Perry will play for the Section V Class C2 championship at the Blue Cross Arena on Friday after beating Geneseo 62-46 behind a 19-point performance by Devon Mann.
"We've needed to just keep going," Mann said. "We all played great. I mean, I had a heck of a performance, but a round of applause for the teammates and everybody," then he yelled to the fans and his teammates, "we're heading to the big house!"
Austin Croll also had a big night, scoring 17 points. Also, in double figures were Joe Copeland, 11, and Tyler Cowie, 11.
Like Mann, Croll can't wait to get to Blue Cross.
"It's something I've dreamed about my whole life," Croll said. "When I was a younger kid, I loved going up there and watching."
The victory was a team effort, said Head Coach Phil Wyant.
"We knew coming in Geneseo was a tough match-up," Wyant said. "They're so big, they're so long, but our kids, it's just a great team effort. We've got five guys. We had contributions the last game off the bench from Michael Zintel and Dan Elliott, but we've got guys who do whatever it takes to win. They want to play team ball. They want to move it. They take great shots and they work their tails off. I'm so proud of them."
Monday night it was Mann's night and when he's on, he's a tough match-up for teams, Wyant said.
"You never know with Devon," Wyant said. "He's our spark. He's our energy guy. He can do it inside. He can do it outside. He slashes. He's got it in him. That makes us a dangerous team, having five guys with the ability on the court to make a play with the ball and finish around the rim."
Photos and interviews by Mike Carney.
