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Outstanding performances, tight finishes: Northstar Christian, Lyons, Pembroke win titles

marquel slaughter, rochester democrat and chronicle
·4 min read

ROCHESTER — Outstanding performances and tight finishes was all the talk during Sunday's three Section V Class C Championships at Blue Cross Arena.

In Class C3, Lyons defeated Wheatland-Chili 67-45 thanks to a dominant 23-point performance by senior JC Walker. Coach Dean Schott II's Lions have now won 13 straight games. Lyons led 48-42 before ending the game on a 19-3 run.

To clinch the program's first title, Pembroke won Class C2 62-59 after surviving a late York rally and potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Northstar Christian, which began the season 6-6, captured the C1 title with a 60-52 win over three-time champ Avon.

What it means for Lyons, Pembroke, Northstar Christian

Lyons (22-1) captured the program's 21st title and first since 2020.

Coach Matt Shay and his Pembroke (22-1) program avenged a 2018 "heartbreaker" when the Dragons lost the C1 final. They'll take their 22-game winning streak into Thursday's overall Class C final.

Led by a mix of veterans and young players, Northstar Christian coach Roger Leo's Knights improved to 16-8 after winning a second title since 2021.

Players of the game

Class C1: Andrew Eschner

Northstar Christian's senior forward was named tournament MVP. Eschner was a he made his presence felt in the paint and from the perimeter with two 3s. His three free throws helped put Avon away. Eschner tied Justin Robinson for a team-high 17 points.

Northstar Christian's Andrew Eschner puts in two points from close range over Avon's Michael Rowland during their Class C1 Championship final Sunday, March 5, 2023 a the Blue Cross Arena.
Northstar Christian's Andrew Eschner puts in two points from close range over Avon's Michael Rowland during their Class C1 Championship final Sunday, March 5, 2023 a the Blue Cross Arena.

"His attitude is always right. He's good enough to ... focus on his individual accomplishments, but he could care less about that stuff," Leo said. "He's more about the team and the younger players. He does a great job quietly leading our group."

Class C2: Tyson Totten

After guiding the Pembroke football team to its first-ever title, Totten scored a team-high 16 points in the final and was named the tournament's MVP. He scored nine in the third quarter, hitting a buzzer beater take a 49-40 lead.

"It was an amazing year. Dreams come true, man," Totten said.

Class C3: JC Walker

Lyons won the Section V Class C3 championships with a 67-45 win over Wheatland-Chili Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Blue Cross Arena.
Lyons won the Section V Class C3 championships with a 67-45 win over Wheatland-Chili Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Blue Cross Arena.

Lyons' senior forward got to any spot on the floor offensively, and was a presence defensively by redirecting paint shots or playing the backend of the Lions full court presses. He made two three-point plays in the waning moments on his way to tournament MVP honors.

"JC Walker is the best player in Section V," Schott II said. "I'm glad that he got to come to Rochester so people can see that, but they should know that already. The better thing is he's one of the best kids I've ever been around. Great teammate. Great player. Great young man. The world is his."

Play of the day

Pembroke won its first-ever Section V championship after defeating York 62-59 in the Class C2 final Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Blue Cross Arena.
Pembroke won its first-ever Section V championship after defeating York 62-59 in the Class C2 final Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Blue Cross Arena.

The Pembroke-York ending was hard to top. The Dragons led 53-42 early in the fourth, but York's stout 2-2-1 press and 3-pointers by Maddox Timothy and Jake Pangrazio helped the Knights pull within two with 7.7 seconds left.

Pembroke's Jon Suro split his free throws to extend the lead to three with 4 seconds remaining. Pangrazio missed a 3-point heave as time expired.

They said it

JC Walker, Lyons: "We worked hard to get here. Every day, all day long."

Coach Matt Shay, Pembroke: "We've had an idea we'd be pretty good, but it's awesome to accomplish what we set out to accomplish."

Coach Roger Leo, Northstar Christian: "Even though we started out the season a little bit rough, we found our way through it. They didn't let it demoralize them. They just stayed the course. They kept believing in the message I was sharing with them. ... Family first. Togetherness first. And the results will come."

Class C awards

Class C1

All-tournament team: MVP Andrew Eschner (NC), Justin Robinson (NC), Gavin Jones (NC), Michael Rowland (Avon), Josh Harter (Avon), Hudson Volpe (Avon), Christian Coleman (Rochester Academy).

Coach of the Year: Rob Fries, Avon.

Class C2

All-tournament team: MVP Tyson Totten (Pembroke), Chase Guzdek (Pembroke), Jon Suro (Pembroke), Cayden Pfalzer (Pembroke), Jake Pangrazio (York), Tyler Brady (York), Kyle Porter (Oakfield-Alabama).

Coach of the Year: Matt Shay, Pembroke.

Class C3

All-tournament team: MVP JC Walker (Lyons), Jamire Johnson (Lyons), Jaiden Lopez (Lyons), Leighton Williams (WC), Terry Bayly-Henshaw (WC), Brayden Chambry (Byron-Bergen).

Coach of the Year: Roxanne Noeth, Byron-Bergen.

What's next

Northstar Christian plays Lyons in Tuesday's Class C semifinal. The winner advances to the overall Class C final against Pembroke on Thursday for a region finals berth.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V boys basketball championship scores: Class C