The 2025 Preview contains:
– Commentary
– What's New
– League Changes
– Player Movement
– Returning 2024 All-Centercourt Players with statistics
– 25 More Players to watch in 2025
– Teams sorted by league, noting the returning All-League selections
(MMA, Yale Cup, ECIC, NFL, N-O, CCAA, Independents)
– Coaching Changes
– Classification Changes
– Preseason Top 10 Large & Small Schools
– Predictions
Commentary
Following the 2021 season, I began receiving calls about Jaiden Harrison, who had just completed his freshman season at West Seneca East. What are your thoughts on him? How good do you think he’s going to be? My answer was that I thought he would be a future player of the year and reach the Division I level. Harrison had begun exploring the different private school options in the area and eventually selected the Tigers in South Buffalo. After a three-year career at Timon that included a pair of state championship appearances, a CC MVP for Player of the Year, and the all-time scoring record, Harrison proved to be one of the most significant transfers in my time watching high school hoops.
As the 2024 season wrapped up, calls from many of the same camps were coming my way about a sophomore who would likely be changing schools. This time, it was about Nate Blenman, who began his sophomore season coming off the bench at Amherst. Blenman soon made it blatantly obvious he was not only a starter, but one of the best players in the area. So my answer about Blenman was identical to the one I gave about Harrison…his potential is that impressive! In June it became official – Blenman would attend St. Joe's, signaling the most significant WNY transfer since Harrison.
At 6-8 and possessing the rare skill set that he has, one that combines power around the rim with the finesse of soft hands & polished footwork, along with a shooter's touch, his presence in any program would instantly change their fortunes. But the news that it would be St. Joe's, a team that brought back the farm, meant we could be looking at an immediate power shift. All five starters return to the Marauders from the 2024 squad that was one of two local teams to defeat the mighty Tigers from Timon last year. Three of those starters (Jaymeir Goosby, Gionni Zelasko, & Mekhi Gidney) each earned All-Catholic selections. Mahli Shabazz has been offered by Buff State, Liam Horan played extended minutes as a sophomore & delivered some big moments, Jahzi Lanzot is back to instantly infuse the team with his defensive energy & a timely trey, and Cole Kaufman earned Game MVP honors last season in Marauders' Centercourt Classic victory over Amherst. There's even the two big guys back from a year ago, Peyton Brock & Jerimiah Guerrero, who took turns manning the middle in 2024. And for good measure, St. Joe's also added one of the top freshmen in WNY: Gary Alexander, a Tapestry transfer and floor general who will most certainly be one of the first players checking into the lineup each night. The Marauders did bring a Manhattan Cup title back to Kenmore Avenue wooo in 2021, however it was their only championship in over a decade.
The power in the Monsignor Martin has recently been held by three programs. Canisius dominated most of a decade from 2009 through 2017, winning seven Manhattan Cups during that span. The Park School then went back-to-back prior to the Crusaders sandwiching a pair of championships around the St. Joe's title, and then most recently, we watched Timon’s two-year power reign. In order for the Marauders to be able to jam out to Snap's 'The Power' on March 1st at the Koessler Center, they need to not only overcome Nakyhi Harris & the two-time defending champs from Timon, they also need to be better than Canisius. The Crusaders took all three meetings from Joe's last year and have owned the Marauders since 2012, dominating the series with 26 wins in 31 games during that span. And like their rivals, Canisius also has plenty of farm hands back…along with a couple transfers of its own.
The upcoming 2025 season has me as excited for what’s ahead as I’ve been in a long time. In the Monsignor Martin, the top three teams this year (Timon, Canisius, Joe’s) will all be outstanding. The top three public schools, which I expect to be Jamestown, Falls, & Health, will also be nasty. They all play each other! Joe's and Canisius both scheduled all three publics, while Timon plays in a tournament with Health Sciences on the opposite end of the bracket and scheduled both Falls & Jamestown. That’s a lot of must-see basketball coming up! In the words of Bart Scott, "Can'tWait"!
***
Despite living at the opposite end of WNY, I’ve become an advocate for Southern Tier teams over the years. In part, it's because I’ve heard the chirps about players piling up stats against no competition because they hail from a small town in the sticks off the beaten path. But mostly, the advocacy comes from what should be painfully obvious to their competition by now — they win championships, consistently! Obviously, we would expect our Class D Champion to be a Southern Tier team, it would have to be by default. However, every other classification has multiple teams outside the Southern Tier competing in it, but often falling short of that sectional prize that tends to head back south.
The evidence of this from last season is actually staggering: In total, 6 of the 9 Section VI championships went to teams from the Southern Tier – Jamestown (AA1), Olean (A2), Salamanca (B1), Falconer (B2), Randolph (C), and Pine Valley (D). Niagara Falls (Niagara County) took the two-man competition in Class AAA over Lancaster, Health Sciences won Class AA2 with no Southern Tier teams in the bracket (though did lose to Jamestown in the crossover), and Williamsville South (Erie County) emerged victorious in Class A1. The only Southern Tier team in that entire classification was Pioneer, and even they shared a piece of the league championship with Will South in 2024 & reached Buff State. To really drive the point home, I will offer that there are only 29 teams between Chautauqua & Cattaraugus Counties, and 20.4% of them won championships. Falls was one of 10 Niagara County teams to win a title, while just two of the 50 teams from Erie County (.04%) hoisted a sectional plaque. It’s always worth the gas money to take a drive south for some hoops, I’m just saying…
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What's New ??
– The Centercourt Classic returns to St. Joe's, once again featuring three sessions between Friday night & all day Saturday, on the weekend ahead of the Super Bowl, January 31st & February 1st. A 7th game was added to the lineup for this season.
– After mourning the the final Niagara Falls vs Jamestown game under the bright lights at #Buff State (dubbed by me as the Last Dance in 2022), Falls once again is joined by its sectional rivals in Class AAA, setting up a grand waltz to be performed on Friday, March 7th.
– Regionals shift back to Rochester this season, once again a two-night event, Friday & Saturday, March 14th & 15th.
– The Manhattan Cup Playoffs are a four-night event beginning February 20th with a pair of pre-quarterfinals. The Cup will be decided on Saturday, March 1st at Canisius College.
– The NYSPHAA state championships will be played at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton for at least the next three seasons, using a slightly different format for the 18 games played over four days.
– Nichols returns to Class A for state rankings, along with all-state team selections.
– The Yale Cup has added a third division, Yale Cup III. BPS teams used to compete as one city division for the illustrious Yale Cup from its inception dating back decades, until the 2011 season.
– West Seneca West has left the ECIC to compete as an independent.
– There will be no last minute changes to classifications of Section VI teams like the one that sent (eventual champion) Salamanca & Fredonia to Class B1 from Class B2 in late February of 2024, just as the sectional brackets were about to be seeded.
– Jamestown (Red & Green), West Seneca West (Warhawks), Cheektowaga (Chargers), Tonawanda (Timberwolves), Barker (Bulldogs), & Iroquois (Redhawks) have all changed their school mascots — at least until canines, birds, lightning, & Christmas colors become offensive.
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League changes
West Seneca West: ECIC I —> Independent
Williamsville South: ECIC III —> ECIC II
Lackawanna & Iroquois: ECIC IV —> ECIC III
Maryvale: ECIC III —> ECIC IV
East Aurora: ECIC V —> ECIC IV
Falconer: CCAA I East —> CCAA I West
Middle College & Bennett: Yale Cup I —> Yale Cup II
East, City Honors, Buffalo Culinary, Buffalo Arts, & Riverside: Yale Cup II —> Yale Cup III
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Player Movement
Key Transfers
Nate Blenman: Amherst —> St. Joe's
Zayvion Hawkins: Amherst –> Health Sciences
Brandon Singletary: Park —> Health Sciences
Nahsaan Young: Tapestry —> Health Sciences
Brandon Mickell: South Park —> Health Sciences
TJ Askew: St. Francis —> Canisius
Ondre Foster: St. Joe's —> Canisius
Stash Foster: Williamsville North —> Williamsville South
Landon Patterson: Olmsted —> St. Mary's
Haile Doucet: Canisius —> MST
Zyaire Wallace: Timon —> Sweet Home
Shadir Rainey: Cheektowaga —> Sweet Home
Kameron Brage: Tapestry —> Park
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Returning All-Centercourt Talent
*** Nearly half of the 2024 All-Centercourt Top 60 return to the WNY high school hoops scene this season, including 6 of the Top 11 players, 10 of the Top 25 players , 18 more players that received Honorable Mentions following last season, and the 2024 Centercourt 6th Man of the Year.
Returning First Teamer
Nakyhi Harris – Timon, Senior
Junior Season Stats
19.7 PPG
6.2 RPG
2.6 APG
2.5 SPG
The two-time Manhattan Cup Champion is now unquestionably the leader of the Tigers. His all-around skill set & versatility earned him a Division II scholarship offer from Daemen and make him the must-see talent in the area.
Amir Moye – Health Sciences, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats
19.7 PPG
6.9 APG
5.2 RPG
3.5 SPG
After leading the Falcons to titles in both the Yale Cup & Class A2 and then picking up his first Division I offer over the summer, Moye suffered an injury that could keep him sidelined for the 2025 Season.
Returning Second Teamers
Jaydian Johnson – Jamestown, Senior
Junior Season Stats
19.1 PPG
5.2 RPG
4.4 APG
1.8 SPG
Had a breakout junior season to become one of the area's top high school talents, leading Jamestown to another league & sectional title, ultimately reaching the state final four.
Carson Swanson – Westfield, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
28.7 PPG
6.9 APG
5,7 RPG
5.5 SPG
Looking to get Westfield a 2nd Section VI title in four years after banging the game-tying triple to force OT in last season's title game. Swanson will likely eclipse 2,000 career points midway through the regular season & at the very least, should have Jaiden Harrison looking over his shoulder as March approaches.
Junior Season Stats:
21.3 PPG
3.9 RPG
3.9 APG
2.6 SPG
The two-time First Team all-state selection who led the Cardinals to a state title in 2023, has never lost a league contest in his career. Along with being a sniper, Hind has an exceptional understanding of floor spacing and where the ball needs to be.
Nicholas Purdie – Canisius, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
15.7 PPG
6.0 RPG
2.4 APG
1.6 SPG
Emerged as a leader during his junior season on Delaware Avenue. An excellent on-ball defender who's also strong with the ball in his hands, Purdie's toughness & competitiveness epitomizes Canisius basketball.
Returning Third Teamer
Jaymeir Goosby – St. Joe's, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
17.0 PPG
6.0 RPG
3.3 APG
2.2 SPG
Equally adept at stretching defenses with his deep range & slicing through the paint to create or finish, Goosby has explosive quickness and plays at a different speed. Received a Division II offer from Daemen University.
Returning Fourth Teamer
Charlie Croff – Lockport, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats:
17.0 PPG
6.5 RPG
2.9 APG
2.6 SPG
Became the centerpiece of the offense at Lockport in his sophomore year, earning NFL Player of the Year honors and leading a young Lions squad to the Class AA Final. Croff's on a mission to bring a Section VI title back to Lockport for the first time since 1999 when his father led the Lions to a championship.
Returning Fifth Teamers
Nate Blenman – St. Joe's, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats:
14.1 PPG
10.0 RPG
1.4 SPG
1.2 BPG
A matchup nightmare for opposing coaches and a complete game-changer at both ends. The future Division I player has already begun collecting offers with plenty more to come.
Carter Lampke – Williamsville South, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
15.3 PPG
4.9 RPG
2.0 SPG
2.0 APG
Capable of heating up & scoring buckets in bunches. Helped lead the Billies to the Far West Regional in Class A after earning a league crown & the first Section VI title in 8 years.
Returning 2024 Honorable Mentions
Carter Brink – Panama, Senior
25.7 PPG / 4.7 APG / 3.9 RPG / 2.5 SPG * as a junior
Jayce Wylke – Grand Island, Senior
19.8 PPG / 3.8 RPG / 3.0 APG / 2.3 SPG * as a junior
Sam Platt – Pioneer, Senior
18.5 PPG / 5.2 RPG / 2.5 APG / 1.9 SPG * as a junior
Carson Kwiatkowski – Allegany-Limestone, Senior
17.3 PPG / 3.1 RPG / Made 71 3-pointers * as a junior
Stash Foster – Williamsville South, Senior
16.3 PPG / 4.0 APG / 3.1 RPG / 2.8 SPG * as a junior
Caedyn Tingley – Olean, Senior
12.7 PPG / 2.1 APG / 1.2 SPG / 46 treys * as a junior
Aaron Weiss – Williamsville East, Senior
11.9 PPG / 10.7 RPG / 2.1 BPG / 1.5 APG * as a junior
Hezekiah Hall – Nichols, Senior
11.0 PPG / 8.1 RPG / 1.4 BPG / 1.2 SPG * as a junior
Jack Kempf – Starpoint, Senior
10.0 PPG / 13.3 RPG / 3.9 BPG / 1.8 APG * as a junior
Gionni Zelasko – St. Joe's, Senior
9.0 PPG / 4.5 APG / 3.3 RPG / 1.7 SPG * as a junior
Johnny Esposito – Canisius, Senior
7.9 PPG / 2.4 RPG / 1.4 APG / 1.3 SPG * as a junior
Justus Kelitz – Iroquois, Junior
26.0 PPG / 3.9 APG / 2.9 RPG / 2.9 SPG *as a sophomore
Roger Markham – Falconer, Junior
18.0 PPG / 4.6 APG / 4.5 RPG / 3.3 SPG *as a sophomore
Will Szablewski – St. Mary's, Junior
13.4 PPG / 6.8 RPG / 2.3 APG / 1.9 SPG *as a sophomore
Dominic Gonzalez – Jamestown, Junior
13.1 PPG / 2.7 APG / 2.3 RPG / 1.5 SPG *as a sophomore
Harlem Brannon – Ken West, Junior
11.8 PPG / 5.2 RPG / 2.8 SPG / 2.6 APG *as a sophomore
Nate Wilemski – Williamsville South, Junior
11.5 PPG / 4.8 RPG / 2.8 APG / 1.8 SPG *as a sophomore
John Strong – Niagara Falls, Junior
9.5 PPG / 7.5 RPG / 3.0 APG / 2.0 SPG *as a sophomore
Returning 6th Man of 2024
Damien Johnson – Tinon, Senior
6.7 PPG / 1.9 RPG / 1.6 APG / 1.2 SPG *as a junior
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25 More Players to Watch
More impact players for 2025 not already mentioned above
Staz Chiddick – Health Sciences, Senior
Patrick Cullinan – Canisius, Senior
Patrick Enright – Canisius, Senior
Mahli Shabazz – St. Joe's, Senior
Mekhi Gidney – St. Joe's, Senior
Aaron Hicks – Timon, Senior
Antonio Andrews – Amherst, Senior
Cohen Vogel – Starpoint, Senior
Dan Aquilina – Roy-Hart, Senior
Mike Griffin – Lockport, Senior
Maddox Isaac – Salamanca, Senior
Jaxsyn Moritz – Maryvale, Senior
Luca Quinn – Olean, Senior
Greg Orcutt – Dunkirk, Senior
Elijah Farmer – Jamestown, Senior
Tre Gayle – Niagara Falls, Junior
Jaike Ralands – Niagara Falls, Junior
Zayvion Hawkins – Health Sciences, Junior
Tacari McCray – Olmsted, Junior
Tre Paulfrey – Nichols, Junior
Israel Wilson – St. Mary's, Junior
Greydan Barnwell – Lew-Port, Junior
Benjamin Gerstung – Akron, Junior
Aidan Neumann – Wilson, Junior
Brandon Singletary – Health Sciences, Sophomore
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League-By-League: Returning All-League Talent
Monsignor Martin Association
CLASS AA
St. Joe's – Jaymeir Goosby 12, Gioni Zelasko 12, Mekhi Gidney 12, Nate Blenman 11, Gary Alexander 9
Canisius - Nicholas Purdie 12
Timon – Nakyhi Harris 12
St. Francis
CLASS A
St. Mary's - Will Szablewski 11
Nichols - Hezekiah Hall 12
The Park School
Cardinal O'Hara
Section VI
YALE CUP I
Health Sciences – Staz Chiddick 12, Brandon Mickell 12, Zayvion Hawkins 11, Nahsaan Young 11
McKinley – Davonte Hughes 12, Everette Abernathy 12, Assad Sheikh 12, Cardell Staples 11
Hutch-Tech – Juel Joseph 12
South Park
I-Prep
YALE CUP II
Olmsted – Tacari McCray 11, Izeal Bullock 12, Griffin Potwora 12
Middle College – Anthony Johnson 11
Bennett - Koul Deng 11
Burgard – Tyler Livingston 11
MST Seneca – Makir Bom 12
YALE CUP III
Buffalo Arts – Jamere Robinson 12, Jaiden Daniels 12
Riverside – Nelson Camacho 12, Javon Elliott 11
East
Buffalo Culinary
City Honors
ECIC I
Jamestown – Jaydian Johnson 12, Dom Gonzalez 11, Elijah Farmer 11
Clarence – Greg Erbacher 12
Orchard Park
Williamsville North
Frontier
Lancaster
ECIC II
Williamsville East – Aaron Weiss 12, Jack DeLuca 12, Kirill Sorken 12, Puneet Singh 12
Williamsville South – Carter Lampke 12, Stash Foster 12, Nate Wilemski 11
Starpoint - Cohen Vogel 12, Jack Kempf 12, Jackson Griesmer 12, Ben Olson 12
Hamburg - Ash Hunter 12, Jimmy Steffen 12
Sweet Home – Shaun McGrath 11
Amherst – Antonio Andrews 12
ECIC III
Pioneer – Sam Platt 12, Karter Giboo 12, Isaac Platt 10
Iroquois - Justus Kleitz 11, TJ Domino 11
Lackawanna - Leferald Hines 12
Cheektowaga - JJ Shanklin 10
Lake Shore
West Seneca East
ECIC IV
Maryvale - Jaxsyn Moritz 12
Alden – Rob Westmiller 12
East Aurora
Depew
Springville
Tonawanda
ECIC V
Eden – Tyler Wakelam 12, Kobe Genco 9
Tapestry - Kamron Brage 11, James Smith 12
Holland – Brady Wiskup 12
Cleveland Hill - Javier Nelson 12
JFK – Michael Mingle 12
Global Concepts
Niagara Frontier League
Niagara Division
Lockport – Charlie Croff 11, Mike Griffin 12, Maurice Woods 12, Caleb Barry 12
North Tonawanda - Jack Giancola 12
Kenmore West - Harlem Brannon 11
Niagara Wheatfield
Frontier Division
Lew-Port - Greydan Barnwell 11
Grand Island – Jayce Wylke 12
CSAT
Kenmore East
Niagara-Orleans
Akron - Benjamin Gerstung 11, Brayden Lamont 12, Blake Gerstung 11
Roy-Hart - Dan Aquilina 12, Brayden Ricker 12
Wilson - Aiden Neumann 11, Ryan Hough 11
Newfane - Mac Capen 11, Brayden Seitz 11
Albion – Kyle Raddner 12, Wylie Ollie 11
Barker - Owen Harris 12
Medina
CCAA I West
Olean - Caedyn Tingley 12, Luca Quinn 12, Sullivan Hoffman 12
Salamanca – Avery Brown 12, Maddox Isaac 12
Fredonia – Ashton Putney 12, RJ Koopman 11
Falconer – Roger Markham 11
Dunkirk – Greg Orcutt 12, Kavion Tell 10
Allegany-Limestone – Carson Kwiatkowski 12
Southwestern
CCAA I East
Randolph – Drew Hind 12, Griffin Nelson 12
Silver Creek – Simon White 12
Portville – Aiden DeFazio 11
Frewsburg
Cassadaga Valley
Gowanda
CCAA II West
Panama - Bryce Hinsdale 12, Carter Brink 12, Alex Barmore 12, Tate Cantanese 12
Westfield – Carson Swanson 12, Zach Maguire 12
Chautauqua Lake - Nick Jacobson 11, Nate Henry 12, Brenden Klossner 12, Asher Olson 11
Sherman - Jacob Ferranto 11
Brocton - Michael Garcia 12
Clymer
Maple Grove
CCAA II East
Ellicottville – Blake Smith 10, Carter Smith 12
Franklinville – Bretton Blecha 12, Matthew Spittler 12
North Collins – Walter Ebersole 12
Forestville - Jacob Anders 10
Cattaraugus-Little Valley – DJ Szata 12
Pine Valley
West Valley
Independent Teams
Niagara Falls
West Seneca West
Maritime
BASCS
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Teams with New Coaches (13)
Nichols – Matt Hartman
Williamsville North – Dylan Lambert
Lancaster – Craig Krempa
Clarence – Colin Quinn
West Seneca West – Jeff Haskell
Depew – Brandon Camacho
Alden - Matt Moretti
Burgard – Warren Adams
Portville - Tom Yanetsko
Cassadaga Valley - Phil Schrader
Forestville – Ralph Jackson
Silver Creek – Nate Shuart
Kyle Nelson – Frewsburg
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Classification Changes (19)
1 Team moves down from Class AA to Class A:
Nichols
1 Team moves up from Class AA1 to Class AAA:
Jamestown
2 Teams move up from Class AA2 to ClassAA1:
I-Prep & West Seneca West
1 Team moves down from Class AA1 to Class AA2:
Niagara Wheatfield
1 Team moves up from Class A1 to Class AA2:
Buffalo Culinary
2 Teams move up from Class A2 to Class A1:
City Honors & Iroquois
1 Team moves up from Class B1 to Class A1:
Buffalo Arts
4 Teams move up from Class B1 to Class A2:
East Aurora, Burgard, & BASCS
1 Team moves down from Class A2 to Class B1:
Alden
1 Team moves up from Class B2 to Class B1:
East
1 Team moves down from Class A1 to Class B2:
Riverside
1 Team moves down from Class B1 to Class B2:
Salamanca
1 Team moves down from Class B2 to Class C:
Maritime
1 Team moves down from Class C to Class D:
Panama
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Preseason Rankings
** 9 of the 10 teams that appeared in the 2024 Preseason Large School Rankings were Top 10 teams when the season ended and I was 8 of 10 predicting Top 10 small schools in 2024
Large Schools
1. St. Joe's
2. Canisius
3. Timon
4. Jamestown
5. Niagara Falls
6. Health Sciences
7. Williamsville South
8. Lockport
9. Williamsville East
10. Olean
Small Schools
1. Randolph
2. Westfield
3. Panama
4. Akron
5. Olmsted
6. Salamanca
7. Fredonia
8. Allegany-Limestone
9. Falconer
10. Chautauqua Lake
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Predictions
* The 2024 Preview correctly predicted 10 of the 14 league champions
MMA - St. Joe's
Yale Cup I – Health Sciences
Yale Cup II – Olmsted
Yale Cup III – East
ECIC I – Jamestown
ECIC II - Williamsville South
ECIC III – Pioneer
ECIC IV - Maryvale
ECIC V – Eden
NFL – Lockport
N-O – Akron
CCAA I West – Olean
CCAA II West - Panama
CCAA I East - Randolph
CCAA II East - Ellicottville
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* I was 6 of 8 predicting these end-of-year champions in the 2023 Preview
Manhattan Cup
Final Two:
Canisius & St. Joe's
** St. Joe's **
Class AAA
Final Two:
Niagara Falls & Jamestown
** Niagara Falls **
Class AA1
Final Four:
Orchard Park, Lockport, Clarence, & McKinley
** Lockport **
Class AA2
Final Four:
Ken West, Health Sciences, Williamsville East, & Starpoint
** Health Sciences **
Class A1
Final Four:
Amherst, Grand Island, Williamsville South, & Pioneer
** Williamsville South **
Class A2
Final Four:
Olean, Lackawanna, Dunkirk, & Lew-Port
** Olean **
Class B1
Final Four:
Fredonia, Akron, Middle College, & Olmsted
** Akron **
Class B2
Final Four:
Salamanca, Falconer, Eden, & Allegany-Limestone
** Salamanca **
Class C
Final Four:
Randolph, Chautauqua Lake, Westfield, & Holland
** Randolph **
Class D
Final Four:
Pine Valley, Clymer, Sherman, & Panama
** Panama **
-🏀centercourt🏀
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