It’s a challenging start to the season for the Albion girls basketball squad

Photo by Mike Wertman – This senior quintet of Cassidy Wolcott, Caitlynn Snook, Elisabeth Baker, Natalie DiCureia and Janae Doty will help lead Albion into the upcoming basketball season.

Filling the holes left by graduation losses and recovering from some key off season injuries are two big keys as the Albion girls basketball team gets set for the upcoming season.

Anchoring the lineup for the Purple Eagles will be the veteran contingent of seniors Natalie DiCureia, Caitlynn Snook, Elisabeth Baker, Janae Doty and Cassidy Wolcott along with juniors Sierra Newton and Brylie Hapeman. However, Newton and Hapemen are both currently recovering from off season injuries.

The gradation losses include multi year first team Niagara-Orleans All-League selection Chanyce Powell (187 points, 93 rebounds) and second team All-League honoree Emily Blachard (109 points, 77 rebounds).

“We’ve got some big holes to fill but we’ve got a lot of ability and we’re really athletic,” said Coach Lucian Price. “Hopefully we will get healthy soon.”

The Purple Eagles roster also includes juniors Sarah Gregori, Tess Pettit, Lexi Wolck, Kirsten Struble, Natalie Lathrop and Isabella Gibbs.

“We have some seniors who are three year varsity players who will have to take over now and our young kids will have to get up to speed,” said Price.

Albion, which went 7-5 in the league and 12-9 overall last year will open the season at home on December 1 with a non league game against Elba. The Purple Eagles N-O opener is slated for December 15 at home against Medina.

Schedule
December: 1 – Elba, 7 p.m.; 5 – Notre Dame, 7 p.m.; 12 – Buffalo Academy of Science, 7 p.m.; 15 – Medina, 7 p.m.; 22 – at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
January: 3 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.; 5 – Akron, 7 p.m.; 9 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 11 – at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; 16 – Wilson, 7 p.m.; 19 – at Hilton, 7 p.m.; 26 – at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; 27 – at Batavia, 3:30 p.m.; 30 – Newfane, 7 p.m.
Febriary: 1 – at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 6 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 9 – Barker, 7 p.m.; 13 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.;  16 and 17 – at Lockport Tournament