By Brad Engel
When Wildcats coach Todd Sutton said Friday's sectional championship is for everyone who's ever come through the program during the past 10 years, he's not kidding.
Neuqua had lost three title games without ever winning one before beating Bartlett 69-53 Friday at East Aurora. During the sectional finals, the Wildcats have lost 70-63 to West Aurora in 2001, 61-58 to Lockport in 2006 and 57-51 to Lockport in 2007.
Neuqua Valley 69, Bartlett 53
Bartlett 12 16 12 13 – 53
Neuqua 21 8 20 20 – 69
Bartlett (22-8)
Little 3 4-4 11, Cleope 0 0-0 0, Hrynyk 2 3-3 7, Labedzki 4 2-2 11, Janton 7 1-3 15, Smith 0 0-0 0, Sanchez 0 0-0 0, Selvaggi 1 0-1 3, Randell 1 0-0 2, Coleman 1 0-0 2, Banks 1 0-2 2, Roszkowiak 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 10-15 53.
Neuqua (25-7)
Brown 1 3-4 5, Wilkins 1 2-2 4, Raridon 4 4-4 14, Evans 8 1-2 17, Pawelski 4 2-3 11, Shonkwiler 0 0-0 0, Waeghe 0 0-0 0, Jordan 3 2-2 8, Miskel 0 0-0 0, Sutton 0 0-0 0, Keeler 3 2-2 10, Smith 0 0-0 0, Wagner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 16-19 69.
3-pointers: Neuqua 5 – Raridon 2, Keeler 2, Pawelski. Bartlett 3 – Little, Labedzki, Selvaggi.
Rebounds: Neuqua 28 (Evans 10), Bartlett 20 (Janton 6)
Turnovers: Bartlett 19, Neuqua 17.
Total fouls: Bartlett 20, Neuqua 17.
Fouled out: Bartlett – Little.
For complete coverage of Neuqua's sectional championship win, see Sunday's Sun.
For a preview of Neuqua's super-sectional game against Richards, see Tuesday's Sun.