VICTOR – Four years, four different classes, four sectional titles. The Bishop Kearney girls have faced a new challenge in each of the past four years, but the results have all been the same. The Kings can call themselves sectional champions once again. What began four years ago in Class CC culminated Friday night at Victor High School in Class A1.

The top-seeded Kings utilized a dominant third quarter to run away with their fourth straight sectional title, this one a 64-46 win over third-seeded Mercy.

Asked the reason for his team's dominant stretch, Kearney coach Kevan Sheppard delivered a simple answer: "I've had Kharysma Bryant since she was in eighth grade.

"The credit doesn't go to me. We've had a really good team and really good players for the past four years. We just want to play the best teams."

"We're just telling people that no matter where they put us, we're just going to try to be the best that we can," added Bryant, a senior guard who will play at Niagara. "We're just trying to prove to people that no matter where you put us, we're going to give our all."

Bryant was named the tournament MVP as she finished with 22 points. Senior forward Princella McCullough added 17 points and junior guard Bri.Asia Mason totaled 14 points for the Kings (18-4), who will face A2 champ Pittsford Mendon (17-4) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Aquinas in the Class A state qualifier.

Bryant totaled nine points in the first quarter, including seven straight at one point, as Kearney took a 19-11 lead.

Bishop Kearney extended its lead to 10 points on two separate occasions.

Mercy (13-9) closed the first half on a 10-3 run, trailing 30-27 at the break. The Monarchs got a spark from their bench. Freshman guard Traiva Breedlove scored seven points.

Angelina Spampinato scored in transition to bring Mercy to within 30-29 at the onset of the third quarter.

"The second half is when we dominate," Bryant said. "That's what we did. I didn't want this to be my last game.

"Our main focus was pressure. We know that they don't have a true point guard. We pressured Angelina, so we could steal the pass and get the easy lay-up."

Kearney closed the quarter on a 14-2 run as the Monarchs went nearly six minutes without a point.

The outcome wasn't to his liking, but Mercy coach Tom Vasey couldn't find fault with the effort of his team, especially following the tragic and sudden death of his 3-year-old daughter Ashley in early January. Vasey left the team for a few weeks, leaving the team in the hands of his assistant coaches.

"There are seven great seniors on this team and my assistants are amazing," Vasey said. "They all provide a lot of leadership. They really held the program together while I was gone. I am extremely proud of them. I don't think many people thought we would be in the finals and most people probably thought that we wouldn't be within three points of Kearney at halftime."

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com

Twitter.com/WillCleveland13

MERCY: Anna Doerr 0, Abby Purcell 1, Rachel Lefebre 0, Mia Caterisano 6, Alex Hetterich 0, Rachel Vespucci 4, Rose Hefferon 0, Catherine Tucci 2, Traiva Breedlove 8, Angelina Spampinato 12, Jayla Myles 9, Leah Koonmen 2, Alex Raymond 0.

BISHOP KEARNEY: Dominique Wotjczak 0, Rosa Graham 5, Bri.Asia Mason 14, Arianne Smith 1, Trinity Fitts 0, Kharysma Bryant 22, Princella McCullough 17, Deja Johnson 0, Allure Simmons 5.

3-point goals: Bishop Kearney (Graham 1, Mason 2, Bryant 1).

Coach of the year: Tom Vasey (Mercy). All-Tournament Team: Khamera Muhammad (Wilson), Sara Ciotta (Greece Athena), Angelina Spampinato (Mercy), Princella McCullough (Bishop Kearney), Mia Caterisano (Mercy), Bri.Asia Mason (Bishop Kearney). Tournament MVP: Kharysma Bryant (Bishop Kearney).

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/2015/03/06/bishop-kearney-mercy-class/24543627/

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The #3 seeded Mercy Monarchs will face #6 seeded Canandaigua on Friday February 27, 2015 at Mercy High School, tip off is scheduled for 7:00pm.

The Winner will advance to the Sectional Semi-Finals on Monday March 2, 2015 at Eastridge High School at 6:00 pm. 

The Class A1 Sectional Championship is scheduled for Friday March 6, 2015- Location to be determined.   

Playing in their 5th More than a Game Foundation Tournament, the Mercy Monarchs were playing for a third consecutive tournament championship at against the #1 Ranked Small School in Section III and the #6 Ranked NYS Class B school Bishop Grimes. Bishop Grimes scored the first 7 points of the game and lead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Monarchs closed the gap to 16-14 with 5:04 left in the 2nd quarter. The game was close the rest of the way, but the Monarchs were not able to overcome their slow start, losing 51-44.

Jayla Myles recorded eight points and eight rebounds and Traiva Breedlove added 13 points and five assists and was named to the All Tournament Team.

Mercy snapped it's four game winning streak and is now 4-4. All four loses have come to NY or PA state ranked teams (McDowell, Mercyhurst, Sutherland and Grimes).

The Mercy Monarchs opened the season on the road in Erie PA in the Mercyhurst Prep- Rebich Investments Tip Off Classic on Friday December 5, 2014 vs McDowell High School, the pre-season favorite to win their 7th AAAA District Championship in the past eight seasons.

The game was close throughout, with the Monarchs trailing 18-15 at the half. In the 3rd quarter, the teams continued to play stellar defense against each other, with McDowell extending the lead to 25-20. In the 4th quarter, the Monarchs cut the deficit to one point several times, but McDowell converted 5 of 7 free throws to extend the lead and win a tough game 32-26. Senior Point Guard, Angelina Spampinato lead the Monarchs with 9 points and Senior Forward Mia Caterisano grabbed 7 rebounds.

In the second game of the tournament, Mercy took on host, Mercyhurst Prep, the #2 ranked team in District AAA team in District 10. The Monarchs were trailing 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, and in the 2nd quarter, Freshman Katie Titus made her Varsity debut and scored eight of the Monarchs 17 points, as the Monarchs took a 24-13 lead. The 3rd quarter was the direct opposite of the 2nd, as the Lakers of Mercyhurst outscored the Monarchs 19-4 and eventually won the contest 43-35. Angelina Spampinato once again lead all scores with 11 points and Mia Caterisano pulled down another 9 rebounds.

"We knew we would be in for a tough two games in Pennsylvania, having to play both McDowell and Mercyhurst, and play without a shot clock," said 6th year head coach Tom Vasey. McDowell has won the last 6 out of 7 AAAA District 10 Championships. Last season, the Monarchs averaged 54 shots per game, but in the first two games of this season in PA without a shot clock, the Monarchs attempted a total of 63 shots, an average of 31.5 per games.

"We played two great teams this past weekend but are happy to be home. We know those two games will better prepare us for the rest of our regular season schedule and for a run at a Sectional Championship" (Coach Vasey).