Jamestown, Salamanca return to state semis in boys basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two weeks of championship hoops culminated Saturday night at Buffalo State Sports Arena when Jaydian Johnson tossed the ball ahead to Bishop Butts for an emphatic slam that punctuated Jamestown’s triumph in the Class AA Far West Regional round.
Defeating the defending state champions Victor from Section V, 51-45, Jamestown advanced to the NSPHSAA semifinals for the fourth time since 2012. Joining them in Glens Falls will be Salamanca in Class B, back for the second time in three seasons, and Niagara Falls in Class AA, among the final four teams in contention for a state title for the eighth time in 24 years since the school opened.
Falls way leads back to Glens Falls
Butts led Jamestown with 16 points and a number of crucial blocked shots, while Johnson scored 15, making all eight of his free throw attempts to preserve the victory.
Salamanca was led by stellar guard Lucas Brown’s 24-point performance in a 56-52 win against Avon, but got pivotal plays in the decisive moments from younger brother Avery Brown (10 points), and Jacob Herrick sank two free throws to seals the win in the final seconds.
The other three Section VI champions — Williamsville South in Class A, Randolph in Class C, and Pine Valley in Class D — lost their Far West Regional games. In the AA Catholic state final, Bishop Timon, the top-ranked team in Western New York, lost 88-84 in double overtime against Chaminade at Hofstra University.
Wayne beat Williamsville South, 58-41, Avoca-Pratsburgh won 75-47 against Pine Valley, and defending state champion Randolph lost 61-44 against Lyons on Friday night.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
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