Contributed Photo

These three members of the Medina Youth Wrestling program placed at the Lancaster Tournament today. They include, from left, Oliver Wilson, Rashawn Bloom and Dominick Callara. Callara earned first place honors going 3-0 on the day while Bloom placed third and Wilson fourth.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brad McPherson and his Mustang teammates will take to the road twice this coming week in their quest to lock up the Niagara-Orleans League title.

Two road tests this upcoming week present the final hurdles as the Medina boys basketball squad seeks to claim its first Niagara-Orleans League championship in seven years.

Currently at 11-1, the Mustangs hold a one game lead over 10-2 Roy-Hart in the two team title chase.

Medina which last claimed the N-O crown during the 2008-09 season, can clinch at least a tie for the title with a win at Akron (0-12) on Tuesday. If successful, the Mustangs could then claim the crown out right with a win at CSAT (5-7) on Thursday.

CSAT gave Medina a good contest in their earlier season meeting as the Mustangs ended up trimming the Eagles 69-60.

Sophomore Jalin Cooper is averaging a double-double to lead Medina with 290 points (16.l average) and 195 rebounds (10.8 ave.). Seniors Justin Morgan and Tyler Ames along with junior Daryl Haynes are each averaging 9 points per outing for the Mustangs.

Roy-Hart will close out the N-O season with a pair of home games against third place Wilson (7-5) on Tuesday and Barker (5-7) on Thursday.

The Rams nipped Wilson 59-57 and downed Barker 69-55 in their earlier season meetings.

Senior guard Andy Xapsos, who is closing in on the 1,000 point career scoring mark, leads the Rams this season with 399 points (22.ave.).

The week’s N-O Schedule

Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Wilson at Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.; Medina at Akron, Barker at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; CSAT at Albion, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Roy-Hart at Wilson 6 p.m.; Albion at CSAT, Akron at Medina, Newfane at Barker, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball – Barker at Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.; Medina at CSAT, Wilson at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – CSAT at Medina, Roy-Hart at Barker, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball – Akron at Albion, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Albion at Akron, 5:30 p.m.

N-O Standings

Boys Basketball – Medina 11-1, Roy-Hart 10-2, Wilson 7-5, Albion 5-7, Barker 5-7, CSAT 5-7, Newfane 5-7, Akron 0-12
Girls Basketball – Wilson 13-0, Newfane 10-3, CSAT 7-5, Albion 6-6, Medina 6-6, Barker 3-9, Akron 2-10, Roy-Hart 2-10.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Vince Donner was the winner at this morning’s annual Mr. Ed’s 5K race in Middleport while Kimberly Mills was the top female finisher.

Led by a repeat champion, Middleport’s Super Bowl Sunday tradition continued this morning as several hundred running enthusiasts from all around Western New York took part in the 27th annual Mr. Ed’s 5K race under sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 40’s.

Vince Donner, a Roy-Hart High graduate and current Niagara Falls resident, took first place honors for the second year in a row with a winning time of :17.09.

Kimberly Mills of Basom was the first female finisher in a time of :19.25.

In all some 550 runners took part in the morning’s actives which included a 5 K walk and a 1K fun run in addition to the main 5K run which had over 400 competitors.

Proceeds from the event go to the Mr. Ed’s Scholarship Fund which benefits current and former Roy-Hart graduates.

Hundreds of running enthusiasts head away from the starting line at this morning’s annual Mr. Ed’s 5K race.

The Medina youth basketball team defeated Newfane today to improve to 6-0 on the season.

The offense for Medina was led by the trio of Jarin Rhim with 23 points, Emmanual Taylor 16, and Lavonn Guy 12.

Chris Johnson also chipped in 5, Aiden Pitts 4, Hassan Barulich 2, and Caden Lilleby 2.

Medina next hits the road to face Wilson at 12:30 pm on February 13.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Emma Gardner

Medina’s Emma Gardner was the lone winner for the Niagara-Orleans League at the annual girls intersectional championship meet vs. the Genesee Region League on Friday at Gates-Chili.

Gardner won the 100 Butterfly in a time of 1:06.49.

Earning second place finishes in the individual events for the N-O were Lydia Gaughran (Newfane) in the 200 Freestyle, Natalie Menz (Barker) 50 Free, Julie Diebel (Akron) 100 Backstroke and Allie DeBiase (Newfane) 100 Breaststroke.

Gaughran and DeBiase also combined with their Newfane teammates Lauren Seymour and Meghan Mietlicki to place second in the 200 Medley Relay and with Alex Martin and Mattie Hamelink to take second in the 400 Free Relay.

DeBiase also placed third in the 200 Individual Medley and Seymour in the 100 Backstroke as did Elizabeth Furmanski (Albion) in the 100 Free and Sara Gendrue (Barker) in the 100 Breaststroke.

H-A-C of the G-R League, which swept all three relays, won the team title with 361 points.

Newfane finished second 294 points as Attica 237, Barker 195 and Akron 191 rounded out the top five. Medina finished 7th and Roy-Hart 8th.

Photo By Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Joe Velez earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award at the Section VI Class C championships today.

Medina, Lyndonville, Holley and Barker/Roy-Hart all had individual weight class champions crowned today in sectional class tournament wrestling competition.

Earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, Medina’s Joe Velez captured the 126 lb. title at the Section VI Class C championships held at Falconer.

Going 4-0 for the tournament, Velez decisioned John Fiebelkorn from Akron 13-11 in the championship bout after edging past Jacob Page from Eden 5-4 in the semifinals.

Lyndonville’s Jeff Gress Jr. registered three straight pins in route to winning the 120 lb. title at the Section V Class B championships held at Red Jacket.

Gress, who pinned Kristian Miller from Bolivar-Richburg in 2:17 in the championship bout, went 3-0 for the tournament.

Holley’s Nick Shenck claimed the 132 lb. title at the Section V Class BB championships by pinning Zander Sharp from Canisteo-Greenwood in 5:59.

Barker/Roy-Hart had a pair of Section VI Class C champions in Cameron Swick (160) and Kirk Fay (285).

Swick decisioned Newfane’s Adam Nowicki 17- in the finals while Fay won by a pin.

Lyndonville advanced a total of seven wrestlers to next weekend’s state qualifying Section V championships.

The Tigers contingent also includes Dustin Joy (138), Tom Follman (152) and Dustin Hinkley (160) who each placed second going 3-1; Garren Bayne (126) who placed fourth going 3-2, and Reese Ledford (106) and Chase Stinson (113) who both took fifth going 2-2.

Medina also had three other wrestlers advance to next weekend’s state qualifying Section VI champions as Colby Petrie (106) and Elijah Sones (170) both placed fourth going 2-2 and Charles Beach earned a medical wildcard entry.

Albion had four wrestlers advance to the Section VI championships as Tim Drake (195), Blake Aina (145) and Preston Flugel (120) all placed third and Cade Aina (120) fourth at the Class B tournament held at Cheektowaga.

Kendall had a trio of wrestlers advance to the Section V championships as Tristyn Moyer (99) placed third going 4-1, Paul Urquhart (113) fourth going 2-2 and Jeremy Browe (152) sixth going 3-3 at the Section V Class B Tournament.

Holley advanced a total of 10 wrestlers to the Section V championships as Austen Vroman (285) placed second, Zach Day (170) third, Erik Balys (145), Patrick Purtell (152) and Chris Yockel (138) fourth, Cameron Thorn (220) fifth and Dalton Moyer (182), Nate Schoonmaker (99) and Ross Pinson (195) sixth.

Barker/Roy-Hart also had Brent Bachman (132), who placed second, and Ryan Ulrich (145) and Matt Steves (285), who both took fourth, advance to the Section VI championships.

Roy-Hart upsets Newfane, Wilson locks up title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Maddy Williams puts up a shot over Albion defender Nicole Eldred during the Mustangs win over the host Purple Eagles this evening.

Rebounding from a turnover filled first half, Medina battled back to defeat host Albion 38-30 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game.

Maddy Williams scored 15 of her game high 17 points, including three threes, to spearhead the big second half rally for Medina which managed a total of only nine points in the first half and still trailed by seven midway through the third quarter.

Je’ne Brown chipped in with 7, Emily Kams and Molley Gross 6 each and Maddy Winters 2 for the Mustangs.

Brown and Gross also both had 7 rebounds and Williams 7 steals.

Medina’s Maddy Winters swats away a shot attempt by Albion’s Brylie Hapeman.

Chanyce Powell scored 14 for Albion as Sierra Chudy added 4 and Emily Blanchard, Sierra Newton, Caitlynn Snook, Nicole Eldred, Janae Doty and Brylie Hapeman 2 each.

Albion led 10-6 after one quarter, 14-9 at the half and upped the advantage to seven, 20-13, midway through the third period after back-it-back layups by Powell.

Je’ne Brown puts up a shot for Medina over Albion’s Caitlynn Snook.

However, Medina came battling back ignited by a key 11-2 run which rallied the Mustangs into a 24-22 lead.

Williams had a three and a jumper and Brown two layups to key that scoring burst.

Albion did pull back into a 24-24 tie at the three-quarter mark on a late jumper by Snook but the Purple Eagles could not regain the lead.

Medina kept the momentum by opening the decisive final period with a 9-0 run to regain the lead for good at 33-24 with four minutes to go.

Williams hit two big threes to key that surge which also included a layup by Gross.

Albion’s Chanyce Powell puts up a shot as Je’ne Brown tries to block for Medina.

Two free throws by Powell and a basket by Chudy did pull Albion back to within five, 33-28, but the Purple Eagles would get no closer.

Medina answered back with s jumper and a free throw by Williams and a free throw by Kams to regain a nine point, 37-28, lead and put lock on the win.

Both teams are now 6-6 in N-O action.

Albion’s Janae Doty looks to shoot as Emily Kams defends for Medina.

Sierra Chudy of Albion puts up a shot over Medina defender Molley Gross.

Roy-Hart 52, Newfane 44

Ellie Todd poured in 26 points to spark Roy-Hart (2-10) to a 52-44 upset win over Newfane (10-3).

Emma Lindke added 11 for the Lady Rams as Reilly Albee and Maddie Fry both added 5, Skyler Christopher 4 and Ava Bligh 2.

Lindke also grabbed off 10 rebounds and Todd had 9 rebounds and 4 steals.

Emily Foltz and Paige Emborsky both had 10 for Newfane.

Roy-Hart took a 23-22 lead at the half on a last second basket by Todd.

Breaking away from a 32-32 deadlock at the three-quarter mark, Roy-Hart used a 20-12 scoring edge in the decisive final period to claim the win.

Todd scored 7 and Lindke 6 to lead that surge by the Lady Rams as Fry and Christopher both chipped in with key free throws.

Wilson 60, Barker 28

Rachel Senek scored 20 and Kayla Neumann 12 as undefeated (13-0) Wilson locked up outright possession of a seventh striaght N-O championship with a 60-28 win over Barker.

Caitlyn Mason scored 9, Lydia Dewart 7 and Emily Annable 6 for Barker which slips to 3-9.

CSAT 56, Akron 45

CSAT (7-5) downed Akron (2-10) 56-45 as Kiara King and Surenaty Davis-Patterson both scored 11.

Elba 32, Kendall 21

Tatiana Draper scored 13 to lead Elba to a 32-21 win over host Kendall in a Genesee Region League game.

Taylor ReQua scored 6, Lizzie Rath 5, Maya Rutland and Daniela Volkman 4 and Rachael Bakutis 2 for Kendall.

In another G-R game, Attica defeated Holley 55-20.

The third time certainly proved to be the charm as Holley avenged a pair of earlier season losses to nip visiting Oakfield-Alabama 49-48 this evening in a Genesee Region League game.

Dylan Hillabush scored 14, Derek McArthur 13 and Zach Vaccarelli 12 to lead the balanced attack for Holley as Nick Passarell and Chris Balys both added 5. Hillabush also grabbed off 14 rebounds and Vaccarelli 12 as Passarell chipped in with 5 assists and 3 steals.

“It was just a great team effort,” said Holley Coach Matt Hennard.

Trailing 26-19 at the half, Holley put together a huge 17-5 third period scoring burst to rally into the lead for good by a 36-31 margin at the three-quarter mark. Five different players contriibuted to the point production during that key stretch.

The Hawks then held off a fourth period Hornets rally to claim the win as Hillabush tallied 5 and Balys 3 to lead the Hawks balanced scoring during the stretch.

Earlier in the season Oakfield-Alabama downed visiting Holley 65-39 in a G-R game. The Hornets also nipped the Hawks 42-40 in overtime in the consolation game of the Holley Tournament.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Eddie Schildt (24) puts up a shot as Notre Dame’s Nico Zambito tries to block during the host Tigers key win over the Irish this evening.

Avenging an earlier season 92-79 road loss, Lyndonville rolled to a key 67-49 victory over visiting Notre Dame this evening to remain in the thick of the Genesee Region League Division 2 title race.

Eddie Schildt scored 22, Nick Hinkson 19 and Eric Neace 16 to spark the offense for Lyndonville which made it nine straight G-R wins in a row. Schildt also had 17 rebounds and 3 blocks, Hinkson 10 rebounds and 5 assists and Corey Hydock 8 rebounds.

Tyler Prospero scored 14 and C.J. Suozzi 12 for Notre Dame.

Lyndonville jumped out to a 19-12 first quarter lead as Schildt had three baskets, Neace a pair of buckets and Hinkson a three and a two.

Lyndonville’s Nick Hinkson drives by Notre Dame defender Anthony Gugino.

The Tigers increased the advantage to 13, 37-24, at the half, as Hinkson, Neace and Schildt each had a pair of baskets and Jacob Hoffee a three in the second period.

Keeping rolling, Lyndonville maintained a 57-40 lead at the three-quarter mark as Schildt had 9 points and Hinkson and Neace 5 each in the third period.

Lyndonville, which is 11-2 in the league and 15-4 overall will now host front-running Elba (18-1) in the regular season finale on February 9 needing a victory to earn a share of the Division 2 title. Elba defeated Wheatland-Chili 44-33 this evening.

Eric Neace scores on a layup for Lyndonville.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ronnie Koonce (11) blocks a shot attempt by Albion’s Tommy Mattison during the host Mustangs win over the rival Purple Eagles this evening.

Taking charge in the third quarter, front-running Medina downed visiting rival Albion 65-50 this evening to maintain a one game lead in the Niagara-Orleans League title race.

Dylan Lewis scored 18 on six threes, while Jalin Cooper tallied 12 and Justin Morgan 10 to spearhead the attack for Medina which improves to 11-1 in N-O competition.

Tyler Ames added 7, Daryl Haynes and Brad McPherson 6, Johnny Salone 3, Jared Zinkievich 2 and Ronnie Koonce 1 for the Mustangs which remain a game ahead of 10-2 Roy-Hart which downed Newfane 65-59.

Brady Meakin shared game high scoring honors with 18, also on six threes, to lead Albion which slips to 5-7.

Kory Reynolds added 13, Evan Pappalardo 12, Manwell Taylor 5 and Tommy Mattison 2 for the Purple Eagles.

Medina’s Jared Zinkievich shoots over Albion defender Kory Reynolds.

Leading by a slender one point, 25-24, margin at the half, Medina put together a big 20-8 third period scoring surge to break the contest open by a 45-32 score at the three-quarter mark.

Lewis hit three threes and Morgan one to highlight that Mustangs uprising which also featured 8 points by Cooper on two jumpers, a rebound bucket and a slam dunk off a turnover.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs extended the advantage to 19, 58-39, with 3:30 remaining in the final period. Threes by Morgan and Haynes, along with layups by Ames and Cooper, highlighted that key run.

Albion’s Evan Pappalardo puts up a shot against Medina defender Justin Morgan.

Albion had grabbed an 8-6 lead at the end of a low scoring opening period as Meakin hit a pair of threes.

The lead then sea-sawed back-and-forth seven times in the second period before Medina emerged with a narrow 25-24 lead after Lewis’s third three of the quarter and a pair of free throws by Ames.

Meakin hit two threes and Pappalardo one in the quarter for Albion whose last lead was at 21-20.

The Purple Eagles next host CSAT on February 9.

Medina closes the N-O season with road games at Akron and CSAT next Tuesday and Thursday.

Albion’s Tyler Rotoli tries to drive between Medina defenders Daryl Haynes (12) and Dylan Lewis (5).

Roy-Hart 65, Newfane 59

Roy-Hart stayed in the thick of the title race just one game off the pace by downing visiting Newfane 65-59 to improve to 10-2.

Andy Xapsos scored 18, Justin Heschke 15, Jake Bruning 12 and Chris Anderson 9 to set the pace for Roy-Hart. Heschke also grabbed off 22 rebounds and Anderson 10.

Max Weber scored 24 and Kyle DeVoogel 16 for Newfane which slips to 5-7.

Roy-Hart held leads of 17-11 after one period, 26-24 at the half and 44-36 at the three-quarter mark.

Barker 59, Wilson 58

Nate Luckman hit a three with just 1.3 seconds remaining to lift Barker to a thrilling 59-58 win over Wilson.

The Raiders had pulled to within two at 58-56 on a jumper by Kyle Secore with 1:30 remaining.

Mike Snell scored 19, Luckman 14 and Eddie Wasnock 12 for Barker which improves to 5-7.

Ryan Bradley scored 19 and Jonah Miller 11 for Wilson which slips to 7-5.

Wilson led 34-29 at the half and 45-43 after three quarters.