Class B2 Semifinal – Wilson 47, Cleveland Hill 43
Wilson got a pair of big 3-pointers from a pair of big players in the final 1:20 of its semifinal victory against Cleveland Hill, advancing to the Class B2 championship against Cassadaga Valley this Saturday at 12 pm. Brennan Moxham and Tyler Martin did most of the ball handling and scoring all game for the Lakemen, and it was the two skilled guards who made the biggest shots at the game's most crucial moments.
Moxham scored a game-high 22 points and Martin finished with 15 points, combining for all but ten of the Lakemen's total points for the game. The two worked all game to produce enough offense to keep the game close, while a team defensive effort from the Lakemen never allowed the Golden Eagles to extend their lead beyond six points.
After falling behind by nine points early on and trailing by five points after one, the Lakemen opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 15-13 lead. It would be the only lead for Wilson until much later in the game. Cleveland Hill quickly evened things up and the teams entered the intermission locked at 25 apiece.
The Golden Eagles scored the first six points of the second half, before Jordan Thilk got Wilson back on the board by converting a three-point play. Thilk's basket was the only field goal in the game for the Lakemen that wasn't scored by Moxham or Martin. Cleveland Hill stretched its lead back to five points before the end of the third.
Wilson responded with a 6-0 run to open the final stanza to take its first lead of the half, 36-35. Daryl Spencer came right back for Cleveland Hill and connected from downtown to put his team back up by two. After the Lakemen knotted things back up with a pair of free throws, Julian Glover canned another 3-pointer for the Golden Eagles with 2:48 remaining to give them a 41-38 lead.
After both teams came up empty on ensuing possesions, a '3' from Moxham tied the game at the 1:20 mark. Without hesitation, Jeru Molson of Cleveland Hill came right back at Wilson 13 seconds later and hit a tough hanging jumper to break the tie. As the game went under one minute, Martin found himself with enough space to get a shot off, and buried a 3-pointer with 51 seconds to go, giving Wilson a 44-43 lead. Cleveland Hill was unable to answer in the final moments, and a big rebound from Moxham along with heady defensive plays from Martin and Patrick Diez sealed the win for the Lakemen.
Spencer led Cleveland Hill with 13 points.
Class A2 Semifinal – East 66, Olean 56
East played one of its best games of the season and still had its hands full with the Olean Huskies, who get their mail delivered to Buffalo State in early March. The Panthers had five players finish in double figures, led by Jasen Oden's 18 points.
The Panthers, who typically come roaring out of the gate and produce fast points with a trapping pressure defense, were unable to rattle the inexperience from Olean. Despite starting three freshmen and one sophomore, the Huskies handled the big stage and battle tested Panthers, like a seasoned veteran squad.
East had its largest lead of the first half at 10-3 late in the first quarter, but Nick Schmidt stuck a '3' at the buzzer, making it 10-6 after eight minutes. The Huskies continued to be smart with the ball and hung around in the second quarter, before back-to-back 3-pointers from Luke Hennessy and Alex Curtin gave the Huskies their first lead at 23-22.
After heading to the break down by four, Olean scored the first five points of the second half and led 31-30 early in the third. But after a 7-0 run from East which included five points from Domonique House, the Panthers began to take control of things. East built on a six point lead after three, with a 10-2 run to open the final quarter and put the game way. Oden scored eight of his points in the fourth quarter that saw East up by as many as 15 points.
Olean got 12 points from 6-6 freshman Sam Eckstrom in the loss.
Class A2 Semifinal – Riverside 58, Cheektowaga 42
Justice Feggans scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Willie Jefferson scored nine of his 11 points in the second half, to lead Riverside to the Class A2 final. They will face East on Saturday at 3:30 pm, a team that owns two regular season wins over them in Yale Cup play.
The Frontiers trailed the Warriors by one at the end of the first quarter, but a 17-9 second quarter put them up 28-21 at halftime. Riverside began the second half with an 11-2 run to extend its lead to 39-23. Cheektowaga could only get back to within ten points before Feggans and Jefferson took over late in the game to squash any hopes the Warriors had of getting back into the game.
Brandon Nance scored 16 points for the Warriors in his final game with Cheektowaga.
Let us know what you thought about the games in the comments section below.
-centercourt
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