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That Makes Three

Red & Green Holds Off Health Sciences For Trifecta Of AAA Titles

Jamestown senior Dominic Gonzalez drives past Health Sciences defender Isaiah Guerrero during the Section VI Class AAA championship game at the Buffalo State Sports Arena on Friday night. Photo courtesy of Cody Jacobson

BUFFALO — Dominic Gonzalez has had plenty of outstanding performances on the hardwood during his career at Jamestown High School.

Friday night very well could have been his best.

On Western New York’s biggest stage to boot.

The senior guard scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists, and had one block and one steal to lead the second-seeded Red & Green to a 61-55 victory over No. 1 Health Sciences in the Section VI Class AAA championship game before a large crowd at Buffalo State Sports Arena.

The win, which earned Jamestown (18-4) its third straight sectional title and its 19th all-time, advances it into the Far West Regional at 5 p.m. next Friday against either Fairport or Rush-Henrietta of Section V, back at Buffalo State.

Jamestown senior Dominic Gonzalez celebrates with the Section VI Class AAA championship plaque in the Red & Green student section after defeating Health Sciences 61-55 at the Buffalo State Sports Arena on Friday night. Photo courtesy of Cody Jacobson

Another trip to the Red & Green’s March “home away from home” was made possible, courtesy of Gonzalez, fellow seniors Gavin Johnson and Elijah Farmer, who combined for 59 points, and a big boost from Jamestown’s role players; and an outstanding collective defensive effort through the first three quarters that helped them build a 45-27 lead.

And then things got a bit dicey.

Led by senior guard A’meer Moye, who came in averaging 24 points per game but was held scoreless until late in the third quarter, the Falcons (18-3) went on an 18-5 run during a three-minute stretch of the final period to trim the lead to 51-47 following a 3-pointer by Moye with 2:40 remaining. Playing without Farmer, who fouled out seconds before, the Red & Green were teetering.

Then Johnson hit maybe the biggest shot of the game, connecting on a 3-pointer to push Jamestown’s lead to 54-47. And after a Health Sciences turnover on its next possession, Gonzalez nailed another shot from beyond the arc. Moye countered with a layup, but Gonzalez scored on a floater in the lane, providing Jamestown head coach Billy Miley with a little breathing room as the clock ticked down inside 90 seconds.

That turned out to be just enough as the Falcons got no closer than five points in the closing moments.

Jamestown’s Elijah Farmer attempts to dribble past Health Sciences defender Mychael Whitt during the Section VI Class AAA championship game at the Buffalo State Sports Arena on Friday. Photo courtesy of Cody Jacobson

Fittingly, after Jamestown’s Jordan Spencer made the first of two free throws with 10 seconds left, Gonzalez grabbed the rebound of the second attempt and, after missing his own putback, he grabbed yet another board and dribbled out the clock, setting off a wild on-court celebration. After the postgame awards ceremony, the Jamestown players joined the JHS student rooting section in the baseline bleachers for more frivolity.

Holding the Section VI championship plaque in the midst of the sea of humanity was Gonzalez, whose ear-to-ear smile said it all.

For three quarters, Jamestown’s 2-3 zone defense worked like a charm. In fact, the Red & Green led 15-6 after the first quarter, 30-16 at halftime and 45-27 heading into the final period, before Moye led the Falcons back. But, in the end, Jamestown held on, setting up yet another berth in the Far West Regional next week.

NOTES: Johnson finished with 18 points and Farmer had 17. … Gonzalez, Johnson and Farmer combined to shoot 24 of 39 from the field. … As a team, the Red & Green made 24 of 43 shots compared to 18 of 47 for Health Sciences. … The Falcons held a 28-27 rebounding advantage. … Jamestown committed 15 turnovers compared to 9 for Health Sciences. … Moye led the Falcons with 21 points, 17 in the fourth quarter.

JAMESTOWN (61)

Gonzalez 11 0 24, Farmer 8 0 17, Johnson 5 5 18, Milne 0 0 0, Spencer 0 1 1, Thagard 0 0 0, Barr 0 1 1, Totals 24 7 61.

HEALTH SCIENCES (55)

Young 2 2 6, Moye 6 7 21, Pedro 3 3 9, Witt 1 2 4, Guerrero 4 2 10, Ball 1 0 3, Hawkins 1 0 2, Totals 18 16 55.

3-point goals — Gonzalez 2, Farmer, Johnson 3, Moye 2, Ball.

Jamestown 15 15 15 16 — 61

Health Sciences 6 10 11 28 — 55

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