The winners’ reward?

A trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four next weekend in Glens Falls.

Below are previews of the Class AA, Class C and Class D matchups against the Section V opponents.

CLASS D

The Westfield Wolverines win their first Section VI title since 2003, last Friday at Jamestown Community College. OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg

WESTFIELD VS. AVOCA/PRATTSBURGH

NOON

Nolan Swanson is the proprietor of Pinehurst Golf Club in Westfield, but when customers have stopped by to use the indoor simulators in recent weeks, the talk has been equal parts the gentleman’s game and high school hoops.

That’s because the Westfield team he coaches will be playing Avoca/Prattsburgh tomorrow, with the winner advancing to the NYSPHSAA Final Four next week.

“It’s exciting down here,” Swanson said.

Made even more so by the fact that Avoca/Prattsburgh (24-0) is the No. 1 team in the state and sports a 35-game winning streak. The Wolverines (22-1) are No. 2 in the polls and have won 21 straight.

“It’s an epic game,” Swanson said. “It’s 1 vs. 2, 35-game winning streak against a 21-game winning streak. How often do you get that?”

Westfield advanced to its first regional since 2003 after knocking off Sherman in the Section VI championship game last Friday. The Vikings moved on after defeating Batavia Notre Dame 71-51 in the Section V crossover Wednesday night.

“They play fast and they play aggressive ball,” Swanson said. “There’s a reason why they’ve won 35 games in a row, for sure.”

Pacey Hopkins’ 16 points and 10 rebounds led Avoca/Prattsburgh to a second straight title in a game played at Dansville High School. Hopkins, Swanson said, is the “glue of the team.”

Meanwhile, Caleb Johnson scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half; Macoy Putnam had 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists; Haden Abbott added 10 points and 13 rebounds; and Sawyer Devoe had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

“I feel like seeing them in person was a good idea,” Swanson said. “I’m glad we went. I thought it was more evident of their ability. There are a couple things we can prepare for in the two days leading up to the game and be ready.”

The Wolverines, who have playoff wins over Franklinville, Pine Valley and Sherman, are led by Darien Swanson. The senior guard is tops on the team in scoring (19.1 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (7 apg), steals (3.9 spg) and blocks (1.6 ppg). Brother Carson Swanson, a freshman, is averaging 15.4 points, including a team-best 65 3-pointers; and seniors Cole Holland and Ethan Weingart are averaging 12.4 and 7 points per game respectively. Senior Wyatt Schuster and junior Chris Rotunda provide rebounding strength inside.

“The boys are confident, they’re ready and we should be,” Coach Swanson said.

When the Wolverines last reached this point in the state playoffs 19 years ago, they were coached by Bob North.

When the two men chatted this week, the message was simple.

“He gave me some good advice,” Swanson said.

And that was?

“Go get it.”

CLASS AA

JAMESTOWN VS. AQUINAS

3:30 P.M.

The last time Jamestown faced Section V’s Aquinas was in the 2015 Class AA Far West Regional.

The Red Raiders led late in that game before falling 76-70, denying them a second straight trip to the NYSPHSAA Final Four.

The question of whether they can return to Glens Falls for the first time in eight years and the third time in school history will be determined Saturday afternoon, once again against Aquinas in the Far West Regional.

If Jamestown (19-3), ranked No. 11 in the state, can continue to play like it has the last several weeks, anything is possible.

Consider:

Entering the postseason, Jamestown’s opponents were shooting just under 38% from the field and 24% from the arc. This after spending all but the final game of the regular season pressing and trapping full court.

But a switch in strategy has paid even greater dividends in the last three weeks.

“This team has done it in a much different way than (my) other teams,” said Red Raiders coach Ben Drake, who has a 405-130 record in 24 seasons. “Our defense has been really, really good, our rebounding has been exceptional and we’re blocking shots. We just have a level of toughness about us.”

Sparked by a stingy half-court defense, the Red Raiders gave Lancaster and Niagara Falls fits in the sectional semifinal and championship games. In those two wins, Jamestown yielded an average of just 38 points.

“I’m really happy how we’ve played, last week especially,” Drake said. “We play with a level of toughness and mindset that wins basketball games in the postseason. I just really like where we’re at.”

Offensively, five Red Raiders average at least 8 points per game. Junior Trey Drake (13.8) and seniors Jaylen Butera (13.5) and Jaral Farmer (12.3) lead the way, followed by junior Sean Paige (8.8) and senior Andre Maple (8.0), who scored 20 points in the sectional final victory.

Senior Drayce Garland, who joins Drake, Butera, Farmer and Maple in the starting lineup, isn’t relied on to score a ton, but is second on the team in steals and third in assists. Farmer leads in rebounds per game (8.9) and blocks (1.7); Maple leads in assists (3.2), and Butera is tops in steals (2.6). Junior Darius Freeney has played a critical role off the bench, especially during the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Aquinas (19-3), ranked No. 10 in the state, advanced to the Far West Regional after routing Rush-Henrietta 77-43 for its first Section V title since 2016.

Ten players scored for the Little Irish. Senior forward Myles Blackwood and Mason Blackwood, a sophomore forward, led the way with 16 points each. Senior forward Jack Bleier had 12 points, while junior guard Mykel White had 11 and senior guard Robert McCullough added 10.

“They’re a very talented team, an athletic team,” Drake said. “They’ve been the best team in Rochester all year long. It will certainly be a challenge.”

If Jamestown is up to the challenge, it will take a bus ride to the North Country late next week.

“Once you get over the hump and make that trip to Glens Falls and realize how special it is to go to the state Final Four, there’s just nothing like it,” Drake said. “You want to go back. I want it for these guys to experience what that’s like.”

CLASS C

SALAMANCA VS. AVON

1:45 P.M.

It happens after every basketball game.

Without fail.

Lucus Brown will sidle up to Adam Bennett and the first words out of the Salamanca sophomore’s mouth will be in the form of a question: “Did I make you proud tonight, Coach?”

Bennett is pretty proud of all the Warriors these days.

As he should be.

Because, by virtue of their victory over Holland last Friday, they secured the program’s first Section VI championship in 54 years.

For two days, Salamanca (16-7), the state’s seventh-ranked team, savored it.

“There’s been a buzz in the community,” Bennett said. “I gave our kids the weekend, and that’s probably the first weekend we’ve had off all year, but I wanted them to enjoy the moment and flip the switch Sunday night and, hopefully, we’ll do something more.”

The Warriors will get that chance at 1:45 p.m. Saturday when they’ll face Section V’s Avon, the state’s eighth-ranked. Avon (21-3) advanced by knocking off Oakfield-Alabama 56-43 in the Section V crossover game Wednesday night.

“They’re hungry,” Bennett said of his crew.

Salamanca is also playing its best basketball of the season at precisely the right time. Since returning to full strength late in the regular season, the Warriors have knocked off Portville in the sectional quarterfinals and top-seeded Randolph in the semifinals before their 70-51 win over Holland, led by Brown’s 32 points, including seven 3-pointers, and 15 rebounds.

Brown, who sat out a handful of games toward the end of the regular season only to return with a vengeance, tops the team in scoring (20.4 ppg) and in 3-pointers made (54), but he’s had plenty of help. Seniors Harley Hoag (13.5 ppg), Andy Herrick (12.8 ppg), Hayden Hoag (7 apg), RJ McLarney (7.8 ppg) and Cole Hedlund (6.3 ppg) have all played crucial roles in getting the Warriors to Saturday’s Elite Eight.

“To be part of a team that cares so much (is special),” Bennett said. “These kids are great people and they’re all going to be giant successes in whatever they decide to do.”

To be successful on the court in their immediate future, however, the Warriors will have to get past Avon.

Lee Hartke led Avon on Wednesday night with 13 points; Jack Brown had 11 points and five assists; Zach Colvin added 10 points and 10 rebounds; and Michael Rowland chipped in 10 points.

“They’re a very good team,” Bennett said. “They have great guards, they have a big kid who can rebound and also stretch it out and shoot the ball, and you can tell they’re well-coached. They do a really nice job.

“Any team at this level is going to be competitive and a tough opponent, but I like how we’re playing, too. The challenge is to do what’s gotten us here and do it as well as we can. … You understand that the team that takes care of the little things and plays their hardest is the one that moves on.”