Sunday, March 10, 2019: West Genesee scores 44 in final 12 minutes to win

   Leading off today: Down by 11 points entering the fourth quarter, West Genesee scored 44 points in just 12 minutes and defeated Saratoga Springs 70-55 in overtime Saturday to reach the NYSPHSAA boys Class AA basketball semifinals.

   The Wildcats scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 48 on guard Will Amica's end-to-end drive to score at the buzzer. Amica finished with 25 points.

   West Genesee carried the momentum over into OT and outscored the Blue Streaks 22-7.

   "This is crazy," Amica said. "It's unbelievable. I can't even put it in words."

   Saratoga Springs' Aidan Holmes hit two free throws with :16.8 left in regulation, but Kam Jones of West Genesee hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 47-46 with :06.3 left. Saratoga's Justin Kislowski made one of two free throws with :05.6 left and West Genesee inbounded to Amica, who drove down the right side of the court for the tying layup.

   Adam Dudzinski of West Genesee made a 3-pointer just six seconds into OT, and a pair of Amica baskets that made the score 56-50 started putting the game out of reach.

   More Class AA: Until the wild West Genesee finish, the large-school basketball story of the day was Saturday's opener, Kingston's 69-38 dismantling of Mount Vernon.

   Brian Moore had 27 points, four steals and four assists to lead the Tigers.

   "We watched a lot of film and our coaching staff, everybody, was on it. We walked through every set they had. We knew their hand signals," coach Ron Kelder said. "I got a great group of coaches. They banded together and put a plan together."

   The Tigers created 20 turnovers overall, converting them into 27 points. Mount Vernon was held to a single basket for the first six minutes of the second quarter, allowing the Tigers to forge a 35-15 halftime lead.

   Troy, Mendon impress: Latyce Faison's 3-pointer late in the first quarter put Troy ahead for good as the Flying Horses defeated Jamesville-DeWitt 78-58 in the Class A quarterfinals.

   Lateef Johnson scored 32 points on 11-for-14 shooting, and Faison shot 8-for-11 on his way to 18 points.

   Troy's semifinal opponent will be Pittsford Mendon, an 87-55 winner over Lewiston-Porter.

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   The Vikings' Dan Cook racked up a double-double in the first half and finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds while holding Lewiston-Porter star freshman Roddy Gayle to 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting.

   Glens Falls still rolling along: Joe Girard III scored 46 points, but Glens Falls turned to other players to get the ball rolling while their Syracuse-bound leader was struggling through a 2-for-10 first quarter with fur turnovers.

   When it was over, the Indians had defeated Ogdensburg 84-76 in Class B.

   "At the end of the first quarter, it's 15-14 but I'm thinking (Girard) hasn't even gotten shooting yet," coach Rob Girard said. "Then when he gets going, no one can cover him."

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   The state's all-time leading scorer shot 9-for-13 the rest of the way and finished with nine 3-pointers.

   Greenport advances: Jaxan Swann and Ahkee Anderson combined for 55 points in Greenport's 91-77 win over Tuckahoe in the Class C quarterfinals.

   Tuckahoe was up 21-16 at the end of the first quarter after scoring back-to-back threes, and opened the second with another before Swann (26 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and five steals) made his first of three 3-pointers. It sparked a 10-0 Greenport run capped by an Anderson (four 3-pointers) long-range shot that put the Porters out front for good.

   Swann was instrumental to the press that forced 24 turnovers and wore out Tuckahoe.

   "Coaches were telling me to be more 'handsy' on defense, not on the ball but off the ball, to jump more passes and be more aggressive," Swann said. "I just listened to them, got a couple steals, and after that it was all instinct."

   OESJ wins in 'D': Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville overcame a two-point deficit at the half to defeat Wells 57-40 in the Class D quarterfinals at Hudson Valley Community College.

   The Wolves put together a 19-5 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Zack Mosher and Chris Martin to take a 44-33 lead into the final eight minutes of play.