocked off top-seeded East, 61-55 Saturday afternoon at the Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial.

“When you got Cameron, anything is possible,” Thomson said after Wayne won its second straight Class A championship and fifth sectional title in program history – all coming since 2017.

The junior guard scored nine in the first quarter when Wayne grabbed a 17-4 lead after eight minutes of play.

He got loose along the baseline for layup then connected from behind the 3-point. He followed with a pair of free throws and a 12-1 lead.

For Thomson, Blankenberg’s work on offense took a backseat to his efforts on the defensive end.

“Every single drive they had, he went straight up and rim-protected. He altered shots. He made it so difficult for them to get all the way to the rim.”

Blankenberg finished with 11 rebounds and eight blocks.

“He’s got a great sense of knowing how to do it without fouling. They just couldn’t get comfortable going all the way to the rim. He’s a guard. He plays the one, but defensively he’s like a 5-man.”

The 6-5 Blankenberg was just getting warmed. He led Cory Jones to the basket for layup. Then he hit a jumper and followed with another basket as the lead swelled to 19 at 26-7.

“Somebody needs to give that kid a scholarship,” said East High head coach Darrell Barley. “He destroyed my entire team. I put different people on him, he still scores.

“He took us in the post, hit threes. He played point guard the entire game. He’s like (former Boston Celtic and NBA hall-of-famer) Larry Bird. There was nothing we could do.”

For the second time in as many years, Wayne defeated East in the championship game.

And the formula was similar.

Wayne held East, averaging nearly 80 points per game, more than 24 points under its season average.

“We tried to slow it down,” Thomson said. “We tried to make sure we took care of the ball on every possession and made sure we got back on defense. We took away what they love to do which is transition offense.”

East (17-2) came into the game winners of 14 with its only loss coming to Rich Township out the Chicago area.

Junior guard Jhayden Holmes came off the bench and led Barley’s team with 19 points.

“Their guards outplayed our guards except for Jhayden,” Barley said. “They just outplayed us.”

Wayne (22-2) improved to 5-0 in sectional championship games.

“That one feels really good,” Blankenberg said. “From the team we had last year losing all those starters, form a new team. It was very hard to start the year. We just kept pushing every day. Believing in our coaches. Believing in one another. We may not be the most physical or athletic, but we play together.”

Wayne advances to the state quarterfinals for the second time in as many years and the second time in program history.

“We thought this could be a rough year,” Thomson said. “We weren’t sure if we were going to be here.”

Class A All-Tournament team: Kaden Larsen-Porter (Geneva), Percy Robinson (East), Richard Miles (Wayne), Zion Parson (East), Aidan Twist (Wayne), Jhayden Holmes (East) and MVP Cameron Blankenberg (Wayne).