Lakemen win thriller in Class B2 semifinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 March 2025 at 7:08 pm

No. 4 seeded Wilson held off a fourth quarter rally by top seeded Salamanca to earn a thrilling 63-60 victory in the semifinal round of Section VI Class B2 boys basketball tournament this evening at Buffalo State.

Four clutch free throws in the final 20 seconds by Shamus George provided the margin of victory for Wilson. The first two put Wilson up 61-57 and the second two with seven seconds remaining provided the margin of victory keeping the Lakemen on top 63-60.

George finished with 23 as Aidan Neumann added 16, Colton Frerichs 10, Ryan Hough 9, Chase Martin 3 and Josiah Lawrence 2.

Jaxon Crouse led Salamanca with 20 as Maddox Isaac had 14, Jacob Herrick 12 and Avery Brown 10.

Wilson jumped out to a big 17-2 advantage at the outset and held a 20-8 lead at the end of the opening period. George scored 8 and Neumann 7 during that stretch.

The Lakemen went on to hold leads of 30-23 at the half and 45-36 at the end of the third quarter. George scored 7 in the second period while Frerichs and Martin both hit threes and Neumann had a pair of baskets in the third quarter.

However, Salamanca came battling back down the stretch putting together a 13-0 run to rally into the lead for the first time at 54-52 on a basket by Isaac.

Isaac then traded baskets with Neumann to keep the Warriors up 57-55.

That proved to be Salamanca’s last lead though as Frerichs and George answered back with big baskets putting Wilson back on top to stay at 59-57.

Two free throws by George upped the Lakemen’s lead to four at 61-57 but The Warriors answered with a big three by Herrick to slice the deficit to one at 61-60 with 10 seconds remaining.

George then capped off his big evening by sinking two more pressure free throws with seven seconds to go for a 63-60 lead and close out the win for Wilson as a last ditch Salamanca shot was off target.

Improving to 16-6, Wilson will now face the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between No. 3 Eden and No. 7 Allegany-Limestone in the B2 championship game at noon on Saturday at Buffalo State.