These two Section V boys basketball teams are No. 1 in latest NYS rankings

As one of two Section V boys basketball teams ranked No. 1 in the state, East High coach Darrell Barley was happy with his Eagles' place on the poll while joking about his Eagles' efficiency from the charity stripe.

"You guys are the worst free throw shooting team I ever had. How our we even ranked like this?" Barley joked after a tough 61-47 win at state-ranked Monroe Tuesday night.

No matter what they're free throw percentage is, East (12-1) is the NYS No. 1 Class A team for a reason. The young Eagles proved it with a fine defensive effort against coach Matt McCormick's Red Jackets. If East continues playing stingy defense, they'll remain a formidable foe come postseason.

Defense is also the calling card for coach Mike Setzer's Greece Athena Trojans. They are the new NYS No. 1 Class AA team with a 15-0 mark. Setzer is pleased with his team's recent defensive efforts. A versatile defense coupled with clutch performances has helped Athena overcome many double digit deficits.

Bookmark this: Section V boys basketball scores for the 2023-24 season

East and Athena each advanced to their section finals in 2023 and may be a tough out in the playoffs once again.

East High Eagles

East prides itself on turning defense to offense. That's why the Eagles are the new top-ranked team in the New York State Sportswriters Association's Class A poll after spending many weeks at No. 2. East's win at Monroe was a perfect example of the Eagles' commitment to defense.

"This was probably the best we've played defense," Barley said. "We're in a hostile environment. Those guys stepped up."

It helps to have athletic, smart players who can pressure the backcourt. East's lack of height has Markell Johnson playing out of position as a resident big man alongside Zymier Jackson, the only senior in East's rotation. Both East forwards can defend guards too.

Keysean Leonard, Micah Breedlove, Zion Parson and Kamell Little are key defenders as well. East appeared to use a 3-2 matchup zone to limit Monroe to 19 points in the second half of the Rochester City Athletic Conference crossover contest.

East triumphed Tuesday despite Monroe guards DaiQuon McKinney and Will McKinney playing pesky defense. The Eagles' lone loss was a 65-58 setback to Greece Athena Jan. 5. Barley liked his defensive game plan, and praised Athena's talented roster, but he felt the momentum shift with every Eagles mistake as their 16-point lead slipped away.

"In that game it seemed like every time we missed a free throw, or a layup we should have made, they got more and more confident," Barley said. "So we've got to continue to make free throws, continue to make the layups that we're supposed to make, still got to work on taking care of the ball. ...

"We're just trying to build and get better and better as the year goes on."

Greece Athena Trojans

Setzer didn't expect Greece Athena's 15-0 start nor a NYSSWA No. 1 Class AA ranking when he finalized the schedule. The bright side? The backend of Athena's schedule is loaded with home games.

"I knew were talented, but going to Monroe, Franklin, East, and the Hilton tournament, I can't believe how well they've responded," Setzer said. "But if you asked the boys, they'd say this is what they expected."

The growth of twins I'Zick and I'Zayah Reaves has given Athena an edge. I'Zick is their best on-ball defender. He "changed the game" at East, defending Leonard with blitz help from Connor Osier. I'Zayah is a "sneaky" off-ball defender who excels at traps and double teams, and shoots almost 39% from 3-point range.

Khorie Reaves' transition to point guard was seamless. Zee Johnson is a "Swiss Army Knife", and 6-foot-5 Osier has played his best games against the area's top centers. Setzer's starting five is "special", but his reserves can ball too. Backup point Ne'Sean Folks hit four first half 3s against Eastridge and can defend guards and forwards. Byron Williams has played well as an "undersized" big spelling Osier and Johnson.

The Trojans overcame lapses to beat Eastridge and Pittsford Sutherland. On Saturday, Greece Athena erased a 14-point deficit to drop Jermelle Cotton's well-rounded UPrep team 62-60 on Johnson's game-winning three-point play with 2.7 seconds left, securing another win over a Class AAA school as the Class AA postseason approaches in February.

Greece Athena became Section V's lone unbeaten team after School of the Arts (6-8) dropped previously unbeaten East Rochester (13-1) Saturday.

"I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't had off night that cost us, but our guys have the confidence," Setzer said. "We're not going to have an easy game going to sectionals. If we're going to be the best, we've got to beat the best."

Section V boys basketball schedule: Games to watch

Thursday: Aquinas (15-1) hosts a battled tested Bishop Kearney (8-7) team trotting through a tough winter schedule.

Friday: East High will take its 10-0 RCAC Upper Division record to McQuaid (5-10, 2-4), which may have a losing record but remain tough to beat. East won the first meeting 54-47.

Saturday: Victor (9-4) may meet its toughest task yet when they travel to Kenmore to participate in the sixth annual Centercourt Classic at St. Joe's. The Blue Devils will play a Buffalo Bishop Timon (13-1) team that was the previous top-ranked team in the NYS Class AA poll until suffering its first loss to Canisius last week.

Section V boys basketball in NYS rankings

NYSSWA rankings and records through Jan. 28.

Class AAA: No. 14 Aquinas (15-1); HM: Fairport (11-4), Franklin (9-5), UPrep (7-7).

Class AA: No. 1 Greece Athena (15-0), No. 26. Penfield (11-3); HM: Canandaigua (10-4), Hilton (10-5), Irondequoit (9-5), Webster Schroeder (9-4).

Class A: No. 1 East High (12-1), No. 8 Monroe (10-2), No. 17 Wayne (13-2), No. 25 Pittsford Sutherland (10-4), Eastridge (9-7), Geneva (8-5), Newark (11-3).

Class B: No. 3 Avon (15-1), No. 7 Hornell (12-3), No. 8 Canisteo-Greenwood (13-1), No. 20 LeRoy (12-3); HM: Attica (11-2), Marcus Whitman (10-4).

Class C: No. 6 Lyons (13-2), No. 15 York (12-3), No. 17 Wheatland-Chili (10-3), No. 21 Byron-Bergen (11-3), No. 22 Pembroke (8-3); HM: Arkport/Canaseraga (11-3), Batavia Notre Dame (11-3), Bolivar-Richburg (10-4), Finney (10-5), East Rochester (14-1), Fillmore (13-2), Gananda (11-4), Harley Allendale Columbia (12-2), Sodus (8-4).

Class D: No. 5 Avoca-Prattsburgh (9-6); HM: Andover/Whitesville (7-6); Jasper-Troupsburg (8-8).

Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports.He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V has two No. 1 teams in NY boys basketball rankings