Mar 15, 2025
Westfield’s Carson Swanson drives to the basket during last Friday’s Section VI Class C final against Holland at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Complex. P-J file photo by Jason Bower
An argument can be made that for every game thus far this season, Carson Swanson has been the best player on the floor no matter who Westfield’s opponent was.
That gets a little more debatable the further the Wolverines advance in the playoffs.
The senior star will try to extend his record-breaking career at least one more game when Westfield takes on Section V champion Honeoye in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C Far West Regional at 5:45 p.m. today at Rush-Henrietta High School.
The Wolverines enter today’s matchup with a 21-2 record. After losing their season opener to Erie First Christian Academy, Westfield won 13 straight games. That streak came to an end Jan. 30 when the Wolverines lost to Panama, which will be representing Section VI in the Class D state quarterfinal that tips off four hours before the Class C game, also at Rush-Henrietta.
“It’s a really good group of leaders for our team. They’ve been giving me all of their efforts for the last two-plus years,” Westfield head coach Nolan Swanson said Friday night. “I’m very proud of those guys.”
Westfield — the New York State Sportswriters Association’s third-ranked team — enters its state quarterfinal on an eight-game winning streak, including three sectional playoff games.
In the quarterfinals, Carson Swanson poured in a career-high and program-record 47 points to go along with 11 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals as the fourth-seeded Wolverines beat No. 12 Brocton 89-51 in their seniors’ final game on the Westfield Academy & Central School court.
Then, in a semifinal matchup for the ages at Jamestown Community College, Swanson had 30 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocked shots as the Wolverines beat No. 1 Randolph 64-58 in double overtime.
Finally, in the sectional title game back at the Physical Education Complex, Swanson had 38 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and six steals as Westfield won the eighth sectional crown in program history with a 72-57 win over No. 2 Holland.
On the season, Swanson is averaging 31.9 points, 8.1 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 6.2 steals per game to lead the Wolverines, but he’s also had some help.
Fellow senior Zach Maguire is averaging 15.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game; junior Grant Beadle is averaging 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game; and junior Lincoln Thomas is averaging 8.0 points per game, while knocking down 2.6 3-pointers per game.
Honeoye enters today’s matchup with an equally impressive resume.
All four of the Bulldogs’ postseason victories have come by double digits, including a 67-48 win over No. 9 Mount Morris in the Class C3 quarterfinals, a 60-50 victory over No. 5 C.G. Finney in the semifinals and a 54-27 blowout of No. 2 South Seneca in the final. Then, in the Section V Class C crossover final, Honeoye beat Class C2 champion York 52-42 on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs — ranked No. 5 in the state — are led by sophomore Landon Washburn and his 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
“Their leading scorer is very aggressive and has good handles for a bigger kid. He goes left and right, and goes to the hoop hard consistently,” Nolan Swanson said. “He has a good motor. We need to find a way to slow that down.”
Senior Owen Cuba averages 14.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game; sophomore Dylan Washburn averages 13.0 points per game; senior Owen Reynolds averages 12.0 points and 4.0 assists per game; and sophomore Braiden Schneider averages 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
“Sometimes we haven’t been able to gauge speed from video. It’s easier to see it in person,” Nolan Swanson said after watching Wednesday’s crossover in person. “We go out and see size and speed, beyond just X’s and O’s.”
Honeoye is making its first regional appearance since 1985 when it beat Forestville 63-42. Westfield lost to eventual state-champion Avoca-Prattsburgh in the 2022 regional.
“Maybe we can right a wrong from that year and the fact that Westfield has never had a final four team,” Nolan Swanson said. “We’re just motivated to try and get one step further.”
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