2023-2024
CLASS AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Chaminade 88 Bishop Timon (Buffalo) 84 2OT
Bishop Timon eliminated the Flyers in the semifinals last season when the Chaminade shooters went cold at crunch time and gave up a lead, but this season, they rode the clutch shooting of Joe Knaus, Ricky Gunther, and Cam Elliott to rally in both regulation and overtime and capture their first New York CHSAA State Championship since the 2003 team under legendary coach Jim Quinn.
It was a close game that swung back and forth, but the Flyers trailed by 4 with a minute to play in regulation. Joe Knaus started the rally, drawing a foul and knocking down two free throws, and then after a big Bishop Timon turnover, Kyle Dillon finished a fast break to tie the score at 66 and send the championship game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Timon got off quickly and Chaminade was on the ropes, trailing by 5 with 2:14 to play, but big back to back three pointers by Knaus from the left wing and another big three by Ricky Gunther from the top with 20 seconds remaining tied it up again and sent the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime, the Flyers took the early lead on another three by Knaus, this one from the right wing, but the teams traded baskets, and Chaminade retook the lead on a Cam Elliot three from behind the left elbow with 1:55 to play. After a big missed free throw by Bishop Timon left them trailing by 1, the teams traded turnovers, and it was Chaminade ball up by 1 with 58 seconds left. Elliott popped open on the left baseline and knocked down what turned out to be the game winning three pointer with 31 seconds left, and after Bishop Timon came up short on their end, he added two free throws with 11 seconds left to secure the thrilling victory and the 2023-24 CHSAA State Championship. They are the first NSCHSAA State Champion since Holy Trinity in 2014, and it was Chaminade's third overall state title.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Joe Knaus/Chaminade
