But the senior guard was hardly in a celebratory mood.

His body language told an entirely different story.

For in a postseason in which the Red & Green had played so magnificently, the shots just wouldn’t fall — especially in the decisive fourth quarter — and they dropped a 52-38 decision to Elmont Memorial.

The win vaulted the Section VIII Spartans into the championship game at 7 p.m. today against Section III West Genesee, a 79-61 winner over Section IX Our Lady of Lourdes in the other semifinal. Jamestown, meanwhile, finished its season 21-5, the first under head coach Billy Miley.

Jamestown's Dominic Gonzalez rises for a shot above Elmont Memorial's Gemere Frias-Walsh during the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA boys basketball semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena on Friday. P-J photo by Steve Garvey

“They have some size and some length, and they’re pretty active in their zone,” Miley said, attempting to explain his team’s offensive malaise. “That makes it tough to find some openings. There were a couple I thought we could knock down that we, unfortunately, didn’t. After we missed a few, guys were a little reluctant and the ball stopped moving like it needed to against a zone like that. … We got a little tentative against it and it was a recipe for disaster.”

For the first nine minutes, however, the Red & Green felt quite comfortable in their fourth trip to the final four since 2011. In fact, thanks to eight points from sophomore Dominic Gonzalez and six from senior Bishop Butts, Jamestown led 17-7 with 7:23 remaining in the second quarter. Gonzalez connected on two of his patented floaters in the lane, scored on a drive and on a jump shot, while Butts drilled a pair of corner 3-pointers. Ironically, the lead could have been even greater, but the Red & Green missed a couple easy shots.

Still, all seemed good for Miley’s crew.

And then?

For as well as Jamestown was holding its own defensively, it went completely ice cold on offense. In fact, after connecting on six of their eight shots in the first quarter, the Red & Geen’s shooting in the final three periods was not up to snuff, thanks to Elmont Memorial’s switch from man-to-man to zone.

Jamestown's Jaydian Johnson steps away from Elmont Memorial defender Osagie Ekhator for a shot during the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA boys basketball semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena on Friday. P-J photo by Steve Garvey

The numbers confirm it.

Jamestown shot just 15 of 46 from the field overall, including only 9 of 38 in the final three periods. Incredibly, it trailed by only a point, 31-30, heading into the final eight minutes. But Elmont Memorial, behind its superior size, put the game away by outscoring the Red & Green 21-8 to secure a spot in the state championship game.

“We jumped out to that early lead, but it’s a game of runs,” Miley said. “I wasn’t expecting to run away certainly at that point. Shots that were open we started missing. … They were tough. I think their length made it difficult for us to get some easy looks. They’re a pretty good defensive team, they’ve played a lot of low-scoring games and made it tough for teams to score. It was kind of our turn today.”

Leading the way for the Spartans was Cassius Moore with 17 points, Osagie Ekhator had 10 and Nassir Edwards chipped in 9. In the decisive final period, they hit their first four shots and finished 6 of 9 overall. By midway through the quarter, Elmont Memorial led 44-32.

It was more than enough.

Gonzalez paced Jamestown with 15 points, and Butts and Jaydian Johnson added 7 apiece. Butts was a force defensively as he was credited with six blocked shots – it seemed more like 10 – to go along with nine rebounds, but he and Johnson fouled out in the closing minutes.

Despite the loss, Miley allowed that “no one game — good or bad — should define anybody or a season.”

“It certainly doesn’t define us,” he continued. “We did a lot of good things all season long and had a nice run the last couple weeks. I thought the kids fought hard. Unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in the bucket, and it’s tough to win when that happens.”

NOTES: Elmont Memorial, which had a starting lineup that featured three players 6-foot-4 or better, held a 43-29 rebounding advantage. Ekhator bossed the board with 12 and Nwabudu Ebubenna grabbed 11. … Elijah Farmer had eight rebounds for the Red & Green. … In the turnover department, Jamestown had 10 and the Spartans had nine. … The Red & Green move to Class AAA next season, but the cupboard will hardly be bare. Butts and Brumagin are the only starters that Miley will lose to graduation.

JAMESTOWN (38)

Farmer 1 0 2, Gonzalez 7 0 15, Brumagin 1 1 4, Sanchez 1 0 3, Carlson 0 0 0, Butts 2 1 7, Johnson 3 1 7, Totals 15 5 38.

ELMONT MEMORIAL (52)

Muhammad 3 0 6, Moore 5 4 17, Ekhator 4 2 10, Edwards 1 0 2, Nwabudu 4 1 9, Brown 0 4 4, Frias-Walsh 2 0 4, Dias 0 0 0, Totals 19 11 52.

3-point goals–Gonzalez, Brumagin, Sanchez, Butts 2, Moore 3.

Jamestown 14 7 9 8 — 38

Elmont Memorial 7 14 10 21 — 52