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Randolph teams compete in Class C FWR, Panama teams vie for ‘D’

By OBSERVER Staff Report 6 min read

Of the remaining Section VI basketball teams, the Randolph girls in Class C share the highest state ranking with the Panama girls of Class D at No. 2.

The Cardinals (19-4) started off with a tough schedule, losing the first three games of the season, but since then they have been on a tear all the way to today's 3 p.m. Far West Regional matchup against Section V champion Pavilion (21-3) at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

However, what's special about this Cardinals roster is that they have a triple-threat on offense, led by eighth-grader Skyler Herington, senior Kyra Pence and sophomore Payton Morrison. In their run to the Section VI Class C title, Morrison scored 30 points in the 100-29 quarterfinal win over JFK; Herington scored 34 in the 58-38 semifinal win over Portville; and Pence capped things off with a 20-point performance in the 54-46 victory over Wilson in the finals.

Plenty of teams this far in the state tournament have a dual-threat on offense -- that's what Section V's Pavilion will bring to the table -- but Randolph is propelled by a trio where any of them could have a big night.

Pavilion is led by the duo of senior Lauren Kingsley and junior Karlee Zinkievich, with both averaging 18 points per game. Kingsley is also averaging 11.5 rebounds with 102 blocks on the year.

Pavilion was the No. 3 seed in the Class C2 bracket and marched through with wins over Red Jacket 69-37, Byron Bergen 49-25, Batavia-Notre Dame 51-42 and then Dundee/Bradford 45-36 for the Class C2 title. In its crossover game, Pavilion downed Oakfield-Alabama 43-22.

With Kingsley patrolling the post for Pavilion, Randolph could use some big games from its shooters beyond the arc. Through19 games, Morrison has made 60 treys for the Cardinals while Herington has hit 52 from downtown. Defensively, Randolph is led by Quinn Pence with 107 steals and Kyra Pence has 85.

Randolph will find out this afternoon if it can break into the state Final Four for the first time since 2012 when it lost in the state final to Hoosic Valley of Section II.

PANAMA BOYS

While the Panama girls basketball team is the second-ranked team in the state, its male counterparts are somewhat of a surprise competing in today's Far West Regional against defending NYSPHSAA Class D champion and current top-ranked Avoca/Prattsburgh at 5:30 p.m. at Rush-Henrietta High School.

The Panthers (16-6) will have their hands full against a Titans team that returns three starters, including junior Macoy Putnam, who was named the MVP of last year's State Final Four and MVP of this year's Section V Class D tournament.

Avoca/Prattsburgh (22-2) averages 83.3 points per game compared to the Panthers 57. If Panama wants to find success it will have to slow the pace and pick up its scoring.

Panama's biggest blow to the season was losing its top scorer Carter Brink to injury for the rest of the year, but that didn't stop the Panthers from rallying together on the way to a sectional title. Panama first knocked off Westfield 63-38, then dispatched No. 1 Ellicottville 47-36 and rallied to beat No. 2 Clymer 41-37 for the Section VI crown.

While nearly every player has been to the Far West Regional on Avoca/Prattsburgh, Panama is led by a trio of sophomores and just one senior. Prior to injury, Brink led the team in scoring with 19 ppg, but in his absence sophomores Bryce Hinsdale has stepped up at 13.2 ppg, Alex Barmore provides 8.7 ppg, Tate Catanese adds 6.3 and lone senior Gabe Roth scores 9.5 ppg.

Panama last appeared in the Far West Regional in 2019 where it won, but then lost in the state semifinal in an overtime thriller.

RANDOLPH BOYS

Similar to its female counterparts, the Randolph (19-4) boys basketball team is led by a triple-threat offense. The tandem of Drew Hind, Carson Conley and Jaiden Huntington has paved the way for the Cardinals' showdown in today's Class C Far West Regional against Section V's Lyons at Gates-Chili High School at 11 a.m.

Seniors Conley and Huntington score 15.6 ppg and 13.2 ppg respectively while sophomore Hind, a sophomore, leads with 16.1 ppg. The trio can beat you by attacking the basket and by pulling up from long range.

Randolph, ranked No. 5 in the state rankings, finds itself facing No. 4 Lyons (24-1). The Lions are a fast-paced offense that scores 80.2 ppg and allows just 44.8, while Randolph is scoring 65.7 ppg and allowing 45.6.

Lyons is led by its 6-5 senior JC Walker who is averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds per game and senior Jacob Sides adds 13 ppg.

The Lions emerged from Class C3 in Section V, beating Wheatland-Chili 67-45 to claim its sectional title, and posting wins over C1 champion Northstar 82-71 and C2 champion Pembroke 59-56 to advance to the Far West Regional.

Randolph marched through its playoff run with little trouble, beating Chautauqua Lake 71-46, Holland 59-42 and Frewsburg 70-47 to advance to its first Far West Regional since 2009.

PANAMA GIRLS

The Section VI girls basketball champion has won every Far West Regional since 2015 and the Panama Panthers look to continue that streak today against the Section V champion Keshequa at the Buffalo State Sports Arena at 1 p.m.

The Panthers are currently ranked No. 2 in the state and have been on a tear since the new year turned, last losing to Warren Area High School (Pennsylvania) on Dec. 28. Since then, Panama has rattled off 14 wins in a row, led by senior Mandy Brink.

Brink averages 23.1 ppg and is fourth overall in Section VI with 533 points this season. Brink's supporting cast includes Kaitlyn Horton with 9.7 ppg, Lilly Odell at 7.6 ppg and Kylie Morgan adds 6.8 ppg.

Despite being in Class D, Panama's record includes notable wins against two Section VI champions. It defeated Class C winner Randolph 48-41 and Class B2 champion Southwestern 68-54. On the way to its title, Panama knocked off Maple Grove 56-49, Franklinville 59-47 and defending champion and last year's state finalist Sherman 38-33.

Panama will be led by its senior Brink and Keshequa is led by the duo of junior Libby Banner and eighth-grader Braelyn Isaman. Banner averages 14 ppg for the Indians while Isaman adds another 10 ppg, but as of late sophomore Ava Thayer has stepped up, scoring a game-high 18 points in the Class D1 final and 12 points in the regional qualifier.

This is Panama's first appearance in the Far West Regional since 2017 when the Panthers came up just short to Heuvelton in the state finals.

Starting at /week.