State champions! Victor wins first-ever boys basketball state championship

Victor can add a boys basketball state championship to its trophy case.

Sophomore Griffen Hopkins put on a show while his Blue Devils put on a defensive clinic, and Victor decisively defeated North Rockland 56-38 in Saturday night's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship game.

Hopkins was a human highlight reel from start to finish with his flashy passes and nose for the basketball. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 15 points in the state title game after registering just three points in the semifinals.

"This is euphoric, and everything we've worked for," Roberts said to NYSPHSAA after the game. "I'm proud of these boys and everything they've accomplished."

What it means

Victor coach Tyler Roberts' Blue Devils (24-2) went 45 years without a Section V title. As soon as they ended the drought, they captured their first state title.

Section 1 champion North Rockland's season ends at 19-8.

What's next

Victor will advance to the Federation tournament, where the NYSPHSAA champs will play champions from the New York State Association of Independent Schools, Public Schools Athletic League, and the Catholic High School Athletic Association.

Games will be played at Shenendehowa, Guilderland or Shaker High School. Dates are yet to be determined.

Player of the game

Griffen Hopkins

The sophomore was a magician as he piled up highlights on the biggest stage. Hopkins controlled the game's pace at point guard, and his precise passes were contagious. With his game-high 15 points and racked up five rebounds and four assists. Hopkins shot 5-of-10 shooting and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.

"We came into the year hoping to win sectionals and we ended up winning states," Hopkins told NYSPHSAA. "We knew this team was special but ... it doesn't feel real at all."

Game balls

Garrett Clar

The junior came alive in the second half. Clar scored 12 points on 6-of-6 free throws. He also grabbed five rebounds.

"Obviously there's been some ups and downs, but I've been playing with these guys for so long that I knew we could do it all along," Clar said. "So to do it with this group of guys means the world to us."

Nick Leonard

The junior forward was a bully on the block with his 9-point performance. He even converted a pair of three-point plays.

AJ Queri

All nine of the senior's points came from beyond the arc. Queri shot 3-for-7 from 3-point range off the bench.

Cam Ryan

The junior guard scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. His 3-pointer in the fourth gave Victor a 50-32 lead.

Best plays of the game

Pick any Griffen Hopkins play.

In the first quarter, Hopkins stole a pass and went coast-to-coast, using a behind-the-back dribble move to evade a defender for the fast break layup and 10-6 lead. He connected with his brother, senior Brennan Hopkins, on a no-look pass during a third quarter pick-and-roll to go ahead 33-19.

The most memorable Griffen Hopkins play may have came in the fourth. He grabbed a loose ball in the back court and found Clar crashing the basket, only for Clar to send a no-look give-and-go pass back to Hopkins for an easy layup and 45-29 advantage. Senior Ryan Dodge sparked the play by forcing a turnover in the back court.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Victor wins first-ever boys basketball state championship