Photo: The Section VI champion Clymer team. The Wellsville Sun is sponsoring a free audio stream of the game, you can listen on your phone or computer at https://myteamstream.net/
By BILL COLLMER, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Writer
BUFFALO — Two teams with good size and speed will match up during the New York State Class D Far Western State Quarterfinals on Friday, March 13 at Buffalo State College at 8 p.m.
The Class D Champion from Section V, Andover-Whitesville meets the Class D Champion from Section VI, The Clymer Pirates.
A-W captured their first sectional championship since merging for sports; Clymer captured their 10th Section VI championship in boys basketball in school history. However, they have never won a regional game and advanced to the State Final Four.
The two school couldn’t be more opposite: A-W likes to score in the 80’s and 90’s and play an up-tempo style while Clymer wants to depend on their stingy defense. Clymer won the Section VI championship defeating Sherman, 41-29.
LET’S HEAR FROM THE COACHES
After winning their first sectional championship since becoming Andover-Whitesville, Coach Jimmy Joyce admitted they hadn’t talked about states or the possibility of states all season, they were only focusing on the task at hand, winning sectionals.
“We definitely didn’t really even talk about states throughout the season. It was always the goal to win sectionals especially since it had been since 1955 that a team from Andover was able to accomplish that,” Joyce said. “I told the guys in the locker-room after our win over Elba Friday night at BCA that they needed to take the weekend to enjoy it, let it soak in and celebrate their accomplishments. They all knew that by Monday it would be back to the grind. I think for us coaches, the realization that we would be playing for the opportunity at a state championship set in on Saturday and game prep and scouting began pretty early Saturday morning.”
Clymer Coach Irv King has had a chance to see Andover-Whitesville. The teams played sectional title games on different days.
“We have had a chance to watch Andover Whitesville. They are impressive. They definitely push the ball and are an up-tempo team. When it comes to size, we are very similar to each other,” King said. “The Pennsylvania teams that we played early are probably the most like Andover Whitesville.”
Size Matters
Clymer boasts a formidable frontcourt featuring 6-foot-6 center Roman Wassink, 6-4 forward Carson White and 6-4 forward Elijah Mitchell.
Joyce realizes this could be an issue.
“We have had a crash course in scouting Clymer since the weekend,” Joyce said. “The first thing that pops out at you is there size. Much more size than most teams we have faced this season. They also have some guards who shoot at a high volume and can hit regularly if not defended well. Section VI always seems to play a tough brand of physical basketball, so we need to be ready for that. I think it’s pretty clear that the team that plays the best defense Friday Night will move on.”
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Clymer defense holds their opponents to 43.4 points per game.
“I think most people would consider us a defensive minded team We take pride in that part of our game. We know that shooting well can come and go. Defensive effort can always be a constant,” King said.
King has been coaching at Clymer for 31 seasons. Eighteen of those years have been with the boys and girls JV programs. He has been the varsity boys coach from 2006-2011 and again from 2019-2026. He has won three sectional championships in 13 seasons, with the most recent one coming in the Covid-shortened 2021 season with no state playoffs.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Clymer challenged themselves over Christmas break playing some tough Pennsylvania teams and lost three straight games. Since a loss January 6 to Class B Southwestern, they only lost twice by a combined 3 points, losing 44-43 to Sherman. But the ended up beating Sherman in the Championship game and losing again to Southwestern 58-56.
“We play a tough schedule. In game three we lost a senior leader to a season ending knee injury during a game in Corry (Pa.),” King said. “It took us some time to figure things out. Those losses were a good growing experience for us.”
UNSUNG HEROES
With star players Brody Vance and Vincent Joyce in foul trouble and trailing Elba in the sectional championship game. Other guys stepped up when they needed to most.
“Friday was such a great game for so many reasons. Elba really took us out of our comfort zone. We knew they would try to slow us down and take a lot of charges, but they were even more successful at both than we anticipated,” Joyce said. “I was happy we were able to take what they gave us and win a half-court game even though that’s not our norm. It really shows we can win at any style of play. With our starters in early foul trouble, we had a bunch of guys step up big time.”
Joyce continued, “Colt Calladine for one, took control and not only kept our heads above water but pushed us forward. Trey Kent, Gavin Frungillo and Carter Grice gave as phenomenal minutes off the bench particularly on the defensive end. All three were ready any time they were called upon. I look back at some of the games in which we were fortunate enough to control early and that allowed all those guys not get some really meaningful minutes. I can’t help but think that helped prepare them for moments like this. Jake Mattison was huge for us on both ends also, we relied on him a lot more than we typically need to.”
AT A GLANCE
What: Section V vs Section VI Boys Basketball State Quarterfinal
Who: Andover-Whitesville to battle Clymer
Where: Buffalo State College
When: Friday, March 13th at 8 p.m.
Records: Andover-Whitesville (21-2) vs. Clymer (16-6)
PPG: Clymer 50.1, Opponents 43.4
Andover-Whitesville 81.1 Opponents 53.5
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Clymer: 6’4″ Senior Carson White (14.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG), 6’6″ Junior Roman Wassink (11.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG), 5’11” Junior Blake Beckerink (9.3 PPG), 6’4″ Junior Elijah Mitchell (7.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG) 6’1″ Senior Kameron Einink 5.3 PPG, 4.0 APG)
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)
State Ranking: Andover-Whitesville No. 3, Clymer No. 8
HISTORY LESSON
Clymer won sectional Championships in 1952, 1953, 1956, 1973, 1981, 1988, 1993, 2006, 2021 and 2026 .
Andover won sectionals in 1955. Whitesville won sectionals in 1990, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007. In 2004 Whitesville lost in the State Championship game to Alexander-Hamilton, 50-44 finishing the season 25-2.
ROAD TO THE REGIONALS
Andover-Whitesville: Defeated No.8 Hinsdale 77-33, Defeated No.4 Mt. Morris 92-42, defeated No.2 Elba 54-47.
Clymer: Defeated No.4 Panama 53-46, Defeated No.2 Sherman 41-29
What’s next: Winner plays in the State Final Four Saturday March 21st at 10 a.m. in Binghampton versus Section IV Champion Edmeston or Section III Champion Sackets Harbor.
