One squad is looking for its first title since 2017. The other is aiming to go back-to-back as sectional champions. Fairport, NYSSWA Class A No. 7 and Rush-Henrietta are back in the final for the rematch from 2025 on Saturday March 7 to crown a Section V Class AAA champion. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS
(20-1 / Monroe County Division I)
vs.
No. 3 RUSH-HENRIETTA ROYAL COMETS
(9-12 / Monroe County Division I)
Saturday March 7, Blue Cross Arena, 1 p.m.
How they arrived here: After finishing the season with just one loss, top-seeded Fairport continued its dominance with a 70-50 victory over No. 4 McQuaid Jesuit in the semifinals. Rush-Henrietta advanced to the sectional final after pulling off a 17-point comeback over No. 2 UPrep for a 74-71 overtime victory.
Scoring Offense: Fairport (75.2), Rush-Henrietta (54.7)
Scoring Defense: Fairport (53.0), Rush-Henrietta (55.8)
Trends: Fairport rolls into the title game on a three-game win streak all by double-digits while scoring 70-plus points in each game as well. On the season, the Red Raiders compiled 19 wins by 10-plus points with their only loss coming to NYSSWA Class AA No. 1 Penfield on Feb. 13, 80-58. Rush-Henrietta heads into the championship with three victories in the last four outings. In that stretch, the Royal Comets have scored at least 60 points in all victories and are 2-0 in games decided by four points or less.
Players to watch for Fairport: Alex Grejda Sr. (13.0 PPG); Noah Meabon (13.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG); Hadi Dergham (13.0 PPG); Jon Roessel (9.0 PPG); Gannon Culver Sr. (8.0 PPG, 5.0 APG); Sam Roselli Sr. (8.0 PPG)
Rush-Henrietta: Kaden Thwaits Fr. (12.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.6 APG); Milan Griffiths Sr. (7.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 APG); Kingston Henry Sr. (8.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG); Kylan Burke So. (9.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 SPG); Oliver Wright Jr. (5.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.9 SPG)
Coaches: Scott Fitch (Fairport), Calvin Betts (Rush-Henrietta)
History 101: Fairport is looking for its first title since 2017 and seventh in program history. Last year, the Red Raiders fell to Rush-Henrietta 53-50 in the sectional championship. Rush-Henrietta is looking to go back-to-back as sectional champions for the first time since 2010-2011. In program history, Rush-Henrietta (including the Sperry and Roth teams prior to 1988) has garnered 10 titles and is aiming for its 11th in 2026.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class AAA Far West Regional against the Class AAA champions of Section VI (Health Sciences or Jamestown).
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