Kendall turns back late Lyndonville rally

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 January 2022 at 10:23 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Braxton Zarpentine drives to the basket against Lyndonville defender Trenton Muck during the Eagles narrow win over the host Tigers this evening.

Turning back a fourth quarter challenge, Kendall held on to trim host Lyndonville 62-57 in a Genesee Region League basketball game this evening.

Down by seven at the outset of the final quarter, Lyndonville battled back to within one three times in the final two minutes but could not pull even.

Noah Poler provided the big spark for the Tigers late rally as he scored 15 of his game high 28 points in the final period.

Poler pulled the Tigers within one at 54-53 by hitting a pair of free throws with 2:08 remaining, within one at 56-55 by making a layup at the 1:10 mark and finally within one at 58-57 with a jumper with 20 seconds to go.

However, each time Kendall answered the challenge to maintain the lead. First a bucket by Jeffrey Pratt kept the Eagles up 56-53. Then a basket by Louie Conte made it 58-55. Finally one free throw each by Jacek Kwiatkowski and Pratt and then two by Zach Barrett in the final 16 seconds put a lock on the Eagles 62-57 win.

Braxton Zarpentine, who fouled out with just over two minutes to play, led Kendall with 20 as Barrett added 17, Kwiatkowski 11, Pratt 7, Conte 5 and Devin Edick 2.

In addition to Noah Poler’s 28, Lyndonville had Roman Heinsler with 15, Trenton Muck 7, Mason Nicholson 3 and Jack Whipple and Jimmy Poler 2 each.

Kendall, which led all the way, was up 12-7 after one period and 34-25 at the half as Zarpentine scored 8 in each of the first two periods. Kwiatkowski added 5 and Barrett 4 in the second period.

Heinsler scored 7 and Noah Poler 5 in the second quarter for Lyndonville.

The Eagles went up by as many as 11, at 41-30 and 44-33, midway through the third period after threes by Barrett and Kwiatkowski.

Lyndonville did cut the deficit a bit to seven, 44-37, at the end of the third period. The Tigers then quickly pulled to within two, 47-45, at the outset of the final period after a rebound bucket and a three-point play by Noah Poler and a three by Heinsler.

It was a tight battle the rest of the way as the teams traded scores for most of the final six minutes.

Barrett scored 6 and Pratt 5 to lead Kendall down the stretch as the Eagles improve to 4-5.

Kendall’s Zach Barrett puts up a shot against Lyndonville defender Noah Poler.

Notre Dame 61, Holley 46
Trailing by 18, 39-21, at the half, Holley battled back to within 8 twice in the second half before Notre Dame pulled away from a 61-46 G-R win over the host Hawks.

Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Irish with a game high 25.

Broek Ostrom scored 20, Erik Lang 10 and Mason Neale 8 for Holley.

“I can’t say enough about our kids effort. They really gave it everything they had” said Hawks Coach Wil Prince.