Twenty-five years later — almost to the day — the top-seeded Red & Green claimed another sectional crown, rolling past No. 2 Lockport 69-44 in the Class AA1 title game.

The common thread connecting both teams?

One Billy Miley.

In 1998-99, he was a starter on the squad that was led by all-state guard Maceo Wofford.

Jamestown senior Greg Brumagin snags a rebound away from Lockport's TreighJon Hill (13) in the Section VI Class AA1 final at Buffalo State College on Saturday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Late Saturday night, in that very same Buffalo State Sports Arena gym, Miley was also the guy answering postgame questions about how Jamestown claimed its eighth crown since then.

To suggest his first season after replacing Drake, who stepped down last spring with 425 career wins, has gone pretty darn well would be an understatement.

“It’s a hard job coming in the first year as a head coach and having high expectations,” said junior guard Jaydian Johnson, who poured in a game-high 27 points, “but he’s been a great coach, been honest, been really strict and we get things done, thanks to Coach Miley. I’m proud of him.”

Lockport found out in a hurry how good the Red & Green (19-4), which lost to Niagara Falls in the Class AA final last season, can be.

Sophomore Dominic Gonzalez scored the first 9 points of the game on his way to 21 and Johnson erupted for 21 of his game-high 27 points in the second half as Jamestown defeated the Lions for the second time this season.

The Jamestown Red & Green celebrate with the Section VI Class AA1 championship plaque after beating Lockport on Saturday at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“I would find it hard to believe there are five guys (in Western New York) better than him, especially scoring,” Miley said of Johnson. ” … He’s a kid who works on his game, he’s a gym rat, he loves getting better and I know he’ll come back next year even better because he works at it.”

Gonzalez, according to Miley, fits the same description.

“He’s just a gamer,” Miley said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence at both ends, and he certainly belongs. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Together Johnson and Gonzalez shot 19 of 34 from the field, including 7 of 13 from the arc. They were also assisted by senior guard Greg Brumagin, who held Lockport’s leading scorer, Charlie Croff, to 11 points, six below his average.

It was the kind of performance that the Jamestown program has produced regularly each March for the last generation.

“Certainly, Coach Drake was one of the best around, but it’s a program standard and the guys who’ve been involved — Coach (Marty) Stockwell and Coach (Tage) Hall — it’s the expectation we have. … I thought halfway through the season (a sectional title) could really be a possibility. Guys really accepted their role and played the way we’re capable of playing at all times.”

The win sets up Tuesday’s 8 p.m. crossover game, back at Buffalo State, against Health Sciences, which stunned Williamsville East with a bucket in the final seconds to post a wild 61-59 overtime victory in the Class AA2 final.

“They’re definitely a tough team,” Miley said of Health Sciences (20-3). “They have a lot of athletes. (Amir) Moye is certainly up there as one of the top players in Western New York. It certainly presents a challenge, but anyone at this stage in the game is certainly going to be solid. We’re looking forward to it.”

NOTES: As a team, Jamestown shot a blistering 29 of 55 from the floor, including 8 of 20 from distance, compared to 18 of 52 for Lockport. … The Red & Green also held a 28-22 rebounding edge with Bishop Butts leading the way with eight and Elijah Farmer grabbing six. … Gonzalez also had five assists and three steals; and Butts collected three steals, three assists and two blocks. … Farmer also had a pair of blocks. … Mike Griffin joined Croff as the Lions’ top scorer with 11 points. … Jamestown defeated Lockport 74-48 on Dec. 29 at McElrath Gymnasium.

LOCKPORT (44)

Williams 2 0 4, Croff 3 5 11, Davis 0 0 0, Griffin 5 0 11, Pietricone 1 0 3, Cooper 3 0 6, Barry 3 1 7, Rodriguez 0 0 0, Hill 1 0 2, Schultz 0 0 0, Burton 0 0 0, Zavarella 0 0 0, Woods 0 0 0, Sherman 0 0 0. Totals 18 6 44.

JAMESTOWN (69)

Farmer 3 0 6, Gonzalez 9 0 21, Foust 0 0 0, Brumagin 1 0 2, Sanchez 1 0 3, Rodriguez 0 0 0, Thagard 0 0 0, Carlson 2 0 4, Kindberg 0 0 0, Vrist 0 0 0, Butts 3 0 6, JJohnson 10 3 27, HJohnson 0 0 0. Totals 29 3 69.

3-point goals–Griffin, Pietricone, Gonzalez 3, Sanchez, JJohnson 4.

Lockport 12 5 10 17 — 44

Jamestown 17 11 23 18 — 69