Class AA Final: Jamestown 48, Niagara Falls 38
Zack Panebianco and Stephen Carlson each scored 16 points, leading the Red Raiders to a three-peat in Class AA and the fifth sectional title in six seasons. Jamestown never trailed in the defensive struggle that was tied late in the first half, before they closed on a 5-0 run to take a 26-21 halftime lead.
Niagara Falls stayed with the defending state finalists, trailing just 39-33 heading into the fourth quarter, before the Red Raiders pulled away in the closing minutes of the game. Panebianco did most of his damage in the first half, while Jamestown looked inside to Carlson at the end to close out the game.
"I'm blessed to coach the Jamestown Red Raiders", said Jamestown coach Ben Drake, who won his 300th career game with the Red Raiders in just his 17th season. "It's certainly better to get that milestone win tonight than it would have been in the first game of next season".
Sophomore Charles Lamar led Niagara Falls with a game-high 19 points.
Class A1 Final: Williamsville South 63, North Tonawanda 41
The Billies got a balanced performance with five players scoring in double figures and their senior leader, Sam Castronova, reaching the 1,000 point milestone along the way. North Tonawanda was a game opponent for most of the first half, playing even with South until midway through the second quarter, when Jacks' senior Chris Woodard (10 points) had to go to the bench with his third foul. South took full advantage, closing the half on a 10-2 run to take a 29-21 lead into the break. The Jacks would never get any closer than that eight point deficit the rest of the way.
Greg Dolan led the way with 15 points, Castronova and Matt Foster each scored 11 points, while Graham Dolan and Myles Hall each added 10 points. The Billies advance to Tuesday's regional qualifier to face Olean.
"It's all about the program, we talk about being a family and I'm sure every program does, but we believe in that", South coach Gabe Michael said. "I'm really proud and happy for them because they get to go out winners".
When asked for his thoughts facing Olean, who has won sectional titles in eight of the last nine seasons, Michael replied with: "This is their house, we're just guests in it".
Class A2 Final: Olean 58, Amherst 49
For a second straight time at Buff State, the Huskies fell behind early, only to win the final three quarters and the game. The result was a fourth straight sectional championship for Olean, and its eighth in nine years. The Huskies got 16 points apiece from senior Chucky Martin and sophomore Ben Eckstrom, along with 15 points on five 3-pointers from guard Jake Cavana to knock off the top seeded Tigers, who have been ranked as a top five large school all season.
The 2014 Centercourt Coach of the Year, Jeff Anastasia, showed WNY why he's the winningest active coach with over 500 career victories to his credit. Olean graduated all five starters from last season's Class B state finalist team and also moved up in classification, from Class B1 to Class A2. It was the first ever sectional crown in Class A for Anastasia.
"They're just a bunch of blue collar kids who work really hard", said Anastasia. "Each year is a new year - last year it was expected, this year it was not".
Class B1 Final: Albion 65, Maryvale 57
After a 43-year drought, a Section VI champion's plaque for boys varsity basketball will make its way into Orleans County. The Purple Eagles pulled off the improbable after finishing third in the Niagara-Orleans league, by winning the Class B1 title as the #4 seed. Desmond Blackmon scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Purple Eagles to the title in their first appearance at Buff State, while Clayton Stanton added 16 points in the win.
Albion, who knocked off the top seeded Burgard Bulldogs to arrive here, spotted Maryvale the first three points, before taking an early 11-3 lead and never trailing the rest of the way. The Purple Eagles led by double figures for much of the contest, playing an entertaining brand of basketball, sharing the ball, and making plays in transition.
Albion advances to Tuesday's Class B regional qualifier at Buff State, where they'll take on the champs from Class B2, East High at 7 pm.
"I told them we didn't get here by accident", Albion coach Brett Meakin said. "I knew we would have to play our best game to win it. I feel minus a couple bad decisions, we played a pretty complete game".
Class B2 Final: East 54, Fredonia 51
The Panthers, reigning champions from the last two seasons, made it a three-peat in Class B2 and won their fifth Section VI title in six seasons, the 13th overall for head coach Starling Bryant in his 19th season. They will face Albion in the Class B crossover on Tuesday, looking to advance to regionals for the first time since 2011 when they went as a Class A school.
After seven lead changes and four ties in the first half, Daquan Williams drilled a 3-pointer with four seconds left in the half to put the Panthers up three at the break. East never relinquished the lead for the rest of the game. Percy Bryant scored a game-high 25 points, while Williams added 10 points for the Panthers, while they held the Hillbillies' Patrick Moore without a field goal in the game.
John Piper finished his career at Fredonia with seven 3-pointers and a team-high 23 points, while senior Cam Voss added 19 points.
"We tried to build up to be at our peak this time of year", said East coach Starling Bryant. "I feel pretty confident with our tradition once we get here, it's a different ball game".
When asked about the big game performances from returning 2014 4th Team All-Centercourt selection Percy Bryant, the coach added:
"He's a true winner and he gives it all he has. He does it in practice and he does it in games. The bigger the game, the bigger the heart".
-centercourt
Notes and Observations:
East vs. Fredonia:
- Great competitive game. The difference between this game and the game these two played a few weeks ago was like night and day. Definitely have to wonder if Coach Bryant held back down in Fredonia.
- Percy Bryant was the best player on the floor followed by John Piper who played tough M2M defense on Bryant and knocked down some tough shots from beyond the arc.
- East shot surprisingly well from the free throw line going 11/14 for the game, including a clutch 8/11 in the 4th quarter.
- East did a tremendous job of limiting Fredonia to one shot per possession. Although Fredonia shot around 50% from the field, they only took about 40 shots compared to East's 56 shots.
- Fredonia didn't score their first point of the 3rd quarter until the 3:48 mark and didn't make their first (only) FG until 38 seconds left in the quarter.
- I really like Pat Moore for Fredonia and I think he has a shot for league POY next year but he needs to STOP WITH THE FLOPPING! My god. On offense and defense. He flopped 4 times in this game, 3 were called for charges and 1 no call. He flopped 3 times against Wilson as well.
- As centercourt noted above, this was Coach Bryant's 13th sectional championship. He has won a sectional title in 3 different classifications (3 in class C, 7 in Class B and 3 in Class A). If the cut-off is still 279 students then it looks like East will drop down to C-1 next year.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | Monday, March 09, 2015 at 06:08 PM
The B/C cut-off for 2015/16 is 280 so both East and Cleve-Hill will drop to C.
Posted by: TML1000 | Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 10:48 AM