Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp Sectional Final Preview: Elba and Notre Dame-Batavia to decide Class D championship

One team is looking to win its second title in three years and 13th overall in program history. The other wants to make it a three-peat and become the all-time leader in Section V Girls’ Basketball championships. League rivals collide when Notre Dame-Batavia and Elba meet in the Class D championship. Here’s the breakdown:

NO. 3 NOTRE DAME-BATAVIA FIGHTING IRISH/NO. 7 NYSSWA
(17-5/Genesee Region II)
vs.
NO. 5 ELBA LANCERS/NO. 8 NYSSWA
(17-6/Genesee Region II)

How they arrived here: After a first-round bye, Notre Dame-Batavia defeated No. 6 Mount Morris (67-33) and No. 2 C.G. Finney (53-35) to reach Saturday’s final. Elba opened the postseason with an 85-24 victory over No. 12 Friendship-Scio before knocking off No. 4 Jasper-Troupsburg (69-54) and top-seeded Avoca-Prattsburgh (55-43) to secure a spot in the title game.

Scoring offense: Notre Dame-Batavia (59.7), Elba (54.4)

Scoring defense: Notre Dame-Batavia (61.6), Elba (43.5)

Tempo and trends: Notre Dame-Batavia has won five straight all by double-digits heading into Saturday’s championship game. Elba has taken four straight decisions. Each of those win for the Lancers have come by 10 points of more.

Players to watch for Notre Dame-Batavia: Sofia Falleti Jr. (20.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.75 APG, 3.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG); Shirley Thompson 9th (14.3 PPG, 5.25 RPG, 2.0 APG, 3.1 SPG); Gianna Falleti Sr. (6.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2 APG, 4 SPG); Quinn Boardman 9th (6.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG); Clairissa Milliman Sr. (5.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 4 SPG).

Elba: Brea Smith Sr. (17.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG); Lydia Ross Sr. (14.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 SPG); Brooklyn Jachimowicz 9th (11.0 RPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.0 APG); Ava Buczek Jr. (10.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG);  Brynn Stackhouse (7.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG)

Coaches: Vinny Falleti (Notre Dame-Batavia); Charlie Pangrazio (Elba)

History 101: Notre Dame-Batavia took the D1 title in 2022. The Fighting Irish have won 12 sectional championships heading into the weekend. Elba is looking to win its Section V-leading 18th championship including eight since 2017.

What’s at stake: The winer advances to the New York State quarterfinals to face the Section VI champion, either Forestville or Sherman.