Who's back for reigning Section V boys basketball champs? A look at teams trying to repeat
WEBSTER — For a team that captured its first state championship in March, Victor was pretty tight lipped about their expectations for the 2023-24 boys basketball season Friday night.
But a quick glance at their roster and schedule would suggest that coach Tyler Roberts' Blue Devils have plans for another long postseason run.
Victor returns a few key players that ended a 45-year Section V title drought, such as All-Greater Rochester first team selections Garrett Clar and Nick Leonard. They guided Victor to a 24-3 while capturing Section V, Far West Regional and NYSPHSAA Class AA championships. Their season ended in the now defunct Federation tournament against a Long Island Lutheran team ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Avoca-Prattsburgh, the two-time Class D state champion, returns one of the area's best point guards in Macoy Putnam. Irondequoit and Newark, who advanced to the NYSPHSAA final and semifinals, respectively, also return key players after losing their leading scorers.
"This group, we're not looking back to last year. We're looking forward. We're looking at the task in front of us each day," said Roberts, the 2023 AGR Coach of the Year. "I'm really proud of this group for the amount of work they've put in in the offseason to prepare for this season."
Clar, Leonard back in Victor
Led by Clar and Leonard, Victor's roster is full of selfless players willing to defend. The Blue Devils' offensive sets have constant action, swinging the ball for the highest percentage shot. They are a championship caliber team because of their defense, though. In Friday's 67-52 win at Webster Thomas, Victor utilized a full court press and frisky 2-3 zone during a 21-4 third quarter.
Clar is far more than Victor's go-to scorer. He always makes the right pass, defends well, and can push the pill. Clar can score from anywhere, but the 3-point maestro is one of Section V's deadliest from distance. He hit seven 3-pointers in a 31-point performance at Thomas. Clar was also a Game MVP at Niagara Falls' Cataract Classic.
One of Section V's best football players, Leonard's size, strength and effort on the court is evident. But what makes him a dynamic post player is his soft touch at the rim and precise passing. His box outs and screens are similar to evading a brick wall, and he controls the glass. Leonard was named MVP of the Section V and NYSPHSAA tournaments.
Junior point guard Griffen Hopkins' role has increased after some guards graduated. Hopkins' wizardry 15-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist state championship game performance put him on notice. He has vision, can handle the rock, finish at the rim, pull up from deep, and he pressures backcourts in Victor's defensive sets.
Victor juniors Owen Dake, Brody Secker and Colin Kubrich, and freshman Randy Johnson, are also in the rotation.
"We have a lot of great players and we expect all of them to play 'team first' basketball," Roberts said. "We expect all of them to play defense. Those are the expectations for every player on our team. We don't point out any individual player to do anything other than what they're capable of doing."
Victor's caliber of opponents hints at their high hopes. The Blue Devils (1-1) opened the season with a 56-51 overtime loss at Niagara Falls in a rematch of the region final. Buffalo's Bishop Timon — Catholic state finalist — and Section III's Liverpool — lost in overtime of the NYS Class AA semifinals — are sprinkled on top of an already tough Monroe County slate.
"Every team we play is capable of beating us, and we're capable of beating every team we play. It's really just a matter of how focused we are that night and playing good, Victor basketball," Roberts said.
They said it: Victor Blue Devils
Garrett Clar: "Obviously winning states was a huge accomplishment but it's a new season so we've kind of forgot about it, and we're going one game at a time."
Griffen Hopkins: "Can't thank the coaching staff and the players enough for giving us just endless opportunities to get better in the offseason. We just hope it translates into the season."
Nick Leonard: "We're going to try to repeat what we did last year by doing the little things that are right. You stack up wins little by little, every single day, and they all add up afterward."
Chopped it up with Griffin Hopkins, Garrett Clar and Nick Leonard. Ring ceremony game Dec. 20 somebody remind me.
Thankful for Webster Thomas’ Levi Kulik and Shane Talbot sticking around too.
Video interviews coming soon 🏀 pic.twitter.com/8DFBpkYmOo— Marquel Slaughter🌊 (@MarquelSports) December 9, 2023
Reigning Section V boys basketball champions
This winter will crown a Section V Class AAA champion. The new classification will feature Fairport — Class AA runner-up — Edison Tech, Rush-Henrietta, Franklin, McQuaid, UPrep and Aquinas in the bracket.
To be the champ, you've got to beat the champ. Here are the reigning Section V champions and their key players:
Class AA: Victor, coach Tyler Roberts, Garrett Clar, Nick Leonard, Griffen Hopkins.
Class A1: Irondequoit, coach Kyle Travis, Isaiah Ballard, Quinn Vankerkhove.
Class A2: Pittsford Sutherland, coach John Nally, Max Machalski, Luke Fliss, Dutch Pestorius.
Class B1: Newark, coach Henry Kuperus, Jaypar Allen, Kellen Foster.
Class B2: Wellsville, coach Tom Muska, JJ Howard, Cooper Brockway.
Class C1: Northstar Christian, Roger Leo, Justin Robinson.
Class C2: Pembroke, coach Matt Shay, Tyson Totten, Avery Ferreira.
Class C3: Lyons, coach Dean Schott, Jamire Johnson, Mikey Briggs.
Class D1: Avoca-Prattsburgh, coach Brian Putnam, Macoy Putnam.
Class D2: Mount Morris, coach Brian Stout, Chase Young, Bryson Constantino.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V boys basketball: Teams trying to repeat as champions
