Irish use late rally to edge past Rams

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 December 2016 at 10:36 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s DJ Davis puts up a shot over Nico Zambito of Notre Dame during the Rams loss to the Irish this evening in the semifinals of the Batavia Lions Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.

Rebounding from as much as an 8 point deficit early in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame put together a clutch 12-0 scoring burst to close the game and claim a 47-41 victory over Roy-Hart this evening in the opening round of the Batavia Lions Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.

Threes by Ryan Moffat, Jordan Lyons and Brendin Klotzbach keyed that rally which turned a 41-35 deficit into a 44-41 lead. The Irish then locked up the win on two free throws by Klotzbach and one by Lyons in the final minute.

Roy-Hart’s Eric Fitch puts up a shot as Jacob Wetherwax tries to block for Notre Dame.

Nico Zambito finished with 14 and Moffat 13 to lead the way for Notre Dame as Klotzbach and Lyons both added 7 and Anthony Gugino 6.

DJ Davis took game high scoring honors with 15 for Roy-Hart as Brendon Hess had 9, Jacob Bruning 8, Noah Kindron 5 and Eric Fitch and Tim Moriarity 2 each.

Notre Dame also got off to a fast start jumping out to a 18-9 first quarter lead as Moffat scored 8, including two three’s, and Zambito 7, including a three.

However, Roy-Hart put together a 10-0 run to rally into the lead for the first time at 23-22 late in the second quarter. Bruning scored 6 on two baskets and a pair of free throws to lead that rally which also included a jumper by Moriarity and a layup off a turnover by Kindron.

The Irish went back up 26-23 at the outset of the third period on a three by Lyons but the Rams answered with a 9-0 run to close the quarter and grab a 32-26 lead at the three-quarter mark. Hess had a three and layup and Davis a jumper and a layup to lead the uprising.

Two threes by Davis upped the Roy-Hart lead to 8, 38-30, early in the decisive final period but Notre Dame got right back in the game at 38-35 after a layup and a three by Zambito.

Another three by Kindron did keep Roy-Hart up by 6, 41-35, with four minutes to go in the game.

Notre Dame though answered with one last rally as consecutive threes by Moffat, Lyons and Klotzbach put the Irish back on top to stay at 44-41 with 1:20 remaining.

Notre Dame will now face city rival Batavia in the championship game at 8 p.m. Thursday while Roy-Hart will take on Niagara-Orleans League rival Albion in the consolation game at 6:30 p.m. Batavia topped Albion 60-43 in the other semifinal.

Girls Basketball

Iroquois 52, Newfane 44

Iroquois downed Newfane 52-44 this evening in the opening round of the Depew Tourament.

Paige Emborsky led Newfane with 23.