Additional history lessons from basketball historian Brian Cannon; quotes from Elba Coach Ciaci Zambito and Andover-Whitesville coach Jimmy Joyce
Photo of Section V committeeman Ed Stores, Jr. (left) as Andover-Whitesville is at the podium during the finalists brunch. No. 1 AW set to take on No. 2 Elba for Sectional Championship .
By Bill Collmer, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Writer
ROCHESTER — The Section V Class D Boys Sectional Championship game will take place tonight (March 6) at 7 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester often referred to as the “Big House.”
Andover-Whitesville has not captured a sectional championship in boys basketball since combining for sports and Andover’s last Section V basketball title was in 1955. But that is all changing.
“We are extremely excited at the opportunity to play at the BCA. It’s what everyone who participates in Section V basketball strives for. We are fortunate to have some experience at larger facilities such as Rocket Mortgage Arena, St. Bonaventure, Alfred University, which should help us,” Andover-Whitesville Coach Jimmy Joyce said.
Playing on those courts might be common for larger schools, but it was a necessity when you look at the old gyms in Andover and Whitesville. For years, only Greenwood’s was smaller. Both of the small gyms (former varsity gyms) in Andover and Whitesville feature a stage and small bleachers and the current Section V finalist team played there. It was their courts for youth basketball practices when the new gyms were in use.
Tonight they play on a court once home to an NBA team, the Rochester Royals.
“This group is so special. From day one they have done everything us coaches asked of them dating back to our first practice as a newly formed travel team in the old small gym in Andover in 2019,” Joyce said. “Most of that original group still remains and all of them, even those who aren’t on this year’s team have a hand in the success of this squad. While we haven’t accomplished the ultimate goal yet, something that hasn’t been done in Andover since 1955, but this year is certainly our best shot to date. We have a lot of hard work left to do in a short amount of time to do it. The job isn’t anywhere near finished.”
AT A GLANCE
What: Section V Class D boys Basketball Championship.
Who: Andover-Whitesville to battle Elba
Where: Blue Cross Arena
When: Friday, March 6th 7 p.m.
Records: Andover-Whitesville (20-2) vs. Elba (17-5)
The Elba Lancers are looking for their first sectional championship since 2017, however that year the Championship was held at Alfred University. The Lancers fell to Prattsburgh in the Championship game 72-64 in 2020 and to Avoca-Prattsburgh 50-37 in 2024.
Elba Coach Ciaci Zambito is excited for the opportunity to play at the Big House one more time.
“You can never take playing in this game for granted. Anytime you are playing for a championship, it’s special and we are aware of that. Playing at the Blue Cross arena is something that every player in Section Five dreams of. We are going to try and go out there and own the moment,” Zambito said.
Zambito has scouted Andover-Whitesville all season and knows it’ll be a challenge.
“AW has had an awesome season. They are athletic and like to get out in transition. We need to make sure we take care of the ball and limit those opportunities for them. We have to lock into the game that’s being played. There’s so much hype around everything at this point. Playing on that court, in that arena. It’s different. I want us to enjoy it, but we need to realize that we are there for a reason, and that’s to play a basketball game. A few of my guys understand that well as we were there two years ago. So, I think it’ll be important if we can settle into making this another basketball game,” Zambito said.
Jimmy Joyce scouted Elba earlier this season versus Jasper-Troupsburg and is familiar with Elba.
“We have seen Elba live and watched a ton of film. They are a very physical team with shooters who can get very hot. We need to match their physicality and get out on their shooters. Ciaci and his staff do a phenomenal job up there and they will be prepared for us, “Joyce said.
The winner will play either Clymer or Sherman the Section Six Champion Saturday March 13th in the Far Western Regional at Buffalo State.
AT A GLANCE
PPG: Elba 61.8, Opponents 47.5
AW 81.1 Opponents 53.5
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Elba: 6’1 Senior Nick Scott (13.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG), 6’3″ Junior Brady Werth (13.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG), 5’9″ Sophomore Ryan Marsceill (14.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG). 5’11” Senior Bing Zuber (8.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG)
Andover-Whitesville: 5’10 Junior Brody Vance (29.2 PPG), 6’2″ Junior Vincent Joyce (14.8 PPG, 13.0 RPG), 5’11” Senior Colton Calladine (13.5 PPG) 6’5″ Senior James Miller-Young (11.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG), 5’9″ Junior Jake Mattison (5.7 PPG)
From the archives of Brian Cannon
(Brian will be at the game with his son, Matt and grandson, Leo)
SIX-PACK OF FACTS
FIRST: Andover’s First Section V TITLE – 1955 – ACS only Section V Boys Basketball title, besting Rushford in the finals at the Rochester Sports Arena to finish 21-1 (when Brian Cannon was one-month old!) The current Rochester War memorial was being built but did not host Section V until 1956!
2) Andover’s first and last appearance at the Rochester War Memorial was Brian Cannon’s senior year and the Panthers were County D Champions, losing to Honeoye in the Class D Semis on St Patrick’s Day March 17, 1973 in Rochester War Memorial (52 years ago!). Honeoye scouted Andover well and broke the 1-2-1-1 zone press the first half and Andover did not play well as a team. Brian says, “I wish we had that game to play over again! We finished 14-6 and Honeoye lost to Prattsburgh in the finals in 1973.”
3- Andover reached the Section V Finals in 1982 (44 years ago!) as the Number 4 seed but lost to Greenwood who was led by Brian Hoyt who now coaches at North Rose Wolcott. The finals that year were at Alfred University. This was the last Section V finals appearance for Andover. Todd Monahan and the McNeill Brothers were on the 1982 team. They were 5-14 the previous year and over-achieved but peaked at the right time.
4- Andover has one Section V Title, three Section 5 Finals appearances including tonight and 44 years since last finals and 53 years since the last (and only)Rochester War Memorial appearance for an Andover team!
5- There have been only three Andover teams that were a #1 Seed: the 1955 Team, The 1997 Team that Jimmy Joyce was on (they were upset by Romulus in the Semi-finals in 1997) and this years 2025-26 AW Team at 20-2 going into this game. John Dougherty’s 1989 Team finished 21-2 and were the #3 seed in 1989 and were beat by Batavia Notre Dame in the Semis-ACS finished 21-2 in 1989.
6- Whitesville first played in a Section V Finals in 1958 and lost to Red Jacket in the War Memorial. They won their 1st Section V Title in 1990 under Coach Wally Amphlett, beating Prattsburgh. Doug Vanskiver won four more Section V Class D basketball titles at Whitesville in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
This current Andover-Whiteville Season is a great story and Jimmy Joyce has done a great job with this team playing a very tough schedule, beating Wellsville, C G Finney, Bolivar, Addison and more.
