Salamanca’s Lucus Brown puts up a jumper during Saturday’s Section VI Class B1 final against Newfane at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

BUFFALO — With just under a minute remaining in the Section VI Class B1 championship basketball game Saturday afternoon, Salamanca senior Lucus Brown walked toward the bench where he was greeted by head coach Adam Bennett.

The pair shared an embrace and Bennett appeared to say over and over, “We did it, we did it, we did it.”

Yes, in fact, the Warriors did.

Always seeming to be most comfortable when the lights are the brightest, Brown poured in 26 points to lead the top-seeded Warriors to a convincing 61-43 victory over No. 3 Newfane in the Section VI Class B1 championship game at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

The win advances Salamanca (18-5) into the crossover game against No. 5 Falconer (15-9), a 59-47 winner over No. 2 Eden in the Class B2 title game, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, back at Buffalo State.

That matchup will likely feature a heavy dose of Brown, who also had four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while shooting 10 of 16 from the floor.

“He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen,” Bennett said. “For 10 years, I was at St. Bonaventure and I saw a lot of good players. I worked at Olean (High School) and I’ve seen Division I athletes, and he’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Two years ago when we lost in Glens Falls, we got home at 3 in the morning and at 6:30 I had a text on my phone that said, ‘Let’s get back in the gym,’ and it’s been like that every day for two years.”

For those seeing Brown for the first time, they were treated to his talents from the start as he poured in 11 points, including a 3-pointer from the logo to end the first quarter. By that point, Salamanca led 17-8, a margin that ballooned to 33-14 by halftime.

“For him to have the performance he did on the big stage is not luck, he deserves it,” Bennett said. “He’s earned it with all the work that he’s put in. I’m so thankful for him, and who he is as a person. It’s not only what he represents from a basketball standpoint, but what he represents as a person and as a leader to his teammates.”

The Panthers (20-3) did cut the deficit to 39-27 and Brown did pick up his fourth foul with a shade over three minutes to go in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get.

Joining Brown in double figures was Cory Holleran, who scored 10 points, and collected six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block coming off the bench. Jaxson Ross drilled three 3-pointers and finished with 9 points to go along with five assists; and Maddox Isaac scored 7 points, and had seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block;

Nate Snow led Newfane with 16 points and Mac Capen chipped in 10.

For Salamanca, it’s now on to Tuesday.

“Last year we left this place with a really tough, bad feeling in our mouths,” Bennett said about losing to Fredonia. “Andy Herrick (a senior captain on that team) gave us a goal. He said, ‘The job’s not done. You’ve got to finish the job for me.’ So, it’s not only for all these guys, but it’s for him. I’m just so proud of them. They deserve a sectional title.”

Standing in the Warriors’ way from advancing to this Saturday’s Far West Regional is Falconer.

“I can’t give Coach (Jordan) Goold enough credit,” Bennett said. “What he’s done there in the last four years is unbelievable.”

NEWFANE (43)

Snow 6 0 16, Courtemanche 3 0 6, Nagl 0 0 0, Braman 2 1 6, Capen 5 0 10, Seitz 1 0 2, Oudette 0 0 0, Emmons 0 0 0, Czekaj 0 0 0, Dickinson 1 0 3. Totals 18 1 43.

SALAMANCA (61)

Herrick 0 0 0, Bradley 1 0 2, Isaac 1 4 7, Gillman 0 0 0, Crouse 0 0 0, ABrown 1 2 4, Ross 3 0 9, LBrown 10 1 26, Holleran 4 0 10, Winship 0 0 0, Trietley 0 0 0, Whitcomb 0 0 0, Austin 1 0 3. Totals 21 7 61.

3-point goals–Snow 4, Braman, Ross 3, LBrown 5, Austin.

Newfane 8 6 16 13 — 43

Salamanca 17 16 13 15 — 61