Beating Randolph in the Section VI Class C semifinal at Jamestown Community College was just the start of a memorable postseason for the Frewsburg Bears and head coach Sierra Beaver. P-J file photo

Sierra Beaver and her Frewsburg girls basketball team reached the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four for the first time in program history a year ago, but came up short of the ultimate goal.

With a strong cast of seniors, this year was Beaver’s final opportunity to coach this group to their ultimate goal of winning a state title.

That work began with building a difficult nonleague schedule on top of playing in one of the state’s most competitive divisions that featured three teams consistently near the top of the Class C state rankings.

Frewsburg’s nonleague schedule featured two other Section VI champions, a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association runnerup and a Catholic High School Athletic Association semifinalist.

Coming out of that nonleague schedule, Frewsburg got the experience of knocking off talented big teams and playing in several close contests.

That included knocking off eventual Section VI and Far West Regional Class AAA champion Lancaster, delivering Mississippi State-committed Madison Francis her first loss of the season. Frewsburg later beat Section VI and Far West Regional Class A champion Williamsville South 82-71.

Every loss was a respectable one and from a team above its class size starting with Cathedral Prep of Erie, Pennsylvania, the runnerup in 5A championship game in 2024. Frewsburg also lost to Cardinal O’Hara which went on to lose to eventual CHSAA champion Nazareth.

However, there was one opponent on Frewsburg’s schedule in its class size that would truly give a formidable test: Randolph.

The Cardinals stymied Frewsburg in the first meeting in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3. That loss put the Bears in a must-win situation for a share of the division title.

Back on its home turf, Frewsburg was able to knock off Randolph 49-47 for the league title and there was no doubt the two would be on a collision course for a playoff rematch and rubber match for the season.

Meeting in the Section VI Class C semifinals, the co-champions of CCAA Division 3 were playing for what many knew was the true final and likely a trip to the state tournament. Frewsburg once again came out on top, holding off Randolph’s final attempt to tie for a 50-47 win.

Then it was off to the races for Frewsburg as it dominated the remaining competition in the state.

Repeating as Section VI champions, Frewsburg defeated Maple Grove 66-32. In the Class C Far West Regionals, Frewsburg raced past the state’s No. 1 Keshequa 58-44.

All of the preparation to get back to states paid off and the seasoned Bears made it look easy at Hudson Valley Community College. In the semifinals, Frewsburg powered past Section I’s Tuckahoe 69-45 and then to claim the school’s first state championship a 59-44 dissection of Section II’s Stillwater.

What made things look easy for the Bears was a starting five that could hang with any school in the state and the preparation for their opponents.

Leading the offense was sophomore Jadyn Trocki, who averaged 17.5 points per game, 6.3 assists, 4.3 steals and 4.6 rebounds. While Jadyn Trocki mainly set things up, senior Ava Jimerson scored 14.3 per game and grabbed 7.1 rebounds, senior Teghan Trocki averaged 11.6 points with 84 3-pointers on the year, junior Abery Harvey had 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, and senior Taytum Jimerson had 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

It wasn’t just executing the gameplans with cohesiveness, but it was having the right approach against their opponents. By the time Tuckahoe and Stillwater could adjust against the Bears it was already too late and Frewsburg finished the year with four straight double-digit playoff victories en route to the NYSPHSAA Class C title.

Putting Frewsburg in the right position to win the first girls basketball title was head coach Sierra Beaver, who for the second time in a row is the Post-Journal/OBSERVER OBSERVER/Post-Journal Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.