Tyler Consoliated's Cole Lemasters has his shot challenged by Williamstown's Lynken Joy during the Yellowjackets' 70-37 Class AA, Region I, co-final victory Wednesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Parker Schramm scored all 13 of his points in the first quarter and Cruz Isaly went for a game-high 21 here Wednesday night as top-ranked Class AA Williamstown punched its ticket to next week’s state tournament following a 70-37 triumph against Tyler Consolidated in a Region I co-final.

Williamstown’s pressure defense forced 16 Silver Knight turnovers in the first half as the hosts turned a 20-7 cushion after one into a 32-14 intermission advantage.

Lone Silver Knight senior Brady Strode led head coach Mark Winters’ 11-13 program with 17 points while Cam Strode had eight with Brody Giovinazzo and Kolbin Highley chipping in five markers apiece.

“I thought coach Winters really had his team ready to play. Don’t get me wrong. I know we hit a couple shots early, but they didn’t quit,” admitted WHS boss Scott Sauro, whose 19-3 squad will take on eighth-seeded Buffalo at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the state quarterfinals. “We were only up 10 or so there in the second quarter there for a while.

“I thought he had his team ready to play and Mark is a really, really good young coach in our league and his program is really healthy and I think they are going to be really good in the years to come.”

Tyler Consolidated's Brady Strode brings the ball up the court against the pressure of Williamstown's Cruz Isaly during the Yellowjackets' 70-37 Class AA, Region I, co-final victory Wednesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Wyatt Powell came off the ‘Jacket bench to score nine points while fellow reserve Dom Strcula joined starters Lynken Joy and Jayden Bryant with six counters apiece.

“Tonight, we wanted the 2-on-1s and 3-on-2s that would be beneficial for us and that’s kind of how it played out. I don’t know the exact number, but I think they’ve won 43 straight home games here since that loss,” coach Sauro said of the 2022 setback to Hayden Pyles-led Magnolia.

“It says a lot. It’s hard to do. We’ve been pretty good at home. Real proud of the guys for coming out, giving great effort. For those five seniors, their last ever home game at Williamstown, and like I told them how do you want to be remembered, and I think they had the right mindset coming into the game.”

Schramm’s 3 just 53 ticks in via a Byrant assist put the ‘Jackets ahead for good. Schramm followed with a steal and a layup before Carson Hill found him open for another trifecta and an 8-0 cushion at the 5:59 mark.

“I did not think I was getting back in, but that’s just how the game goes sometimes,” admitted Hill, who went to the bench early in the fourth with the rest of the seniors but was called back into action for the last couple minutes after Tyler Keiser fouled out.

Williamstown's Cruz Isaly goes in for two of his game-high 21 points between the double team of Tyler Consolidated's Cole Lemasters (5) and Brady Strode (21) during the Yellowjackets' 70-37 Class AA, Region I, co-final victory Wednesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Hill added of the game against Magnolia “I do remember that. That was a sad day. I mean we learned and we came out here today and we didn’t take any chances and we just won the game.

“It feels great, but we’re practicing tomorrow, practicing everyday. We got to get better, in shape and ready for this tournament.”

Joy added a foul shot before Brady Strode converted a lay-in to get Tyler Consolidated on the board.

However, Schramm proceeded to hit a deuce and another trey while Isaly had a steal and a layup to make it 16-2.

Giovinazzo followed with a three-point play thanks to a Cole Lemasters dime to trim the deficit to 11, but TCHS had nine turnovers in the opening stanza.

Williamstown's Cruz Isaly gets called for a violation after punching the ball as teammate Lynken Joy looks on while Tyler Consolidated's Garrett Bordenkicher (40) and Cole Lemasters (5) converge during the Yellowjackets' 70-37 Class AA, Region I, co-final victory Wednesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I can’t say enough about Brady Strode, his leadership and his character and his work ethic,” admitted coach Winters. “He’s just a winner. Whatever he decides to do after high school he’s going to be successful. I got to give Williamstown a ton of credit. They are a great program obviously and they are the one seed in the state going into the tournament.

“I thought we played them tough at our place last week. We liked the game plan we had coming in. It was everybody’s first time playing in a regional final game other than Brady Strode and we didn’t get to the regional final last year when we were single-A. It’s just a really, really valuable experience with everybody coming back.”

Despite trailing by 18 at the break, the Silver Knights got a 3 from Brady Strode and then a deuce after Garrett Bordenkircher found him open. Coach Winters’ program cut it to a baker’s dozen at 34-21 after Cam Strode converted with 5:23 to go in the quarter, but WHS closed on a 19-2 run for a 30-point bulge.

During a loose ball situation in the third out toward the 3-point line, Isaly was called for a violation when he leaped into the air above Bordenkircher and Lemasters and punched the ball toward the backcourt.

“I had no idea. I did not know that punching the ball in the air was anything. That was kind of a cool call. I didn’t know what that was,” said Cruz, who added of going back to state “it’s crazy. Williamstown has been like a family. I moved here in seventh grade and it’s just been crazy. Everyone is just so kind. It’s a big community.

“Everyone loves each other, knows each other and everyone is tight. I’m hoping all that carries over down to the state tournament. We want to cut the net down. Our first priority right now is that first game. We ain’t looking ahead. Just get done with that and we can go on to the next. Hopefully we get three more, but right now we’re just focused on the first one.”

The ‘Jackets shot 14 of 25 in each half and entered the fourth quarter with just a trio of turnovers.

Lemasters had a game-high six caroms. Bryant, who had a game-high four assists, also pulled down five boards. Isaly had a game-high three steals while Joy and Schramm had a pair apiece.

“We think it’s going to be the most competitive class, one through eight, of all the classes,” added coach Sauro.

“It’s going to be a great tournament. We’re going to go down there and give it our best shot.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com