The Fairport boys basketball team ended up getting its act together just at the right time during the 2026 Class AAA state tournament semifinals.
Fairport’s correction took place right after arguably what was one of the worst periods of play this season by the Red Raiders.
Corning/Painted Post left Fairport so far behind during the first half at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, that the Red Raiders seemed to be two-and-a-half hours away back in the Rochester area.
But Fairport went on a massive run during the second quarter and completed the reversal to defeat the Hawks, 79-72, to advance to the Class AAA state final March 21.
“We were out of sorts at the start of the game,” Fairport coach Scott Fitch said after the Red Raiders rallied from a 19-point deficit. “Defensively, we weren’t able to stay in front of (the Hawks). We were out of sync.
“(On offense) we started to get our movement back. We usually move the ball and move our bodies. We do those things really well.”
A 19-3 run by the Fairport Red Raiders gave the team a chance to play for and win the first state championship in the team’s history.
“One thing that got reinforced was that again, we didn’t splinter,” Fitch said.
What’s next
The Fairport Red Raiders are one win away from a state title, just like the 2017 team that lost to Mount Vernon. They face Albany Christian Brothers Academy, 7:45 p.m. March 21 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
Key plays of the Class AAA state semifinal between Fairport vs. Corning/Painted Post
Fairport trailed 36-17 with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter, when Hadi Dergham kick-started the team’s run with baskets on consecutive possessions.
By the numbers
24 – Point total scored by versatile Fairport guard/forward Alex Grejda, a 6 foot-3 inches tall senior.
16 – Points scored by Fairport forward Hadi Dergham, a 6-4 senior.
13 – Points scored by 6-5 Fairport senior forward Noah Meabon.
21 – Combined total points contributed by Fairport Red Raiders Jonathan Roessel (11) and Sam Roselli (10).
20 – Points scored by Carter Proudfoot, a junior in the Corning/Painted Post lineup and older brother of Nolyn Proudfoot, a college basketball prospect as a 6 foot-2 inches tall sophomore.
20 – Points scored by Corning/Painted Post point guard Nolyn Proudfoot, who has scored 2,000 varsity points in Section IV.
12 – Point totals for Corning/Painted Post starters Kohl Hogue and Kyler Stevenson.
Below, is how the state tournament semifinal between Section V champion Fairport and Corning/Painted Post unfolded.
Final
Fairport 79, Corning/Painted Post 72
4th quarter – 22 seconds
Fairport 77, Corning/Painted Post 72
Red Raiders drains time off the clock, then Noah Meabon finds Fairport teammate Alex Grejda alone near the basket for a layup.
4th quarter – 2:13 remaining
Fairport 75, Corning/Painted Post 68
Hadi Dergham makes a free throw, misses the second. Fairport teammate Noah Meabon grabs the rebound and scores.
4th quarter – 2:39 remaining
Fairport 72, Corning/Painted Post 68
Carter Proudfoot nails a very long 3-pointer for the Hawks.
4th quarter – 4:30 remaining
Fairport 68, Corning/Painted Post 65
Timeout Fairport after the Hawks score five points in a row, including a layup at the end of drive by Carter Proudfoot.
4th quarter – 5:04 remaining
Fairport 68, Corning/Painted Post 63
Red Raiders from Section V take their biggest lead in this game after Hadi Dergham makes a pair of free throws.
End of 3rd quarter
Fairport 61, Corning/Painted Post 56
Fairport guard/forward Alex Grejda may have 20 points after he hits a fadeaway jump shot before the buzzer at the end of the quarter.
3rd quarter – 1:29 remaining
Fairport 57, Corning/Painted Post 51
Fairport guard Gannon Culver picks up his third foul. Hawks are in the bonus, but both free throws are missed.
3rd quarter – 4:59 remaining
Fairport 47, Corning Painted/Post 45
Red Raiders have first lead of game after another basket by Alex Grejda.
3rd quarter -5:30 remaining
Fairport 45, Corning/Painted Post 45
Red Raiders wipe out a lead for Corning/Painted Post with a 6-0 spurt.
Half
Corning/Painted Post 42, Fairport 39
Fairport trailed by 19 points, 36-17, before stronger defensive pressure, especially in the Corning/Painted Post backcourt, helped the Red Raiders reel in the Hawks. Shots in the lane also began to fall for the Red Raiders.
All five starters for Corning/Painted Post have scored at least six points.
2nd quarter – 1:31 remaining
Corning/Painted Post 36, Fairport 31
Fairport Red Raiders come alive. A 14-0 run is capped by a 3-pointer by Antonio Nurse.
Hadi Dergham began the push with a putback and scoring after a half-turn down the lane. Dergham then went down the lane again before he dumped the ball off to Alex Grejda for a layup.
A steal leads to a dunk by Noah Meabon, who later adds another field goal and a free-throw.
Early 2nd quarter
Corning/Painted Post 27, Fairport 11
All five starters for the Hawks have scored, including Carter Proudfoot, who comes up with a steal near center court and scores with a layup.
End of 1st quarter
Corning/Painted Post 21, Fairport 9
1st quarter – about 3 minutes remaining
Corning/Painted Post 18, Fairport 7
Carter Proudfoot hits a 3-pointer and a basket by Michael Gill extends the Hawks’ lead. Fairport is disjointed on offense, missing layups and short shots.
1st quarter – 6:15 remaining
Corning/Painted Post 7, Fairport 0
Kyler Stevenson and two baskets by Kohl Hogue, including a 3-pointer has the Hawks off to a fast start.
When is the Fairport vs. Corning/Painted Post NYS Class AAA boys basketball semifinal?
Tip off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 20.
Where is the Fairport vs. Corning/Painted Post Class AAA boys basketball state tournament semifinal game played?
Binghamton, inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena
Fairport Red Raiders boys basketball
Corning/Painted Post boys basketball
Fairport boys basketball photos
Corning/Painted Post boys basketball photos
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Fairport survives tight battle and is one win from a state title
Reporting by James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
