Can Victor boys basketball return to state final four? Far West Regionals preview, schedule

ROCHESTER — Garrett Clar stood backstage of Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday night reminiscing about Victor's decade-long journey to consecutive Section V Class AA basketball titles.

"This group has been playing together since pretty much third, fourth grade. It's been a long time coming," Clar said. "And I think just the chemistry, all the togetherness that we've had, the youth coaches, coach (Gary) Leonard especially, just pushing us everyday trying to get us 1% better. And obviously the current coaching staff, and all the teammates just came together to get it done."

Victor seniors Clar, Nick Leonard, Cam Ryan, Colin Kubrich and Justine Rosello lead a Blue Devils full of kids who grew up hooping for Rochester Area Players (RAP) and Victor Travel. Gary Leonard, Nick's father, was instrumental in coaching many of them then, including some boys from their 2023 section title team that won the program's first state crown.

"I remember watching these guys play when they were in fifth (and) sixth grade. I had a very strong feeling they'd be a special group. They had great travel coaches, and they've meshed into our Victor program very well," Victor coach Tyler Roberts said.

If Victor wants another shot at a state championship with this roster, which includes junior standouts like Griffen Hopkins and Owen Dake, the Blue Devils will have to beat Section VI's Jamestown in this weekend's region final in Buffalo. Four-time section champion Avoca-Prattsburgh is seeking a third straight state title if the Titans can top Pine Valley.

Section V will send six teams in total to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regionals this weekend against the Buffalo area's Section VI champions. Here's what you need to know:

NYSPHSAA Far West Regionals

Buffalo State University will host all NYSPHSAA region finals between the Section V and Section VI champions Friday and Saturday.

Friday

Class C

Lyons (22-2) vs. Randolph (21-2), 6:30 p.m.

Lyons coach Dean Schott II's Lions enters a region rematch after falling to Randolph this round last year. Sophomore center JJ Johnson and senior point guard Mikey Briggs are the leaders for this year's Lyons squad that won the program's 22nd Section V title. They've successfully continued Lyons local legacy with back-to-back championships, but now look to advance to the state final four. Coach Schott II was a senior for his father's 1989 Lyons team that was the last Lions team to win a state crown.

Section V boys basketball: Postseason scores, stats

Class AAA

UPrep (14-9) vs. Niagara Falls (15-6), 8:15 p.m.

University Prep coach Jerice Crouch's Griffins have gone 9-10 players into his rotation during the postseason. He credited UPrep's depth in defeating Franklin for the Section V Class AAA crown. Junior Jermelle Cotton — MVP of the Class AAA tournament — is an athletic sharpshooter leading UPrep at 16 points per game. Senior center Alex Webb anchors the defense as Ja'yvion Sampson, Gavin White, Keone Manigault and the like provide defensive pressure while doubling as capable scorers as they seek the program's first state final four berth in 11 years.

Saturday

Class B

Avon (22-1) vs. Salamanca (18-5), 1 p.m.

This region final is a rematch from 2022 when Salamanca won that bout in the final seconds. Avon's Trevor Stroud, though, has had the hot hand throughout the playoffs, scoring 23, 29 and 25 since the section semifinals. All-time leading scorer Michael Rowland and point guard Josh Harter fills coach Rob Fries "Big Three" who have guided Avon to 11 straight wins. Avon's only state title came in 2009.

Class A

Wayne (22-2) vs. Williamsville South (16-8), 2:45 p.m.

Wayne coach Bill Thomson's Eagles used their size advantage to edge East High in the sectional final, but their effort on defense during the postseason has given the coaching staff hope for a long playoff run. Cam Blankenberg and PJ Ostrowski are expected to lead the scoring load for a Wayne team riding a 19-game winning streak as they seek their first state finals berth.

Class D

Avoca-Prattsburgh (13-9) vs. Pine Valley (11-11), 6 p.m.

A quest for a third straight state title officially begins for Avoca-Prattsburgh. It appears that senior point guard Macoy Putnam became the first basketball player to win five Section V titles. Putnam won a Class D2 title with Prattsburgh in 2020 as an eighth-grader. His last four championships came with Avoca-Prattsburgh's merged team that began in the 2020-21 season, which may have had a chance at winning states if not for COVID canceling the 2020 and 2021 NYSPHSAA tournaments.

Class AA

Victor (16-8) vs. Jamestown (19-4), 7:45 p.m.

(See above).

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V boys basketball: Far West Regionals preview, schedule