By PAUL GOTHAM
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Jackson Green started his scoring on Friday with a 3-pointer. His last make of the day came from distance as well.
The second shot will go down in Penfield boys’ basketball lore.
Green’s triple with 39.3 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the game winner as Penfield (24-1) clinched a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship game with a 69-66 victory over Section IV champion Seton Catholic (21-2) at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
Leading 66-64, Green took a pass from teammate CJ Johnson and didn’t hesitate to set his feet and release from behind the 3-point arc.
“CJ gave me a wide-open look,” the junior guard said. “I had to take it.
“Seton is a great defensive team. I was surprised I got that open of a look.”
Teammate Jake McCarthy blocked a shot in the ensuing possession, and the Patriots made one last defensive stand to secure the victory.
With the win, the Patriots advanced to the state title game for the first time in program history.
And they accomplished the feat in front of a partisan crowd cheering on the local team whose campus was less than two miles from the arena.
“Energy was a little high; emotions were getting the way a little bit,” Green said. “Coach did a great job of bringing us in and talking to us. We had one goal in mind, and we had to keep it. With us all year it’s been about attitude and attitude is what helped us win that game.”
Ryan Savino hit a go-ahead 3 to give Penfield the 66-64 edge.
Seton entered action averaging better than 10 3-pointers made per game.
The Patriots matched their counterparts with seven makes from distance on Friday.
I’ve said it all year basketball is poetry,” Penfield head coach Jason Ellis said. “To be on this side of it is awesome.”
Penfield will make a program-first state championship game appearance when the Patriots face Amsterdam (23-2) of Section 2 in Saturday’s final.
“This is 100 percent why we went to Niagara Falls why we went to Canisius why we went to Cleveland,” Ellis said of the challenging schedule Penfield played this season. “We also have the privilege of playing Victor twice, Fairport twice and Rush-Henrietta twice.
“I’ll tell you what we just played an unbelievable team an unbelievable team and very well-coached team. At the end of the day it’s phenomenal that we get to keep dancing.”
Green finished with 19 points and nine rebounds in the win. Johnson had 24 points. Jake McCarthy added 12. Aaron Hardaway (8) and and Savino (6) also score for Penfield.
Seton Catholic’s Allan Eagles led all scorers with 29 points. Angelo O’Connor had 13 for the Saints.
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