WEST SENECA - The Jamestown Red Raiders clinched at least a tie for the Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division 1 title on Tuesday night, but Coach Ben Drake knows there's more on their basketball agenda than simply another league crown.
''It's important for us to continue to play well as we head into the playoffs,'' he said.
Last night was a good start.
Senior Tommy Campion poured in 31 points, including 6-of-11 from the arc, and sophomore Branden Kellam added 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Red Raiders rolled to a 70-41 victory over West Seneca West.
The win improves Jamestown's record to 15-2 overall and 10-1 in the division heading into Thursday's regular-season finale against Orchard Park at McElrath Gymnasium. A win there would secure the Red Raiders' third straight outright ECIC Division 1 championship.
''We want to go and finish up strong, especially on Senior Night,'' said Drake, who will be honoring Campion, the team's lone 12th-grader, in a pregame ceremony. ''This will be his last regular-season home game and he's played a lot of games at the Mac.''
If recent performances are any indication, Campion, who shot 11-of-19 overall, figures to have another banner game.
Against West Seneca West, he scored 14 points in the first half and 17 in the second. His output after intermission led a 36-11 run that catapulted Jamestown to its eighth straight victory.
''He led the charge,'' Drake said. '' ... He's shooting the ball really well right now.''
Campion's 31-point explosion caps a three-game stretch in which he is averaging 32 points per game. He now has 1,056 for his career, which vaults him past Mark Edstrom (1,047) and into fifth place on the school's all-time scoring list.
The Indians (8-9, 3-9) got off to a fast start, connected on all six of their 3-pointers in the first half and trailed only 34-29 at the break.
''I give them credit for knocking some shots down in the first half,'' Drake said. ''They played well. We maybe didn't have the defensive urgency I would have liked and they took advantage of some open 3s. In the second half, we played better at both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive end.''
In addition to Campion's and Kellam's efforts, the Red Raiders received seven assists and four steals from sophomore Zack Panebianco and six rebounds from sophomore Stephen Carlson. As a team, Jamestown shot 27-of-55 from the floor.
Nick Clancy led the Indians with 10 points.
JAMESTOWN (70)
Campion 11 3 31, Panebianco 1 0 3, Colwell 2 0 4, Kellam 7 3 17, Lee Yaw 1 1 3, Carlson 0 0 0, Hoaglund 1 0 3, Sisson 2 0 5, Frank 0 0 0, Park 2 0 4, Totals 27 7 70.
WEST SENECA WEST (41)
Marshall 0 0 0, FBorzillieri 3 0 9, MBorzillieri 3 0 7, Walker 3 0 8, Clancy 5 0 10 Nick, Wheelock 2 3 7, Totals 16 3 41.
3-point goals-Campion 6, Panebianco, Hoaglund, Sisson, FBorzillieri 3, MBorzillieri Walker 2.
Jamestown15 19 21 15 - 70
West Seneca West 15 14 8 3 - 41
Jayvees: Jamestown won