BUFFALO — They just couldn’t stop them.
Wilson, which just won its first-ever sectional title last Saturday, lost to Akron, 56-28, in the Section VI Class B crossover game.
Despite the loss, it’s still the furthest the program has ever made it in the postseason, and many people did not expect Wilson to make it this far.
Last season, they were 6-16. The boys grinded all offseason and put up extra shots to close out this year 17-6, with four of the same players starting.
“It was a wonderful season with a great group of kids. I think that’s something I like to underscore the most,” head coach Brett Sippel said. “They’re just a tremendous group of kids, great teammates all season that could ask for anything more.”
Aidan Neumann, who had at least 20 points in seven of the last eight games before the game, led the Lakemen with 15 points. He was Wilson’s only player in double figures.
Wilson (17-7) trailed 12-3 after the first quarter, as Akron turned defense into offense and slowed Wilson down. Three of the Tigers single-handedly had more points than Wilson’s entire roster after the first.
After a 3-pointer from Aidan Neumann sparked a 10-3 run to trail by two with 3:18 left in the half, Akron, which only has one loss on the season, jumped out to a 7-2 run to regain an eight point advantage.
The Lakemen trailed 25-17 at the half. Neumann made every bucket for Wilson in the second quarter, minus one, which was courtesy of Shamus George. Twelve of Neumann’s team-high 15 points, including two 3s, came in the second quarter.
Neumann entered having scored 20 points in seven of the previous eight games. But he seemed a bit rushed by an Akron that has allowed just 31.8 points per game in the postseason.
“Akron has five guys who can score, they have great premier players,” Sippel said. “They got the big in the middle, they’re well-balanced. That’s been an issue for us sometimes, finding the secondary, third guy who was scoring for us.”
The game’s fate was known midway through the third.
Wilson’s third quarter performance was nothing to be impressed by as they struggled to even get the ball to make a shot. When they took shots, they were off line or hit the rim.
Akron (23-1) outscored the Lakemen 24-5 in the third quarter alone, and netted six of their 11 total 3s in the third to take a 17-point advantage in the final frame. Akron’s strengths continued into the fourth, leading to them pulling their starters with around two minutes left as their fans made joyful noise.
Blake Gerstrung drilled one from the corner for the Tigers before Brooks and Jonathon netted layups. Shamus George had a bucket and a free throw to start the quarter, Neumann netted a free throw and Skyler Aydelotte closed the quarter with a layup.
“I liked that in the fourth quarter when we were down big, the kids continued to fight and scrap. I’m not surprised by that at all,” Sippel said. “It’s hard to play in a situation like that, bring down and disappointed, but I liked the fight in the guys. Their character is too good to stop playing.”
Syras Jonathon led Akron with 14 points, while three of his teammates, Blake Gerstrung, Benjamin Gerstrung and Derren Brooks, netted 12 each.
Akron heads to the Far West Regional at noon Saturday at Gates-Chili High School. They’ll play the winner of the Section V Class B crossover game between World of Inquiry and East Rochester.