Jamesville-DeWitt’s boys basketball team would test itself again when it hosted a tournament during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend – and pass that test, extending its win streak to six and improving its record to 10-2 overall.
The championship game Saturday afternoon pitted the Red Rams against West Genesee, an occasion made more special by the presence of most of the undefeated 2004 state championship team, which went 29-0 and gave head coach Bob McKenney the first of his five state titles at the school.
Many stars from that ’04 team, including Jeremy Black, Brian Becker, Corey Chavers and Ari Greenberg, were present to celebrate the team’s recent induction into the J-D Athletic Hall of Fame, though Andy Rautins, playing professional basketball in Italy, was unable to attend.
And the current Red Rams did not disappoint their championship predecessors, defeating West Genesee 74-65 in a game where it never trailed from the second quarter onward.
To break out of a 12-12 first-period tie, J-D turned to junior guard James Boeheim, who had 10 first-half points to lead the Rams to a 29-21 halftime lead.
At one point in the third quarter, the margin got to 42-28, but WG, who had surprised state Class A no. 3-ranked Albany Academy 51-49 in the previous night’s opening round, hung in there and, with a 3-pointer from Chris LaValle, cut the gap to five, 53-48, with more than five minutes left.
J-D settled down, though, and amid a blizzard of fouls and free throws got clear as Boeheim finished with 23 points, yet did not even make the All-Tournament team.
Jacob Eich, with his 10 points and tough work in the paint, garnered tournament MVP honors. Dom DeRegis had 12 of his 14 points in the second half, with Isaiah Williams adding 17 points as he and DeRegis both made the All-Tournament team.
On WG’s side, Shane Cunningham, another All-Tournament selection, had 24 points, most of them in the second half, while star forward Troy Temara managed 15 points before fouling out midway through the third quarter.
A night earlier, after West Genesee’s win over Albany Academy, the Red Rams faced Bishop Timon, from Buffalo, and played sensational defense in the first half to tame the Tigers in a 59-43 decision.
Already up 11-5, J-D took full command by outscoring Timon 23-7 in the second quarter. Eich, building his tournament MVP case, led with 15 points, while DeRegis earned 12 points.
Before the tournament, J-D paid a visit to Marcellus last Tuesday night, and thanks to a mid-game surge with Williams at the forefront, the Red Rams beat the Mustangs 71-50.
The two teams were tied, 13-13, through one period, but starting in the second quarter, J-D’s pressure and depth started to overwhelm Marcellus. Over the course of the second and third periods, the Rams outscored the Mustangs 48-20.
Williams would set a career mark, pouring in 28 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and eight successful free throws. DeRegis wasn’t quiet, either, finishing with 14 points as Boeheim and Eich had six points apiece. Mike Melnyczuk (15 points), Gavin Hoey (12 points) and Mike Dillon (11 points) all hit double figures for Marcellus.
