Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp regional qualifier preview: Waterloo and Southwestern set to battle for a spot in state quarterfinal

One program is making its 11th trip to the state tournament in its history and its fourth trip since 2021. The other squad is making its second appearance in three years and third since 2005. Section V and Section VI meet for a spot in the state quarterfinals. Here’s the breakdown:

WATERLOO TIGERS 
(19-5 / Finger Lakes East / No. 8 NYSSWA)
vs.
SOUTHWESTERN TROJANS
(17-7 / CCAA 1 / No. 20 NYSSWA)
Wednesday, March 11th at Gates Chili High School, 6 p.m.

How they arrived here: Waterloo beat Wellsville (38-30), Hornell (43-40), Dansville in the Class B1 final (58-24) and Le Roy in the qualifier (62-29) to get here. Southwestern topped Falconer (75-36), Alden (76-27), Salamanca (57-53) and Eden (56-32) in the final to reach the state tournament.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM STEVEN TWARDZIK.

Scoring offense: Waterloo (52.9), Southwestern (57.2)

Scoring defense: Waterloo (38.1), Southwestern (38.1)

Trends: Waterloo has won 12 of the last 13 games, including eight double-digit victories. Southwestern enters the matchup on a four-game win streak.

Players to watch for Waterloo: Addison Bree Sr. (15 PPG, 6.0 APG, four STL/G); Gwyneth Panek Jr. (15.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, four STL/G); Tangel Williams Jr. (6.8 PPG, 2.5 APG, three STL/G); Khia Moody Jr. (8.0 PPG, six RPG).

Southwestern: Gianna Sirianni eighth grader. (15.4 PPG, 3.8 APG 3.9 RPG, 2.6 SPG), Charlotte Beaver So. (12.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG), Braya Beaver Sr. (9.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.2 RPG, 2.4 SPG), Marlana Cresanti Jr. (9.5 PPG, 2.7 APG, 6.1 RPG, 5.8 SPG), Jada Edwards eighth grader. (8.9 PPG, 2.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 3.5 SPG).

Coaches: Michael Bree (Waterloo), Kay Sirianni (Southwestern)

History 101: Waterloo is coming off its 11th sectional title in program history and making its fourth state tournament appearance since 2021. The Tigers won the state title in 2023. The two teams met in the 2005 quarterfinals with Waterloo advancing in the state tournament. Southwestern beat Hornell (63-61) in 2024.

What’s at stake: A spot in the Class B NYS quarterfinals against either Chenango Forks (IV) or Carle Place (VIIIA).