Sooner or later, the No. 1 state-ranked Penfield Patriots would end up on a figurative see-saw with a high school boys basketball postseason game up for grabs.
That moment came into sharp focus March 20 during the Class AA state tournament semifinals, when the Patriots and No. 2 state-ranked Seton Catholic played into overtime.
When the elimination game was over, it was the Patriots from Section V who sat on top, in the elevated seat of the see-saw, as 69-66 winners at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena near downtown Binghamton.
“This is why we went into lions’ dens,” Penfield coach Jason Ellis said about the Patriots’ regular season games away from Penfield. “This was always a goal (get prepared for tightly contested games).
“We controlled the first quarter, then the game was back and forth. We said, it doesn’t matter who wins what quarters. As long as the game stays close, we know we’re going to be the team that finishes on top.”
Penfield’s drive to the team’s first state championship continues, after 3-pointers on consecutive possessions by Ryan Savino and Jackson Green moved the Patriots from a one-point deficit to a five-point lead with less than a minute remaining in overtime.
The Patriots also held a five-point lead during the final minute of the fourth quarter, but the Saints rallied during the final 45 seconds.
“We shot ourselves in the foot, but it’s also a testament of how tough we are,” Ellis said.
What’s next
Penfield faces Amsterdam of Section II or Albany region, in the final on March 21 at 6 p.m. inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
Key plays of the Penfield vs. Seton Catholic state semifinal
Seton Catholic went ahead 64-63, after Liam Kozel cut behind Penfield defenders to receive a pass and make a lay up with 1:43 remaining in the overtime period.
Penfield senior forward Ryan Savino put the Patriots back in the lead when he confidently set up to take a 3-point shot that he made with 1:27 remaining in the overtime period.
Seton Catholic failed to score on its ensuing possession, and Penfield center Jake McCarthy grabbed the defensive rebound to give the Patriots a chance to extend the team’s lead. Jackson Green made it happen, when he made a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining in the overtime period that made the score 69-64.
By the numbers
19 – Point total for Penfield guard Jackson Green, a 6 foot-6 inches tall junior, including two 3-pointers.
24 – Points scored by Penfield guard CJ Johnson, a 6-5 junior. His total included two 3-pointers and a few baskets when Johnson rose above defenders during drives down the lanes.
12 – Point total for Jake McCarthy, a 6-9 center in his junior year season at Penfield. McCarthy also used his height to make scoring difficult at times for the Seton Catholic Saints.
31 – Game-high scoring total by Allan Eagles, a 6-3 senior in the Seton Catholic lineup.
13 – Points scored by Seton Catholic guard Angelo O’Connor, an eighth-grader who is 5-10.
9 – Total number of points scored by Seton Catholic senior Brian Dempsey.
Below, is how the exciting state semifinal between Binghamton-based Seton Catholic and Penfield unfolded:
Final – Overtime
Penfield 69, Seton Catholic 66
Seton Catholic Saints do get up a shot to potentially tie the game, but the 3-pointer is short. Penfield wins and advances.
Overtime – 13 seconds remaining
Penfield 69, Seton Catholic 66
Ryan Savino is fouled in the Penfield frontcourt. The Penfield forward misses both free throws. Seton Catholic gets the ball up court. Allan Eagles takes a 3-point shot that is blocked but the Saints keep possession because a jump ball is called on the rebound with one second remaining.
Overtime – 17 seconds remaining
Penfield 69, Seton Catholic 66
Allan Eagles delivers, makes a 3-pointer for the Saints to cut Penfield’s lead.
Overtime – 40 seconds remaining
Penfield 69, Seton Catholic 64
Penfield Patriots get 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to take a five-point lead. Ryan Savino and then Jackson Green hit to bring Penfield back from a one-point deficit.
End of 4th quarter
Seton Catholic 59, Penfield 59
4th quarter – 17 seconds remaining
Seton Catholic 59, Penfield 59
Saints get another turnover, Liam Kozel scores on a layup.
4th quarter – 27 seconds
Penfield 59, Seton Catholic 57
Saints get a turnover and turns it into a 3-pointer by Angelo O’Connor.
4th quarter – 46 seconds remaining
Penfield 59, Seton Catholic 54
CJ Johnson makes two free throws awarded when Seton Catholic calls a time out that the team did not have.
4th quarter – 1:26 remaining
Penfield 57, Seton Catholic 54
Penfield maintains three-, four-point lead, then gets it to five points on a free throw by Jackson Green. Allan Eagles then gets a steal for Seton Catholic and lays it in.
4th quarter – 7:00
Penfield 54, Seton Catholic 49
Patriots from Section V get baskets on back-to-back possessions without an answer from the Saints. Ryan Savino scores inside, then after a steal by Ethan McEntire, CJ Johnson drives to the basket during a halfcourt set.
3rd quarter – 25 seconds remaining
Penfield 50, Seton Catholic 49
Patriots have the lead back after Aaron Hardaway cuts to the basket, takes a pass and finishes. Jackson Green is out of the game with discomfort in one of his feet.
3rd quarter – midway through
Seton Catholic 47, Penfield 42
Allan Eagles builds lead for Seton Catholic to five points on a reverse layup.
3rd quarter – 5:17 remaining
Seton Catholic 42, Penfield 41
Saints from Section IV take the lead for a period of time after trading the advantage with Penfield.
3rd quarter – 7:56
Seton Catholic 36, Penfield 36
Two free throws by Allan Eagles evens the score. Penfield center Jake McCarthy now has three fouls.
Halftime
Penfield 36, Seton Catholic 34
The Saints from Binghamton close the first half on a 7-0 run to reduce Penfield’s lead, that was high as nine points. Malik Wimberly hits a 3-pointer with 58 seconds remaining. Wimberly later gets a steal to help set up a basket by Brian Dempsey with 33 seconds remain.
Penfield’s CJ Johnson commits a foul while trying to get at the ball after a Patriots possession, giving Allan Eagles a pair of free throws that he makes. Eagles has two fouls.
2nd quarter -2:41 remaining
Penfield 33, Seton Catholic 27
Jackson Green puts in a missed shot by CJ Johnson for Penfield.
2nd quarter – 5:12 remaining
Penfield 27, Seton Catholic 18
CJ Johnson scores in the paint and Jackson Green hits a floater over a defender on back-to-back possessions for Penfield. Time-out Seton Catholic.
End of 1st quarter
Penfield 21, Seton Catholic 14
Penfield Patriots put together another 9-0 run before a basket by Seton Catholic just before the end of the quarter.
1st quarter
Seton Catholic 12, Penfield 12
Seton Catholic answers a run by Penfield with a 7-0 run. Brian Dempsey scores. Allan Eagles scores after he drives to the basket and Malik Wimberly hits a 3-pointer to even the score.
1st quarter – 3:44 remaining
Penfield 12, Seton Catholic 5
Penfield has a 7-0 run after Jackson Green finishes off a fastbreak, before Seton Catholic can set up a 2-3 zone. A 3-pointer by Jackson gets the push by Penfield started. Jake McCarthy then provides a basket inside.
Penfield boys basketball
Seton Catholic boys basketball
Penfield boys basketball photos
Seton Catholic boys basketball photos
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Penfield punches ticket to state title game with OT thriller
Reporting by James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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