Floyd boys basketball fights to the finish, falls in overtime of state quarterfinal

BINGHAMTON — Floyd’s boys basketball team traveled 183 miles to Binghamton for the state quarterfinal round against Section IV’s Corning-Painted Post.

Coach Will Slinkosky said his guys wouldn’t leave without putting up a fight, particularly after it received what he called “a second chance” with the Class AAA at-large bid. In an overtime game that featured a 10-point lead just once, the Colonials left nothing behind but sweat and grit.

Floyd fell to Corning-Painted Post, 72-64, Sunday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in the Class AAA sub-regional and state quarterfinal round. Corning-Painted Post will face Section V’s Fairport in the state semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the same venue.

“The way we came out in the first half and executed, the way we executed down the stretch — with a few misses that were close to makes — we’re singing a different tune here,” Slinkosky said. “Nothing but completely proud of this group.”

Seniors JJ Smith and Sharod Sutton Jr. finished with 22 and 20 points, respectively. Sutton Jr. had eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. 

“It was fun, especially with people doubting us the whole season, even before we started,” Sutton Jr. said when reflecting on the year. “I feel like we got a good bond together, and we achieved a lot together as a team.”

Senior Ja’Quan Thomas had 10 points and eight rebounds. Floyd’s starting lineup, along with Josiah Wade and Jesse Durham, features five seniors.

“They have given everything,” Slinkosky said. “They saw the groups before them, about how much work you have to put in to get to this point, and they’ve stepped up.”

Sophomore Nolyn Proudfoot had a game-high 40 points and 17 rebounds for Corning-Painted Post (21-1), hitting all but one of his 18 free throws. The Hawks shot 30 free throws to the Colonials’ 11.

Floyd (20-4) entered the fourth quarter leading 42-36 after kicking off the second half with a 10-0 run. Corning-Painted Post hit five three-pointers over the final 11:10, including overtime, after hitting none before that. 

Down 5, JJ Smith takes some ankles and hits a 3-pointer.

Floyd trails 66-64 to CPP with 37.6 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/IIocM2TSJC

— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) March 15, 2026

The Hawks took a two-point lead with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter, but Smith responded with a three-pointer with 36.1 seconds left. Proudfoot hit a free throw with 1.8 seconds left to force overtime. Corning-Painted Post outscored Floyd, 13-5, in the extra session to seal a wildly competitive quarterfinal.

“They continue to fight, and that’s a message we want to send to every kid in our program,” Slinkosky said. “We never quit; we never give up. We fight until it says double-zeroes.”