PENFIELD, N.Y. – It’s not the usual makeup for a 1 seed in Class AA1. Three sophomores and one junior play big minutes for Penfield boy’s basketball, and everyone from the end of the bench to above the rim have important roles.

“Part of it is practice is harder than games for us. Our white team pushes us so hard to make us the best we can be every time we go out on the court,” said senior Patrick Emling.

And it really does take everyone – from the reserves to the fans, even the youngest ones.

“We have five little boys between the two of us, grades six through two and these varsity boys, they’re idolized in our houses right now, so it’s exciting,” said head coach Jason Ellis.

“Great role models for the younger kids. They are all over the stands, cheering them on, screaming,” said assistant coach Adam Bendlin.

As we turn the page to late February and March, the noise is gonna get a little louder. On paper, few teams are as talented as Penfield, but you could say there’s pressure in trying to make some history.

“It’s the first time in Penfield history I think, we’ve been the one seed. It’s kind of unprecedented. It’s been a great year we’ve had and we’re looking forward to it. We want to get on that banner. We want to do something special,” said sophomore Jake McCarthy.

“I’ve been a part of the bad, the worse, and now the good. It’s been the biggest goal of mine forever now and I can’t wait to do it, I know we got it,” said Emling.

“We were Class C or something, they were the Chiefs. I believe it was when the High School was Finney,” said Ellis.

“We have nothing on the banner right now but we’re here to put something on it this year,” said sophomore Jackson Green.

As the Patriots await the winner between Edison and Churchville-Chili, every team in Section V starts with a blank slate. Only they’ve got a blank banner, that’s ready to be filled in.

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