Two teams meet with top-10 NYSSWA state rankings, each fresh off a sectional final win of over 15 points. One squad has now been to three straight sectional title games, the other played on the big stage for the first time in 45 years. On Tuesday, Greece Athena and Penfield clash to decide the Section V Class AA Far West Regional Qualifier. Here’s the breakdown:
GREECE ATHENA TROJANS (20-2 / Monroe County III / No. 9 NYSSWA)
vs.
PENFIELD PATRIOTS (20-3 / Monroe County Division I / No. 3 NYSSWA)
Tuesday, Gates-Chili High School, 7:45 p.m.
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Greece Athena defeated Greece Arcadia (76-50) and Gates Chili (66-60) to reach the title game. The Trojans beat Canandaigua (73-54) to be crowned champions. Fellow No. 1 seed Penfield beat Churchville-Chili (70-51) and Irondequoit (77-55) to reach the Class AA1 title game. The Patriots took down Webster Thomas (71-44) in the championship.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
Scoring offense: Greece Athena (70.2), Penfield (71.3)
Scoring defense: Greece Athena (54.9), Penfield (55.6)
Trends: Greece Athena has won nine of its last ten games. Penfield has claimed seven of its last eight contests.
Players to watch for Greece Athena: Dominic LaMar Sr. (10 PPG, 7.7 RPG); I’zick Reaves Sr. (16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.4 SPG); Ne’Sean Fowlks Sr. (11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.8 SPG); Russell Ellis So. (11.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, three APG, 1.4 SPG); Travis Mack Sr.; I’zayah Reaves Sr.
Penfield: Patrick Emling Sr. F (18 PPG, 10.2 RPG); Christian Zarzycki Jr. G (12.1 PPG, 5.2 APG); Jackson Green So. G (13.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG); Michael Moxley Sr. G (6.4 PPG); Jake McCarthy So. C (12.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.3 BPG); CJ Johnson So. G (8.6 PPG).
Coaches: Mike Setzer (Greece Athena), Jason Ellis (Penfield)
History 101: Athena is looking to clinch its fifth trip to the state quarterfinals and first since 2015. Penfield’s only regional appearance came in 1980 when the then Chiefs earned an at-large bid after falling to Madison in the AAA title game. Penfield defeated Jamestown in the Class A state quarters. Of note, Madison was placed in Class B for the state tournament and lost to Rush-Henrietta-Roth in the state qualifier.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class AA Far West Regional against the Section VI representative, either Health Sciences or Lockport.
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