(Amherst returned to the top of Class A2 this season / Photo by Harry Scull)
Class AA Final: Niagara Falls 58, Jamestown 44
The Wolverines are Section VI Champions for the 10th time since the merger with LaSalle in 2001. Qeyion Williams earned Tournament MVP honors following a team-high 19 points in the championship game.
"They were forced to play varsity and paid their dues as freshmen and sophomores," said Niagara Falls coach Sal Constantino. "I'm so happy for them to be in this situation right now, they've earned this moment...they are winners."
Falls never trailed in the game and took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter. Jamestown made a run in the final frame, scoring seven straight, to pull within six points. However Williams answered the run with a key 3-pointer that sparked a 15-7 finish.
"I told him the best players always rise to the top," said Constantino. "That's exactly what I expect from him."
Niagara Falls advances to the Far West Regional against Aquinas at Buff State on Saturday night.
Point Totals
Niagara Falls: Qeyion Williams 19, Breon Harris 11, Tyler Sanders 7, Syquan Ralands 6, Charles Lamar 4, Jamel Burton 4, Jhamir Isom 3, Cortese Myles 2, Devin Sanders 2
Jamestown: James Rojas 21, Matt Hill 12, Zacc Kinsey 8, Noah Johnson 3
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Class A1 Final: Williamsville South 67, McKinley 63
The Billies are Section VI Champions in Class A1 for a second consecutive season under fourth-year head coach Gabe Michael. Greg Dolan earned Tournament MVP honors, following a combined 55 points between the semifinals and title game, while running the point for South.
South led by just two points after one quarter, but used a monumental second quarter to build a sizable lead. After taking an 18-point lead on the Macks heading into the fourth quarter, Graham Dolan fouled out and Myles Hall left the game with an injury. Meanwhile, McKinley used repeated trips to the free throw line to make the finish very interesting. The Macks won the final stanza, 23-7.
"I told my assistants with five minutes to go, this is all about survival" said Michael. "Just find a way to win by one."
The Billies play Amherst for the overall Class A Championship on Tuesday night at Buff State.
Point Totals
South: Greg Dolan 24, Graham Dolan 11, Myles Hall 10, Cody Sanford 7, Ryan Phillipps 6, Jordan Buell 5, Matt Foster 4
McKinley: Avius Outlaw 24, Shaquan Jones 13, Keyon Johnson 10, Bruce Booker 8, Davonti Wardlaw 4, Suka Jamison 3, Rayquan Goree 1
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Class A2 Final: Amherst 84, Lew-Port 76
The Tigers are Section VI Champions for the second time since 2013. St. Bonaventure commit Amadi Ikpeze took over the game in the second half to ensure his team's season continued, with a triple-double performance. The big man scored a team-high 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 12 shots.
"There's a reason why he's a Division I kid," said Kensy. "You saw how important he is to our success tonight."
Lew-Port coach Matt Bradshaw agreed. "He's a man out there," Bradshaw said. "He took over the game at the end...he's the reason we lost."
Trailing at halftime, the Tigers used a 10-2 run to close the third quarter with half of those points coming from Ikpeze, to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. Over the final eight minutes, Ikpeze scored another 11 points for the Tigers, while Nathan Woldu also stepped up big in crunch time, adding 12 of his 19 points.
"He's our exclamation point - when we're doing well, Nathan's doing well," Kensy said.
Jernard Jackson finished a game-high 35 points for Lew-Port, after a spectacular first half in where he scored the first 26.
"Have you ever seen a one-half performance like that ever at Buff State?" Bradshaw asked. "Anybody should walk away and say that's one of the best players in WNY."
Amherst used a zone double in the second half to slow Jackson and were able to hold him to one point over the final 10 minutes.
"Jernard is heck of a player, very classy," said Amherst coach Chris Kensy. "He hit some shots that I don't think pros could hit."
Jackson earned Tournament MVP honors in a losing effort, after a combined 64 points in two games at Buff State. The future Marine was disappointed to see his season end, but grateful for the opportunity to play on the big stage.
"It was awesome," said Jackson. "Now everyone knows who I am."
Point Totals
Amherst: Amadi Ikpeze 30, Nathan Woldu 19, TC Brown 16, Nick Foster 9, Rory Walsh 5, Da'Shawn Hines 3, Jaylin Rose 2
Lew-Port: Jernard Jackson 35, Donald Allender 16, Dawson Bailey 12, Dylan Milbrand 8, William Duff 5
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Class B1 Final: Olean 67, East Aurora 46
The Huskies are Section VI Champions for fifth consecutive season and the ninth time in 10 years. Ben Eckstrom earned Tournament MVP honors for Olean, who next faces Fredonia for a third time this season, for the overall Class B Championship.
Olean took a double figure lead after one quarter and were never really threatened along the way, as they improved to 23-0 on the season. Four players finished in double figures for the Huskies in a very balanced attack.
"They just typified what this team has done all year," said Olean coach Jeff Anastasia. "If you take one finger and poke a guy, it doesn't really hurt. You take five and make a fist - that really hurts them. Our team unity is why we're here right now."
Point Totals
Olean: Ben Eckstrom 21, Jake Cavana 16, Elijah Ramadhan 13, Monty Shoemaker 12, Luke Rogers 3
East Aurora: Cal McTigue 15, Nick Montgomery 15, Noah Thompson 12, Josh Denz 2, Calum Dils 2
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Class B2 Final: Fredonia 53, Health Sciences 48
For the first time since 1994, the Hillbillies are Section VI Champions, winning Class B2. Patrick Moore earned Tournament MVP honors, following a 32-point championship game performance.
"I think the monkey's off the back a little bit," said Fredonia coach Greg Lauer. "We've got our number one goal coming into the season accomplished and now the sky's the limit."
Fredonia never trailed in the game and led by double figures following halftime and the third quarter. Health Sciences made a run in the fourth quarter to get within three points with under two minutes remaining, but Moore responded with a three-point play for his team, followed by the last two Fredonia buckets of the game to seal the victory.
"These guys have worked extremely hard to get to this point and they prepared so well every single day to get ready for these playoffs," Lauer said.
Point Totals
Fredonia: Patrick Moore 32, Jarod Burmaster 7, Jovany Ruiz 6, Michael Pucci 4, Eric Swoyer 4
Health Sciences: Tyron Lott 11, Kameron Briggs 10, Wize Threat 9, Jaylen Prophet 9, Davonte Gaines 5, Amarri Funderburk 2, Jaquan Renfro 2
-centercourt
1994 for Fredonia? I believe that was the Michael Heary led team that beat Lackawanna in the semis or finals , back when the games were in Niagara Falls at what is now the casino. He went on to play for Navy. He could play!
Posted by: Hoops | Monday, February 29, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Yeah back at the Convention Center. Heary was unbelievable! I think around the Jason Rowe and Damien Foster Traditional season in 1996 was when they switched from playing games there. Good memories from so many seasons back. I like the games at Buffalo State College better than any place else and glad Sec 6 has stayed there.
Posted by: steve | Monday, February 29, 2016 at 11:23 PM
Private schools need to get out of Villa. Poor decision to play there. The place could not fit all the people. Buff State is the best place to have playoffs.
Posted by: WNY bball | Tuesday, March 01, 2016 at 10:41 AM