“Nice adjustment,” said Drake, the school’s athletic director.

It sure was.

Needing someone to try to contain Lockport’s white-hot Charlie Croff — the owner of a 24-point first half — Miley gave the defensive assignment to Elijah Farmer.

The 6-foot-5 senior more than passed the test.

Jamestown’s Gavin Johnson lays a shot over Lockport’s Lennox Carter during a nonleague boys basketball game at McElrath Gymnasium on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

In fact, he aced it.

Not only did Farmer score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds, but he also limited the talented Croff to 7 points after the break to highlight the Red & Green’s 61-49 nonleague victory over the Lions.

“We knew we had to step up and that’s what we did,” Farmer said. “…Defense is really what wins games.”

The victory evened Jamestown’s record at 2-2, while Lockport, which is a member of the Niagara Frontier League, dropped to 4-3.

“We certainly have a ways to go,” Miley said postgame, “but we have made some progress from what we saw in those first two games (losses to St. Joe’s and Canisius).”

Jamestown’s Dom Gonzalez sends a floater past Lockport’s Charlie Croff. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

But as the Red & Green headed to the locker room at intermission late Saturday afternoon, there had to be real concern whether they would leave the Mac with a win, because Croff was on fire, scoring 17 points in the first quarter and 7 more in the second.

Enter Farmer.

Shadowing Croff at every opportunity, Farmer’s length forced the former to take contested shots, and the teams headed to the final period with Jamestown leading 41-38.

“I thought that was one of Elijah’s best defensive performances,” Miley said. “He really used his length to his advantage and made it very difficult for Charlie to make some shots in the second half, and I think that certainly springboarded us to a win today.”

The fourth quarter belonged to Jamestown, which outscored the Lions 17-6 in the first seven minutes to win going away.

Senior guard Dominic Gonzalez led the rally with 10 of his 23 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and junior Karson Milne chipped in 5. Armed with a 58-44 lead after MIlne’s traditional three-point play with a shade over a minute remaining, Jamestown’s second straight victory was assured.

“(Dom) is by far our best shooter when he’s getting kick-out jump shots and we found him two or three times in the fourth quarter and he knocked them down and really blew open the game,” Miley said.

The Lions did lead 20-13 after the first quarter, courtesy of Croff’s incredible shooting, but the Red & Green held a 31-29 advantage at halftime as Lockport committed nine turnovers in the second quarter and Farmer scored 13 points.

“To score like that and to do it with basketball savvy and skill level, you can tell the work he’s put in,” Miley said of Croff. “We’ve been playing him the last couple years and every year he has come back a different player.”

NOTES: In addition to his team-leading point total, Gonzalez grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and had six steals. … Milne grabbed nine rebounds. … Lockport, which shot 19 of 45 from the floor, was guilty of 25 turnovers. … Jamestown shot 23 of 54, committed 19 turnovers and held a 36-27 rebounding advantage. … Jaydian Johnson (Class of 2025) was honored during a pregame ceremony when his name was added to the Wall of Fame. In four varsity seasons (2022-2025), the 6-1 guard scored 1,320 points and was a two-time All-State selection (fifth team in 2024 and fourth team in 2025). … In the junior varsity game, Jamestown (1-2) defeated Lockport 58-46. Lajuan Kevoian led the way for the Red & Green with 13 points. … The Red & Green return to action Tuesday when they entertain Sweet Home. The jayvee game is scheduled for 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest at 6:30 p.m.

LOCKPORT (49)

NBohlman 5 0 11, Croff 11 5 31, Walker 1 0 3, Carter 0 0 0, S. Bohlman 1 0 2, Patterson 1 0 2, Totals 19 5 49.

JAMESTOWN (61)

Farmer 8 4 22, Gonzalez 9 1 23, Johnson 1 1 3, Thagard 2 0 5, Barr 0 1 1, KarMilne 3 1 7, Totals 23 8 61.

3-point goals — NBohlman, Croff 4, Walker, Farmer 2, Gonzalez 4, Thagard.

Lockport 20 9 9 11 — 49

Jamestown 13 18 10 20 — 61

Jayvees: Jamestown 58, Lockport 46