Front-running Legion downed runner-up Sacred Heart 38-32 Monday to open up a 13 point lead in the Medina Euchre League title chase.

Vets Club edged JR Wilson 36-34 in the other game.

Legion is now 339-291 on the season while Sacred Heart is 326-304, JR Wilson 319-311 and Vets Club 276-354.

League action continues on December 7 with Legion at Sacred Heart and JR Wilson at Vets Club.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Lindsey Williams drives around Lyndonville’s Jasmine Plummer during the Lady Raiders season opening home court win over the Lady Tigers this evening.

Barker turned back a late challenge to edge past visiting Lyndonville 36-31 this evening in a season opening non league girls basketball game.

Caitlyn Mason took game high scoring honors for Barker with 16 points. Lindsey Williams added 8, Haley Brown and Kylie Miller 4 each and Lydia Dewart and Sarah Mason 2 apiece for the Lady Raiders.

Makenzie Muck had 10 rebounds and 9 points to lead Lyndonville. The Lady Tigers also had Anna Lewis with 7 points, Abi Rodriguez 6, Miranda Lembcke 3 and Jasmine Plummer, Aubrey Lewis and Stacey Buckland each with 2.

Lyndonville’s Aubrey Lewis tries to drive by Barker’s Caitlyn Mason.

Barker, which held leads of 8-4 after one quarter and 18-13 at the half, built the advantage to 10, 31-21, at the three-quarter mark.

However, Lyndonville battled back to out score Barker 10-5 down the stretch but the Lady Tigers could get no closer than three.

Caitlyn Mason scored 10 points in the second half, including a pair of threes, to help keep Barker on top.

Barker next faces Rochester School of the Arts in the opening round of the Kendall Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Lyndonville next faces the host Lady Rams in the opening round of the Roy-Hart Tournament at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Anna Lewis of Lyndonville puts up a shot over Barker defender Haley Brown.

Two girls basketball tournaments, at Kendall and Roy-Hart, will highlight this first full week of the area high school winter sports season.

The semifinals of the Kendall Tournament will see the Lady Eagles hosting rival Holley at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Barker taking on Rochester School of the Arts at 7 p.m. Thursday. The consolation and championship games will be held at 2 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The semifinals of the Roy-Hart Tournament will be held on Friday with Tonawanda facing Oakfield-Alabama at 5 p.m. followed by Lyndonville vs. Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be held on Saturday at 3 and 5 p.m.

The Lyndonville boys basketball team will host Kendall on Friday to open the Genesee Region League season.

The Week’s Schedule

Today

Girls Basketball – Elba at Medina, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Alexander at Albion, Pembroke at Barker, Attica at Medina, Oakfield-Alabama at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
 

Tuesday

Boys Basketball – Barker at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Barker, 6:30 p.m.
Wrestling – Fredonia at Barker/Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.
 

Wednesday

Boys Basketball – Webster Christian at Lyndonville, 6 p.m.; Emerson at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Holley vs. Kendall at Kendall Tournament, Cleve Hill at Albion, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Albion at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m., Barker at Wheatland-Chili, Medina at Alexander, Roy-Hart at Attica, 5:30 p.m.
Wrestling – Albion at Lyndonville, 6 p.m.
 

Thursday

Boys Basketball – Elba at Barker, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Barker vs. Rochester School of the Arts at Kendall Tournament, 7 p.m.
 

Friday

Boys Basketball – Rochester Career Mentoring at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; Kendall at Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville vs. Roy-Hart at Roy-Hart Tournament, 6:30 p.m.; Notre Dame at Albion, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Wheatland-Chili at Albion, Byron-Bergen at Barker, Notre Dame at Medina, Alexander at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
 

Saturday

Girls Basketball – Kendall Tournament (2 and 3:30 p.m.); Roy-Hart Tournament (3 and 5 p.m.).
Wrestling – Albion at Depew Tournament, Lyndonville at Tonawanda Tournament

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Je’ne Brown (1) drives past Elba’s Alex Reigle during the Mustangs loss to the visiting Lady Lancers this evening.

A lengthy turnover plagued second half scoring drought proved costly as Medina dropped a 33-28 decision to visiting Elba this evening in the Mustangs non league season opening girls basketball game.

Medina built up a 10 point, 23-13, advantage two and a half minutes into the third quarter after a rebound basket by Molley Gross and a layup off a steal by Emily Kams.

However, the Mustangs could not score from the field again for the next 10 minutes.

Elba capitalized on the drought by putting together a decisive 15-2 turnover aided scoring burst over the final five minutes of the third quarter to turn the 10 point deficit into a three point, 28-25, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Titiana Draper scored 6 of her game high 13 points and Alex Reigle 4 of her 8 to key that Lady Lancers uprising.

A basket by Gross with 4:15 to go in the fourth quarter finally ended Medina’s lengthy drought and kept the Mustangs within three at 31-28. However, the Mustangs could not score again.

Maddie Winters (00) rebounds for Medina as Leah Bezon defends for Elba.

Medina had jumped out to a 9-3 first period lead as Je’ne Brown led the way with 7 points including a pair of rebound buckets and a layup.

The Mustangs maintained a six point, 19-13, advantage as the half as Gross, Brown, Kams and Maddie Winters all contributed second quarter baskets.

Gross and Brown both finished with 9 points for Medina as Winters had 6 and Kams 4.

Emily Reynolds added 9 points and Leah Bezon 3 for Elba.

Medina next visits Kendall on December 7.

Albion splits; Roy-Hart and Barker score sweeps

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Olivia Carter in action for Medina in the 100 Backstroke during this afternoon’s home pool loss to Attica.

Attica swept to a doubleheader victory over host Medina this afternoon in a season opening non league swim meet.

The Blue Devils downed the Seahorses 100-66 in the boys meet and 104-66 in the girls’ competition.

Dan Heil won the 100 Backstroke and Kristian Snyder the 100 Breaststroke for the Medina boys squad. Heil and Snyder also teamed up with Mason Pecoraro and Damien Norrish to win the 200 Medley Relay.

The Medina girls also won the 200 Medley Relay with the foursome of Olivia Carter, Haylee Cogovan, Emma Gardner and Alyssa Beyer. Gardner also posted a win in the 100 Butterfly.

Kristian Snyder in route to a win for Medina in the 100 breaststroke.

Albion splits with Alexander

Albion split with visiting Alexander as the Purple Eagles won the boys’ meet 53-41 but lost the girls’ competition 55-38.

Matt Kovaleski won the 100 Breaststroke for the Albion boys.

The Albion girls squad had a pair of double winners as Elizabeth Furmanski took the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Freestyle and Michaela Pantano the 50 Free and 100 Butterfly.

Roy-Hart sweeps Oakfield-Alabama

Roy-Hart swept past visiting Oakfield-Alabama winning the boys’ meet 113-97 and the girls’ competition 98-60.

Tanner Rees doubled in the Butterfly and Individual Medley and Ellott Spitzer in the 100 Free and Backstroke to lead the Roy-Hart boys.

Maddie Ohol doubled for the R-H girls in the 200 and 500 Freestyle events.

Barker bests Pembroke

Barker likewise swept past visiting Pembroke winning the boys’ meet 90-74 and the girls’ 92-77.

The Barker boys were sparked by a trio of double winners as Collin Webb took the 50 and 100 Free, Collin Stevener the Butterfly and Backstroke and Andrew Jenks the Individual Medley and 500 Free.

The Barker girls likewise had three double winners including Chloe Goodlander (Butterfly, Backstroke), Sara Gendrue (100 Free, Breastroke) and Christiana Carestia (Individual Medley, 500 Free).

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Alba Perez earned MVP honors at the NCCC Tournament today.

 
Medina High graduate and Niagara County Community College sophomore Alba Perez earned Most Valuable Player honors as the host Thunderwolves defeated Villa Maria College 76-56 this afternoon in the championship game of the NCCC Tournament.

Perez scored 16 points and grabbed off 15 rebounds as NCCC improves to 11-1 on the season.

Alliyah Gillespie, who was named to the All-Tournament team, netted 15 points for NCCC.

In the semifinals on Saturday, Perez had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists as NCCC defeated Henry Ford Community College 98-67.

Gillespie added 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Thunderwolves.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veteran members of the Kendall wrestling squad include Creagan MacLaren, in front, Mike Raschke, Brandon Patten, Jeremy Browe and Paul Urquhart.

A quintet of veterans anchors the lineup the Kendall wrestling squad which is prepping for the December 8 Genesee Region League opener at rival Holley.

Coached by Jim Sauberan, the Eagles, whose lineup is thin on numbers, is led by seniors Paul Urquhart, Brandon Patten, Mike Raschke, Creagan MacLaren and sophomore Jeremy Browe. Urquhart went 28-14 last season.

Kendall’s Schedule:
Dec. 8 – at Holley, 6 p.m.
Dec. 11 – at Albion, 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 – at Byron-Bergen, 6 p.m.
Dec. 19 – at Pavilion Tournament
Dec. 30 – at Geneseo Tournament
Jan. 5 – Lyndonville, 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 – at Cal-Mum Tournament
Jan. 12 – Attica, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 – Wilson Magnet, 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 – at Alexander, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23 – at Perry Tournament

Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading the Medina High swim teams into the upcoming season will be this group of captains. In front are Emma Gardner, Andrea Toussaint and Haylee Cogovan. In back are Damien Norrish, Kristian Snyder and Chase Pecoraro.

The Medina swim teams will begin tuning up for the Niagara-Orleans League campaign by hosting Attica on Monday (4:30 p.m.) in a season opening non league meet.

Captains Damien Norrish and Chase Pecoraro, both seniors, and Kristian Snyder, a junior, lead the Medina boys squad which went 7-3 in N-O competition last year.

Pecoraro won the 100 Backstroke at last year’s N-O All-League meet while Snyder placed second in the 100 Breaststroke and sophomore Daniel Heil third in the 100 Backstroke. Pecoraro and Snyder were also members of the Seahorses winning 200 Medley Relay team.

The boys squad’s lineup also includes juniors Powell Stephens and Kevin Capstick along with sophomores Mason Pecoraro, Jack Hill and Trevor Hare, freshman Dawson Brown and Raymond Paull and eighth grader Hunter Heil.

“We’ve got some pretty good experience but our numbers are small,” said Coach Aaron Moessinger.

The Medina girls squad, which went 3-7 in N-O competition last year, is led by senior captains Haylee Cogovan, Emma Gardner and Andrea Toussaint.

Gardner placed second in the 100 Butterfly and fifth in the 50 Freestyle at the All-League meet while Toussaint was fourth in the Butterfly and Cogovan sixth in the Breaststroke.

The Seahorses underclassmen dominated roster also includes junior Morgan Roach, sophomores Alyssa Beyer, Shelby Green, Madison Kenward, Grace Masse, Megan Showler and Kaitlin Washbon; freshmen Alyssa Blount, Marguerite Brakenbury, Sarah Cochrane, Hannah Hamilton, Ashlee Howell, Ashton Laird, Ryenn Oliver and Cora Payne; eighth graders Olivia Carter, Hannah Heil and Tessa Pecoraro and seventh graders Brooklyn Brown and Grace Cogovan.

“We’re very young but we’re got some good talent and the potential is definitely there,” said Coach Mary Dooley.

The Seahorses will open the N-O season at Newfane on December 10.

Medina’s Schedule
Nov. 30 – Attica, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 – at Alexander, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 – Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 – Akron, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 – Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 – at Albion, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 12 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 – at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 – Barker, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 – Boys All-League meet at Newfane, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 – Girls All-League meet at Akron, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 – Girls N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Anchoring the lineup for the Medina wrestling squad this season will be this group of veteran Mustang matmen. In front are Kalvin Packer, left, and Joe Velez. In back are Austin Cox, Charles Beach and Colby Petrie.

Faced with the dual challenge posed by inexperience and small numbers, the Medina wrestling squad is prepping to open the Niagara-Orleans League season at rival Albion on December 9.

The veteran quintet of seniors Kalvin Packer, Joe Velez and Charles Beach along with sophomore Austin Cox and eighth grader Colby Petrie anchors the Medina lineup.

Velez placed first at 120 lbs. at last year’s N-O All-League Tournament while Packer took second at 285 and Petrie third at 99.

The Mustangs underclassmen dominated roster also includes senior Brooklyn Moore, junior Austin Bellan, sophomores Kyson Bellan, Dalton Bellan, Jake Bensley, Cody Crane, Joe Gates, Ian Joseph, Elijah Sones, Mitchell Wienke and James Wisnewski along with freshmen Jack Dorris, Javier Gomez, Diago Russell, Christian Silversmith, Dylan Weese, Tim Roy, Chaise Prest and eighth grader Bobby Geiger.

“We’re very young and overall experience wise we’re really more of a JV team,” said Coach Eric Gross. “But we’re working hard to improve every day.”

Medina’s Schedule:
Dec. 9 – at Albion, 6 p.m.
Dec. 10 – St. Mary’s, Lancaster 6 p.m.
Dec. 12 – at Batavia Tournament
Dec. 16 – at Akron, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6 – Newfane, 6 p.m.
Jan. 8 and 9 – at NCCC Officials Tournament
Jan. 13 – Wilson, 6 p.m.
Jan. 15 and 16 at Lockport Tournament
Jan. 20 – Barker/Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23 – Gary Gross Memorial Medina Tournament
Jan. 30 – N-O All-League Tournament at Wilson