A look back at the big moments of the boys tournament and a look ahead to state playoffs

James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·8 min read

All matters are settled.

The Section V teams are set, when it comes to which area high school boys basketball teams will play in the state tournaments.

  • Class AA: Aquinas

  • Class A: Pittsford Mendon

  • Class B: Newark

  • Class C: Avon

  • Class D: Avoca/Prattsburgh

Before looking ahead to what's next for these Section V champions, here is a glance back at the top moments during sectionals.

Shining moments

Aquinas' Mason Blackwood, top center, reacts after Owen Acciari (24) made a three-point basket in the closing seconds of the Section V Class AA Championship at Gates Chili High School, Saturday, March 5, 2022. No. 2 seed Aquinas claimed the Class AA title with a 77-43 win over No. 8 seed Rush-Henrietta.
Aquinas' Mason Blackwood, top center, reacts after Owen Acciari (24) made a three-point basket in the closing seconds of the Section V Class AA Championship at Gates Chili High School, Saturday, March 5, 2022. No. 2 seed Aquinas claimed the Class AA title with a 77-43 win over No. 8 seed Rush-Henrietta.

Motivational moment: Fans behind the Aquinas bench noticed when Owen Acciari began to walk toward the scorer's table for the 2022 Section V Class AA Tournament final. Acciari was the team's manager in 2021, but these days he is a fan favorite.

There was noise made when Acciari's first shot attempt was no good. When Acciari made a 3-pointer in front of the Aquinas bench? The noise made was as if Acciari hit the game-winning shot during the team's 77-43 win over Rush-Henrietta.

'They love him': 'Former Aquinas team manager hits 3-pointer in finals, sends gym into frenzy

Back on stage: Rush-Henrietta (11-13) failed to join the group of teams taking on the Section VI champions in Buffalo during the state tournament regionals. A run by the Royal Comets for the Section V Class AA title fizzed in the championship game, falling to Aquinas.

But what a run.

First, Rush-Henrietta was one of four teams trying to climb out of the first round and into the quarterfinals. The Royal Comets made it after defeating Penfield at Rush-Henrietta. Next, a triumph over one-loss Victor, the tournament's No. 1 seed, beginning a reboot from underdog to "Wonderdog." Mason Giorgione's game-winning shot for Rush-Henrietta in the semifinals against Hilton came from about 30 feet during the final seconds of overtime.

Over and out: The sounds of horns and sirens signaled the end of a phone interview of Oakfield-Alabama senior forward/guard Gaige Armbrewster, the MVP of the Section V Class C2 Tournament.

Armbrewster, his Hornets teammates and the team's coaches rolled along in a parade after Oakfield-Alabama defeated Lyons in the championship game.

Three out of four, not bad: Batavia Notre Dame moved out to an eight-point lead after Colin McCulley made three 3-pointers in a span of four possessions in the Class D2 final. McCulley was named the tournament's most valuable player after Batavia Notre Dame's victory.

State regionals

The five Section V champions have reached the quarterfinal round of the state tournaments.

A win Saturday over the Buffalo region champion, means a trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four in Glens Falls.

All five of the Section V vs. Section VI state quarterfinals at SUNY Buffalo State:

Class AA, Aquinas (19-3) vs. Jamestown (19-3), 3:30 p.m.

R-H’s Tobey Wright, center, is defended by Aquinas' Myles Blackwood, left, and Mykel White during the Section V Class AA Championship at Gates Chili High School, Saturday, March 5, 2022. No. 2 seed Aquinas No. 8 seed Rush-Henrietta.
R-H’s Tobey Wright, center, is defended by Aquinas' Myles Blackwood, left, and Mykel White during the Section V Class AA Championship at Gates Chili High School, Saturday, March 5, 2022. No. 2 seed Aquinas No. 8 seed Rush-Henrietta.

About Jamestown: Aquinas coach Jeff LaFave sees the Section VI champion as a hard-nosed team that can handle playing a game with a lot of contact . . . The Red Raiders also try to create turnovers. "Every dead ball or score, they will press us," LaFave said . . . Jamestown defeated Niagara Falls 59-34 in the Section VI Class AA final.

Most recent Aquinas starting lineup: No. 11 Jack Bleier, senior, G (13.4 points per game); 1 Mason Blackwood, sophomore, F/G (17.7 ppg.); No. 2 Robert McCullough, senior, G (11.7 ppg.); 15 Jordan Jordan, senior, F, named to the Section V Class AA All-Tournament Team; 23 Myles Blackwood, senior, G/F (12.6 ppg.).

About Aquinas: "All of my guys are guards/forwards," LaFave said . . . The Section V Class AA champion have overwhelmed all of their postseason opponents, winning their sectional games by 23, 18 and 34 points . . . There is a commitment to defense, along with four double-digit scorers . . . "You can always rely on your effort and energy," LaFave said.

Class A, Pittsford Mendon (23-1) vs. Amherst (22-2), 8:30 p.m.

Pittsford Mendon's Caleb Lewis (11), left, pulls up for a jump shot over East's Kai McCullough (13), right, during their Class A Regional Qualifier game at Gates Chili High School Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Pittsford Mendon's Caleb Lewis (11), left, pulls up for a jump shot over East's Kai McCullough (13), right, during their Class A Regional Qualifier game at Gates Chili High School Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

About Amherst: "They've got really good size," Mendon coach Bob Nally said. "They get a lot out of their bigs (centers and forwards), and they play really good man-to-man defense." . . . No. 2 Nick Moore, 6 foot-3 inch junior, point guard/shooting guard (17.5 ppg.) . . . 11 Teddy McDuffie, 6-4 senior, G/F (13.2 ppg.) . . . 5 Gary Johnson, 6-9 senior, C, (9.3 ppg.).

Pittsford Mendon starting lineup: 3 Matt Woods jr. G; 4 Jackson Green jr. G (17.5 ppg.); 11 Caleb Lewis jr. G (16 ppg.); 12 Kidder Lindley sr. G/F (12 ppg.); 21 Eric Krowl sr. F.

About Mendon: 11-game winning streak . . . Green is a candidate for the Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Boys Basketball Player of the Year . . . There are some nights when Lewis is the team's best player, according to Nally. "A great decision-maker, he’s been really good on both ends. He has about seven or eight double-doubles. He would be a lot of team's best player, legit. He can do it all." . . . 51-37 win over Section V Class A2 champion East High was Vikings' best defensive effort, Nally said.

Class B, Newark (18-6) vs. Allegany-Limestone (18-7), 7 p.m.

About Allegany-Limestone: Eight-game winning streak for the Gators . . . Newark coach Henry Kuperus said his team is staring at a "very disciplined, very fundamental" Section VI champion . . . Gators also showed Kuperus versatility, able to play an up-tempo game or a chess-like, half-court style . . . "I'm expecting them to really push out (to defend) our shooters, lockdown on Brayden (Steve)," Kuperus said.

Newark starting lineup: No. 2 Brayden Steve, 6 foot-5 inch junior, SG; 10 Gabriel Caraballo, senior, PG; 24 Stevie Brown, senior, G; 20 Raeshawn Howard, junior, PF; 11 Isaiah Camp, 6-6 senior, C.

Class C, Avon (22-3) vs. Salamanca (16-7), 1:45 p.m.

About Salamanca: The Warriors want to speed up the game, keep things up-tempo, according to Avon coach Rob Fries . . . That means Avon will see pressure, possibly trap defenses . . . Salamanca also is a good shooting team . . . No. 23 Lucus Brown, 6-1 sophomore, G (20.4 ppg.) . . . 24 Harley Hoag, senior, G/F, (13.5 ppg.) . . . 30 Andy Herrick, 6-3 junior, G, (12.8 ppg.).

Avon starting lineup: No. 15 Zach Colvin, senior, F; 12 Andrew Rowland, senior, PG; 3 Michael Rowland. sophomore, SG; 2 Jack Browne, senior, F; 5 Lee Hartke, junior, G.

About Avon: The last time Avon allowed 50 points scored was February 11, eight games ago . . . "We’d like to get the ball inside," Fries said. There may be height or strength advantages to exploit with 6-3 Colvin, 6-2 Browne and 6-4 junior Hudson Volpe 6-4 . . . "You don’t have that opportunity often," Fries said about advancing to the final four in Glens Falls. "When you get this close you have to take advantage. You don’t know when you will get back again. This is the big game, right here."

Avoca/Prattsburgh (24-0) vs. Westfield (22-1), noon

About Westfield: Wolverines have won their last 21 games, last loss was Dec. 4 . . . Found little trouble during the Section VI tournaments, last three wins were by double-digits, with 14 the smallest margin of victory . . . No. 10 Darien Swanson, senior, G (19.1 ppg.) . . . 11 Carson Swanson, 5-10 freshman, G (15.4 ppg.); 5 Cole Holland, senior, G (12.1 ppg.).

Recent Avoca/Prattsburgh starting lineup: No. 0 Sawyer Devoe, junior, F; 2 Macoy Putnam, sophomore, G; 10 Caleb Johnson, senior, F; 11 Hayden Abbott, junior, F; 23 Pacey Hopkins, senior, G.

About Avoca/Prattsburgh: Only undefeated team in Section V . . . Pulled out a 68-67 win over Wheatland-Chili in the Class D1 final, after romping past all but one opponent (Canisteo-Greenwood, Class C) . . . Advanced to this game when the Vikings defeated Batavia Notre Dame in a qualifier game, ending the 42-year coaching career of Michael Rapone.

Section V All-Tournament Teams

  • Class AA: Mason Blackwood, (Aquinas) MVP, Jack Bleier (Aquinas), Jordan Jordan (Aquinas), Mason Giorgione (Rush-Henrietta), Tobey Wright (Rush-Henrietta), Marcqell Freeman (Edison), Preston Prince (Hilton).

  • Class A1: Jackson Green (Pittsford Mendon) MVP, Caleb Lewis (Pittsford Mendon), Kidder Lindley (Pittsford Mendon), Ben Carey (Webster Schroeder), Gio Schillaci (Webster Schroeder), Shawn Mason (Webster Thomas), Ryan Heath (Irondequoit).

  • Class A2: Damani Barley (East High) MVP, Kai McCullough (East High), Shamir Caruthers (East High), Max Michaelski (Pittsford Sutherland), Tyler Mullin (Pittsford Sutherland), Mason Blankenberg (Wayne), Caquan Wester (Eastridge).

  • Class B1: Brayden Steve (Newark), Isaiah Camp (Newark), Raeshawn Howard (Newark), Ian Goodness (Palmyra-Macedon), Paul Goodness (Palmyra-Macedon), Jahod Faison (Greece Olympia), Carter McFollins (Batavia).

  • Class B2: Logan Dunbar, Wellsville) MVP, Alex Perkins (Wellsville), Eli Schmidt (Wellsville), Troy Kabat (Mynderse), Jayden Ryrko (Mynderse), Merritt Holly (LeRoy), Drew Morrow (Dansville).

  • Class C1: Zach Colvin, Avon) MVP, Michael Rowland (Avon), Andrew Rowland (Avon), Deonte Major (Rochester Academy Charter School), Josiah Heyward (Rochester Academy Charter School), Ryan Whitney (Geneseo), Hunter McCaffrey (Canisteo-Greenwood).

Oakfield-Alabama celebrate with the Class C2 championship trophy after their victory over Lyons, 55-29, in their Section V Class C2 championship final Friday, March 4, 2022 at Victor High School.
Oakfield-Alabama celebrate with the Class C2 championship trophy after their victory over Lyons, 55-29, in their Section V Class C2 championship final Friday, March 4, 2022 at Victor High School.

  • Class C2: Gaige Armbrewster (Oakfield-Alabama) MVP, Kameron Cusmano (Oakfield-Alabama), Kaden Cusmano (Oakfield-Alabama), John Walker (Lyons), Jaylen Battle (Lyons), Jacob Sides (Lyons), Kaden Bolt (Campbell-Savona).

  • Class C3: Maddox Timothy (York) MVP, Tyler Brady (York), Connor Rodwell (York), Austin Flynn (York), Kyle Wade (Caledonia-Mumford), Logan Salvatore (Dundee/Bradford), Antoine McFadden (Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School).

  • Class D1: Pacey Hopkins (Avoca/Prattsburgh) MVP, Haden Abbot (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Macoy Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Sawyer Devoe (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Aaron Lund (Wheatland-Chili), Brendan Moore (Wheatland-Chili), Carter Sisson (Fillmore).

  • Class D2: Colin McCulley (Batavia Notre Dame) MVP, Cody Henry (Batavia Notre Dame), Jimmy Fanara (Batavia Notre Dame), Zach Marscelli (Elba), CJ Gottler (Elba), Mike Kaufman (Romulus), Colby Cornish (Jasper-Troupsburg).

JAMESJ@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V basketball tournament: Big moments lead to state playoffs