After winning a third straight sectional title in Class AA and graduating perhaps the most celebrated senior class that Jamestown has ever said goodbye to, the 2016 season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Red Raiders.  That's certainly what it looked like on paper and even on the court as we got underway this season.  The Red Raiders dropped their first two home games in league play and weren't even a consideration for the large school top ten, a place where they'd been a mainstay for several years.  But just when the calendar flips to February and the groundhog is looking for a shadow, signifying that sectionals are just around the corner, here comes Jamestown – right on cue.

 

The Red Raiders closed the game on a 16-6 run to overcome an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter and defeat host Williamsville North, 62-60.  The loss is the first by the Spartans in ECIC I action.  They can still win the league outright with a pair of wins next week against Lancaster, while a loss in one of those games for North and a win over Frontier for Jamestown would earn the Red Raiders a share of the league crown.

 

"This is just a huge win for us," Jamestown coach Ben Drake said afterwards.  "I'm so proud of how far we've come this year."

 

With 5:55 remaining in the game, Maceo Jack hit his sixth 3-pointer of the game to give Williamsville North its biggest lead of the game, 54-46, and marked a 20-10 second half surge from the Spartans that had given them all the momentum.  After a James Rojas score, Sean Hill came right back for North with another bucket, and Jamestown called a timeout with under five minutes remaining and still trailing by eight.

 

"We showed a lot of mental toughness tonight, being down by eight with five minutes to go is a tough spot to be in," said Drake.

 

Rojas came out of the timeout to earn the next two scores for the Red Raiders and got the deficit to four points with under four minutes to go.  After a pair of Spartan free throws, the North lead was back to 58-52.  That's when Jamestown made its most pivotal run.  Noah Johnson, who had already hit treys in the second & third quarters, scorched the net from long range to cut the North lead to three with 3:12 left.  Teammate Matt Hill followed suit and banged another for the Red Raiders from the corner on their next possession to tie the game.  After another stop, Johnson scored again for Jamestown to give his team its first lead of the fourth quarter with just 1:14 to play.

 

"Noah was awesome tonight," Drake said.  "He's been really good defensively for us, but that was his best shooting night. He's a good shooter and it was great to see him step up and not be afraid to take some of those open shots."

 

With 30 seconds left in the game, Nick Maranto, who had 13 of his 20 points for North in the second half, tied the game at 60-60 after taking a pass from Sean Hill and dribbling towards the baseline, before dropping it in off the glass.  But the Red Raiders had a chance for the game winner and called timeout with 13 seconds to play.  

 

Jamestown dialed up a play that gave Zacc Kinsey the option to look for Rojas, drive to the basket, or kick to an open shooter.  Kinsey found the path to the basket he was looking for and drove in for the game-winner.

 

"The defense stayed out on shooters and he turned the corner and had a nice lane to the basket," said Drake.

 

Rojas scored a game-high 29 points in the win and continues to look better every time he takes the floor.  His level of play has vastly improved from his sophomore campaign last season, as he's become one of WNY's elite players.  Johnson scored 11 points in the win, while Kinsey finished with 10 points.

 

In a year where you you came in thinking Jamestown would have to slow games way down and try to win with coaching, the players have come together much quicker than expected.  From the beginning of the season until now, the biggest difference is the guys on the court.  Now they look confident, now they look like Red Raiders.

 

"More than anything, we just want to be playing our best basketball at this time of year," Drake said.

 

Jack scored a team-high 24 points for the Spartans, while Maranto finished with 20 points in the loss.

 

Point Totals

Jamestown:  James Rojas 29, Noah Johnson 11, Zacc Kinsey 10, Matt Hill 7, Luke Kindberg 5

Williamsville North:  Maceo Jack 24, Nick Maranto 20, Sean Hill 8, Jairus Huggins 4, Nick Maniscalco 4

 

-centercourt