Pittsford Sutherland avoids upset bid from Wilson, reaches A2 title game

Wilson began the season with a loss to Pittsford Sutherland and the Wildcats' season ended in the same fashion on Wednesday night.

After capturing an eight-point win in the season opener, the Knights (15-8) beat Wilson 60-45 (9-14) in the Class A2 semifinals at Victor and secured a spot in the A2 championship game against East at 5 p.m. Saturday at Blue Cross Arena.

Defense was the key for the Knights early as they built a 26-16 edge after the first. Two of the Wildcats' key cogs, Robert Davis and Brennan Clark, combined for just one point during the stretch.

“It was pretty defensive in the first half. We didn’t shoot the ball pretty well except for the foul line; we finished 21-of-24. That's pretty big in a game, like, since we didn’t shoot well from the perimeter," Sutherland coach John Nally said. "We only hit one three, but played great defense.

"To hold them to just 16 points and their two best players combine for just one point was tremendous."

Experience was the key for Sutherland in mapping out a strategy to limit Davis and Clark, who were sensational in Wilson's upset win against Northstar Christian over the weekend.

"We play Wilson every year, so there’s a little familiarity and it's almost like facing a league opponent. Robert’s been up (on varsity) for five years. We tried to take away things he does well," Nally said. "He's a good pull-up jump shooter, so we tried to stay tight and get a hand up.

"Matt Panara was guarding him. He's a senior and such a hard worker. He runs the point and is a good defender."

Sutherland led 43-30 after the third quarter and never looked back. Senior forward Kevin Ryan led the way with 17 points while Ben DiGiovanni chipped in 13 points.

Now the focus shifts to East (21-1), which is ranked No. 5 in the state in Class A.

"I think we have to get in that gym at Blue Cross and believe that we belong there. We have to be aggressive and go at them. They’re really good, a historically great basketball school. At this point in the season to be 21-1 they’re obviously the favorite. We'll have to do something defensively and try to stay in it and make it a close game late," Nally said.

SJOHNSON1@Gannett.com