BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Bill Miley was a starting guard for the Jamestown team that won the first of seven Section VI championships in 25 seasons under coach Ben Drake. Now in his first Miley’s first season in the head chair, the Red & Green once again reign atop Class AA.
“It’s just phenomenal,” Miley said after Jamestown outlasted Health Sciences in overtime, 59-57, in front of more than 2,000 people in the AA crossover matchup Tuesday night at Buffalo State Sports Arena.
“It’s a goal you have,” the coach continued. “Sometimes you think you can’t get here. But this year I thought we could. We knew it would be a fight tonight, and it certainly was. Great game, hats off to Health Sciences. They played their butts off. It’s one of those games where it felt like it was going to come down to the last possession, and it certainly did.”
In the first season Section VI has split the AA bracket, Jamestown (20-4) needed to win an additional playoff game, and needed an extra period to advance to face reigning state champion Victor from Section V in the Far West Regional playoff game Saturday back at Buff State.
“It means a lot getting to regionals after the new crossover added to the section, it’s kind of tough,” said senior big man Bishop Butts, who led Jamestown with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and a season-saving steal with 24 seconds left in regulation.
“He carried us the whole way,” said junior guard Jaydian Johnson, who had 18 points, four assists and four rebounds. “He was our anchor, defense and offense. We won the game because of Bishop.”
Jamestown came back from being down 22-15 halftime and didn’t pull even until less than four minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
“We got down a little bit in the first half, but we picked it up,” Johnson said. “We didn’t want our season to end here.”
Amir Moye scored 27 points to lead Health Sciences (20-4), which won the A2 title in overtime Saturday against Williamsville East in its first season playing in what was the state’s largest classification before AAA was added this year. Jamestown will play in AAA next season, and Health Sciences could follow in the future.
It appeared Moye would not let his team lose, scoring 16 of his points after halftime, including several tough baskets in clutch moments. But his final drive at the end of overtime didn’t fall, and Jamestown senior Jack Carlson secured the rebound at the very same spot on the floor where last season ended with a dubious foul call in the AA final loss to Niagara Falls.
“Some of the guys that came back felt like they let one get away last year, to some extent got one taken away,” Miley said. “So I’m really happy for those seniors to pull one out and keep advancing.”
Miley also came back, moving up from his assistant role to take over a program with annual championship aspirations.
“A great coach,” Butts exclaimed. “He coached me my JV year, undefeated season. It’s nothing new for him. Just a higher level. Now on varsity, trying to get a state championship.”
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.