Except for this coming Saturday when five different Section VI teams win championships in their respective class, last night was the single biggest night of the season for high schools basketball in WNY. With the results of last night, the matchups are set for the Manhattan Cup Championship and the Class B1 and Class D sectional title games, while Wilson awaits the winner of tonight's Class B2 semifinal between Cleveland Hill and CSAT.
Wilson 51, City Honors 48
Jamaal Carter scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the third, as City Honors built a double-digit lead on the Lakemen in the third quarter. Wilson trailed by eight points entering the final minute of the quarter, but got a basket from Tyler Martin (17 points) to cut the Centaurs lead to six entering the fourth. During the final eight minutes, the Lakemen turned up defensive pressure, which caused City Honors to completely unravel. With 3:55 remaining in the game, Liam McIntosh who had come off the bench to inject some defensive energy, drilled a 3-pointer to break a 48-48 tie and give way to the eventual final. Carter missed several shots and was whistled for a charge in the game's final minutes, as City Honors was shutout in a 9-0 fourth quarter. For the Lakemen, who have made five straight semifinal appearances, it will be their third title game in five years. Wilson has never won a Section VI championship.
Olean 48, East 44
It wasn't pretty and it was far from exciting, but the top ranked Class B school in NY survived a lengthy 2-3 zone from the Panthers, as Olean advanced. The Huskies led by as many as nine early in the first quarter, but soon found themselves in a low-scoring grinder that would require some clutch free throw shooting. The game was tied six times and saw six lead changes, before Olean went up for good with 4:11 left in the game. The Huskies connected on 13 of 16 attempts from the charity stripe over the final eight minutes, led by Wil Bathurst, who scored nine of his game-high 15 in the final frame. Olean, who has seven Section VI championships in school history, will attempt to win its fourth sectional crown in the last five years against Depew on Saturday. Daquawn Griggs led East in his final game with 12 points.
Depew 47, Tonawanda 39
The Wildcats broke an early 4-4 tie and never trailed the rest of the game. Depew smothered the Warriors top offensive weapons all evening and used a deep bench to keep fresh defenders on the court all evening. The game felt like it was dominated by Depew, who won all four quarters, but never got away from Tonawanda. The Warriors were within three points in the final three minutes before Depew pulled away for good. The Wildcats were strong inside and got a game-high 19 points from senior Jaden Cotton. Depew will play for a sectional championship for the fifth time in six years, most recently losing to Olean in 2010. The Wildcats won their only Section VI title in 2009.
Canisius 75, Bishop Timon/St. Jude 66
The Crusaders advanced to their fourth straight Manhattan Cup final by beating the Tigers for a fifth consecutive time. Canisius will attempt to become the first team to win back-to-back Manhattan Cups since Turner/Carroll did it in 1999 & 2000. Matt Hart led the Crusaders with 21 points in the victory.
St. Mary's 62, St. Joe's 45
The Lancers win get their first crack at a Manhattan Cup in school history on Wednesday night, following an emphatic win over a school that was the unanimous number one large school for three consecutive weeks this season. Erik Simmons led St. Mary's with 18 points, while Jake Denz and Devin Redden each scored 13 points, while limiting Mr. Basketball New York finalist, Reggie Agbeko, to just 10 points.
Clymer 40, Sherman 39
The Pirates got a putback basket from Dan Lictus, to beat the buzzer and move Clymer past Sherman to the Class D final. Lictus finished with a game-high 16 points.
Panama 65, Brocton 37
The Panthers had no trouble with Brocton and have earned a chance to redeem a semifinal loss to Clymer from last season. Nick Lenart led Panama with 23 points, six assists, and five steals.
-centercourt
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