By PAUL GOTHAM
HENRIETTA, N.Y. — Jason Ellis hasn’t let the memory fade. Moments after Penfield boys’ basketball clinched a spot in the state quarterfinals, the 11th-year coach was talking about how last season came to an end for his Patriots.
“This was the game we lost last year,” Ellis said after Penfield (22-1) dispatched of Pittsford Mendon (22-2), 63-48 in the NYS regional qualifier Tuesday night at Rush-Henrietta High School. “A lot of people are saying that was the game of the decade. We were on the wrong side of it. I did not like it. This feels a lot better.”
Ellis’s squad had a nine-point lead with less than three minutes remaining in regulation and went on to lose in triple overtime to Greece Athena.
That loss made Tuesday’s night win all the sweeter.
CJ Johnson led four in double figures with 19 points. Jake McCarthy added 15. Jackson Green and Aaron Hardaway had 14 and 10 respectively.
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“It fueled the whole season,” Ellis said of the loss in last season’s regional qualifier. “That game fueled the whole season because we believed we were one of the best teams in the state last year. Even though we were a surprise to everybody, that’s what we thought we were. Truth is that loss fueled the entire season. We went back to work two weeks after that. We were running hills. We were running bleachers. We were doing stadium work. These boys were relentless. We had a goal. This was our game. Now we want the regional. We’re excited to see what that feels like. If we can beat a very-good Buffalo team, let’s see what happens.”
Penfield won’t catch anyone off-guard this year. The Patriots will roll into the state quarterfinals as the No. 1 team in the state. A spot they have held since December 23rd. A year ago, Penfield was program with a pair of sectionals from the 1950s and an at-large bid into the 1980 state tournament. Since then, the program has endured its share of losing seasons.
This weekend, they will be the hunted, the team that everyone is aiming to beat.
“I’m blessed to have what I have,” Ellis said motioning to his team. “It’s taken a long time to build. There wasn’t much of a history. We’re making our own path. It feels great. When people start talking about Penfield basketball and saying it’s pretty good, I’ll take that for sure.”
As it has done with other opponents all season long, Penfield frustrated Mendon holding the Vikings, who entered action averaging nearly 73 points per game, to a number that matched their season-low output.
“That was the plan,” Ellis said. “We knew that if we held them under 50, that they can’t beat us. We knew we were going to score.”
Mendon came in having won 19 straight games.
“They’re very good,” Ellis said of the Vikings. “That was a good battle. In truth, we set this number, and we wanted to hold them to a season-low. Goal one, check.”
Coming out of a timeout, Green stepped into a passing for a steal and finished at the other end with a two-handed slam. Nearly six minutes remained; Penfield led 50-37.
“These guys depend on me; I depend on them,” said Green who was the Tournament MVP in the recent sectional tournament. “Everything I get is because they work for me. Winning games at this point of the season is about putting the team before yourself. Doing what the team needs to win a game.”
Penfield will play Section VI champion, North Tonawanda (17-7/No. 30 NYSSWA) in Friday’s a regional. A 6:30 p.m. tipoff is scheduled at Buffalo State College.
Trevor Nally led Mendon with 19 points. Josh Shadders had 12. Carmen Esposito scored 10 in five in the opening moments of the third quarter when the Vikings pulled within four points at 32-28.
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