One program is looking to make its second regional appearance in more than 45 years, the other its third in six tries. Penfield and Pittsford Mendon will meet on Tuesday with a spot in the state quarterfinals up for grabs. Here’s the breakdown.
PENFIELD PATRIOTS/ No. 1 NYSSWA Class AA
(21-1 / Monroe County Division I)
vs.
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS
(22-1/Monroe County Division III/No. 6 NYSSWA Class AA
Tuesday, Rush-Henrietta, 7:45 p.m.
How they arrived here: After earning a first-round bye, Penfield defeated No. 8 Webster Schroeder in the quarterfinals 60-47 and grabbed a 66-55 victory over No. 4 Churchville-Chili before beating Victor, 70-50 in the Section V Class AA1 championship game. Pittsford Mendon opened the postseason with a 77-49 win over No. 9 Wilson 77-49 in the quarterfinals before sneaking past No. 4 Gates Chili 56-54 and a 64-63 win over Greece Athena in the Class AA2 title game.
Scoring Offense: Penfield (72.4), Pittsford Mendon (72.8)
Scoring Defense: Penfield (50.8), Pittsford Mendon (53.9)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM STEVEN TWARDZIK.
Trends: Penfield takes a 15-game win streak (with 14 of those victories coming by 10 or more points) into Tuesday’s matchup. During that stretch, the Patriots have scored 70-plus points 10 times while holding opponents under 60 points on 14 occasions. The only loss Penfield took this season came on Jan. 9 against NYSSWA Class AAA No. 7 Fairport 79-62. Pittsford Mendon has won 19 straight with six of their past nine wins by 20 points or more.
Players to watch for Penfield: CJ Johnson Jr. (17.6 PPG); Jackson Green Jr. (17.0 PPG); Jake McCarthy Jr. (15.8 PPG); Aaron Hardaway Jr. (7.8 PPG); Ryan Savino Sr. (5.2 PPG); Ethan McEntire Jr. (2.7 PPG).
Players to watch for Pittsford Mendon: Josh Shadders Sr. (18.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG), Trevor Nally Jr. (11.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, 3 SPG), Carmen Esposito Jr. (8.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG), Amari Coleman Sr. (8.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.5 SPG), Max Liberatos Sr. (6.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 APG), Jack Nally Sr. (5.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG)
Coaches: Jason Ellis (Penfield), Bob Nally (Pittsford Mendon).
History 101: Penfield looks to make its second regional with its first coming as an at-large bid in 1980. Pittsford Mendon reached the state quarterfinals in 2019 (on the way to NYS Class A final) and again in 2022. Covid intervened and prevented the Vikings from reaching regionals in 2021. Mendon advanced to the quarterfinals in 2022.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class AA Far West Regional against Section VI champion, North Tonawanda.
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