One squad just won its first sectional title since 2010 and is undefeated in Class D. The other program is back in the Far West Regional after a one-year hiatus. It’s a battle in Class D at Rush-Henrietta High School as Section V victors Fillmore and Section VI champs Panama face off in the Far West Regional. Here’s the breakdown:
FILLMORE EAGLES (20-3 / Allegany County Division I / No. 3 NYSSWA)
vs.
PANAMA PANTHERS (20-2 / Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association II (CCAA2) / No. 1 NYSSWA)
Saturday March 15, Rush-Henrietta HS, 1:45 p.m.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
How they arrived: Top-seeded Fillmore tipped-off its playoff run with a 71-47 victory over No. 8 Elba in the quarterfinals after earning a first-round bye. The Eagles then cruised to the Class D title game after a victory against reigning Class D champs No. 5 Avoca-Prattsburgh 88-40 in the semifinals. In the Class D Finals, Fillmore rolled to the regionals with a 74-38 win over No. 3 Jasper-Troupsburg. After notching a bye in the quarterfinals, Panama cruised to a 68-41 victory against No. 4 Clymer in the semifinals and carried that momentum into the finals with an 83-38 win over No. 2 Forestville.
Scoring offense: Fillmore (70.9), Panama (70.7)
Scoring defense: Fillmore (46.3) Panama (50.7)
Trends: Fillmore has won eight of its last nine all by at least 23 points. The Eagles have scored 70-plus points 16 times this season and have 10 wins by 30 points or more. Fillmore has held opponents to under 40 points 10 times on the season and on 15 different occasions the Eagles held teams to under 50 points. Fillmore enters the regional final on a five game win-streak outscoring its opponents by a combined 156 points (403-210). Panama enters the regional on a 12-game win streak and has not lost since Jan. 21, 2025. In that stretch, the Panthers have scored 70 or more eight times and have held teams to under 60 points on 10 separate occasions. Panama has won by 20-plus points eight times during this win streak and have outscored opponents 897-626. On the season, Panama has won all games by double-figures except one, in a 72-68 victory against Falconer on Jan. 20.
Players to watch for Fillmore: Cam Mucher So. 19.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.9 SPG, 2.9 APG; Jonah Bialek So. 18.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.1 SPG; JD Bialek Sr. 11.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 APG; Isaiah Sisson Jr. 8.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG; Jameson Rhett Jr. 6.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG
Panama: Carter Brink Sr. G 24.6 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.0 RPG, 2.3 SPG; Bryce Hinsdale Sr. G 11.7 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.2 RPG, 11.8 SPG; Alex Barmore Sr. F 8.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG; Jordan Mescall Sr. G 8.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG; Andrew Spiesman Sr. F 6.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG; Michael Horton Jr. F 5.9 PPG, 2.1 APG; Tate Catanese Sr. F 5.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.2 APG
SECTION VI NOTES COURTESY OF CHAD ANDREWS/VIEW FROM CENTER COURT.
Coaches: Randy Crouch (Fillmore), Ed Nelson (Panama)
History 101: Fillmore earned its fifth sectional title in program history and its first since 2010. The Eagles are 0-1 in regional championships with Fillmore’s only appearance ending in a 42-36 loss to Maple Grove in 1995. Panama is back in the regional for a second time in three years and fifth appearance all time. The Panthers have a 2-2 record in the Far West Regional with victories in 2016 against Charles G. Finney and Genesee Valley-Belfast in 2019. Panama returns four starters from its 2023 team that advanced to regionals.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class D NYS semifinals against either Sackets Harbor (III) or Morris Central (IV).
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