Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Ava LaMay puts up a shot for the Genesee Region League against Niagara-Orleans League defenders Kenzi Snook (Albion) and Anna Chunco (Newfane) during this evening’s Exceptional Senior games at Albion.

The Genesee Region League rolled to a sweep over the Niagara-Orleans League in the annual Exception Senior basketball doubleheader this evening at Albion.

Making it five straight wins in the series, the G-R girls downed the N-O 61-34.

The G-R boys completed the sweep by romping to a 94-55 victory over the N-O for their seventh straight  win in the series.

G-R Girls 61, N-O Girls 34
Alea Groff (Oakfield-Alabama) led the G-R with 11 points as Janessa Amesbury (Byron-Bergen), Emily Pietrzykowski (Alexander) and Emily Harmon (Attica) each added 9, Piper Hyde (Oakfield-Alabama) 7, Ava LaMay (Kendall) 6, Jessica Sosnowski (Oakfield-Alabama) and Addison Dillenbeck (Lyndonville) 4 each, and Lillian Szymkowiak 2.

Paige Miller (Newfane) scored 8 and Honesty Hill (Medina) 7 to lead the N-O as Kenzi Snook (Albion) added 6, Emily Phillips (Wilson), Sienna Bowers (Newfane) and Anna Chunco (Newfane) each and Kami Boyer (Newfane) and Rachel Samson (Barker) 2 each.

The G-R built up leads of 18-6 after one quarter, 37-12 at the half and 50-28 at the three-quarter mark.

G-R Boys 94, N-O Boys 55
Alexander’s Dylan Pohl scored a game high 21 to lead the G-R as Carter Gorski (Attica) had 18, Destin Kuyal (Holley) 15, Maykell Walker (Notre Dame) 12, Avery Watterson (Oakfield-Alabama) 11, Vinny Golisano (Holley) 5, Jayden Bridge (Pembroke) 4,Craig DiQuattro (Byron-Bergen) 3, William Kludt (Kendall) and Carson Warner (Oakfield-Alabama) 2 each and Aiden Bellavia (Notre Dame) 1.

Kyle Radder (Albion) scored 14 and Dan Aquilina (Roy-Hart) 10 to lead the N-O as Isaiah Riley (Albion) added 9, Erique Powell (Roy-Hart) 6, Isaac Monaco (Barker) 5, Cole Callard (Medina), Owen Harris (Barker) and Colton Frerichs (Wilson) 3 each and Braden Ricker (Roy-Hart) 2.

The G-R roared out to a 55-30 lead at the end of the first of the two 20 minute halves. Pohl scored 13, Gorski 12 and Kuyal 11 to lead that uprising.

Kendall’s William Kludt drives against Roy-Hart’s Erique Powell.

A big third quarter scoring surge keyed World of Inquiry to a 58-46 win over Akron in the Class B boys basketball Far West Regional this evening at Gates-Chili.

Leading by a narrow five point, 31-26, margin at the half, World of Inquiry outscored Akron 19-3 in the decisive third period to open up a commanding 50-29 advantage.

Blake Gerstung scored 12, Ben Gerstung 10, Derren Brooks 9, Syras Jonathan 7, Brayden Lamont 6 and Brodie Hill 2 for Akron which finishes the season at 23-2.

Blake Gerstung, Ben Gerstung. Lamont and Jonathan all hit threes in the second quarter to rally the Tigers back to within five at the break. Jonathan’s three came in the final second.

World of Inquiry advances to the state Class B semifinals with a 22-3 record.

Akron advanced to the Regional by defeating Wilson 56-28 in the Section VI Class B state qualifier while World of Inquiry downed East Rochester 61-52 in the Section V state qualifier.

The appearance in the Regionals was the first for both Akron and World of Inquiry.

The rapidly changing landscape of the 8 man football situation in Sections VI and V has led Medina High athletic officials to decide to compete in 11 man football this coming fall after opting to go to 8 man in December due to concerns over player numbers.

Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach Eric Valley made the following announcement this morning about the decision to have the Mustangs continue to compete in 11 man football.

“What a difference 3 months makes!” said Valley.

“In December we had a deadline to decide to play 8 man or 11 man football.

“Based on the information at that time it was in the Mustangs best interest to switch to 8 man.

“We were led to believe there would be teams in our area to have a full schedule.

“In those 3 months, a vast majority of those schools have since merged with other districts and will return to 11 man football … so we are left with potentially only 2 other teams to play in all of sections 5 and 6.

“So the options are, either play 11 man or don’t play at all this season.

“Despite concerns about safety and numbers we have decided as a program and district to do our best to field an 11 man team in 2025.

“Since December we have found a few more kids to get us over 20 potential players.

“As a coaching staff the safety of our players is paramount. We will work hard to field a high quality football team week in and week out.

“Your understanding and support is always greatly appreciated!” he added.

A comeback bid fell short as Newfane dropped a 40-34 decision to Salamanca in the Section VI girls basketball Class B state qualifier game this afternoon at Buffalo State.

Trailing by 11 (18-7) at the end of the first quarter and by 14 (25-11) midway through the second quarter, Newfane came battling back. The Lady Panthers closed to within two (30-28) late in the third period and to within three (35-32) early in the final quarter but could not pull even.

Makenzie Crouse and Kynleigh Wass both scored 10 and Skyla Dowdy 9 to lead Salamanca which will next face Section V champion Hornell in the Class B Far West Regional on Saturday at Buffalo State.

Anna Chunco and Sienna Bowers both scored 10 and Stephanie Chunco 8 to pace Newfane.

Stephanie Chunco scored 5 and Bowers 4 in the second period to help the Lady Panthers stay within five, 25-20 at the half.

A three and a two by Anna Chunco helped pull Newfane within two, 30-28, late in the third period. However  the Lady Warriors scored the quarter’s final five points to go back up by seven, 35-28, at the three-quarter mark.

Back-to-back baskets by Anna Chunco and Bowers pulled Newfane within three, 35-32, early in the final period but the Lady Panthers could manage just two more points the rest of the way. A 5-2 run to close proved to be enough to give the Lady Warriors the win.

Newfane advanced by defeating Health Sciences 59-38 in the Class B1 championship game while Salamanca downed Wilson 51-32 to claim the Class B2 title.

Albion will host the 24th Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Exceptional Senior basketball doubleheader this Friday evening.

The girls game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to be followed by the boys contest at 7 p.m.

The N-O holds a slender 12-11 lead in both the boys and girls series. However, the G-R boys have won the last six meetings and the G-R girls have taken the last four games.

The roster for the N-O girls team includes Kenzi Snook, Cami London and Paige Newton from Albion, Honesty Hill from Medina, Gracie Lieker and Wakinyanwin LaFromboise from Akron and Rachel Samson from Barker.

The lineup for the G-R girls squad includes Alivia Wolf and Zoey Wolf from Holley, Ava LaMay from Kendall, Addison Dillenbeck from Lyndonville, Janessa Amesbury and Olivia Senf from Byron-Bergen, Seneca Calderon from Pembroke, Emily Pietrzykoski and Lillian Szymkowiak from Alexander, Alea Groff, Piper Hyde and Jessica Sosnowski from Oakfield-Alabama and Emily Harmon from Attica.

The N-O boys roster includes Kyle Radder and Isaiah Riley from Albion, Cole Callard from Medina, Owen Harris and Isaac Monaco from Barker, Colton Frerichs from Wilson and Dan Aquilina, Braden Ricker and Erique Powell from Roy-Hart.

The lineup for the G-R boys squad includes Destin Kuyal and Vinny Golisano from Holley, William Kludt from Kendall, Jacob Pitcher from Lyndonville, Gavin Armbrewster, Carson Warner amd Avery Watterson from Oakfield-Alabama, Maykell Walker and Aiden Bellavia from Notre Dame, Noah Clare from Byron-Bergen, Jackson Semmel, A’nari Trotter and Leighton Williams from Wheatland-Chili, Carter Gorski from Attica, Jayden Bridge from Pembroke and Dylan Pohl from Alexander.

Contributed Photo – These eight Purple Eagles Acaemy wrestlers placed at the state tournament this past weekend. In fron on the mat are Trey Ellis and Jeffrey Lutes. Standing, from left, are Zaya Ellis, Harrison Froman, Kyle Schomske, Elizabeth Colmenero, Jeremy Lutes and Colton Moreland.

The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy competed at the NYWAY state tournament this past weekend. The team placed 29th out of 197 teams and had 8 state placers.

Wrestlers qualified by placing top 6 at their regional. In all 25 wrestlers repesented the Academy at the competition.

The Academy’s eight place finishers included Jeffery Lutes (1st place), Elizabeth Colmenero (2nd), Harrison Froman (3rd), Colton Moreland (4th), Trey Ellis (4th). Zaya Ellis (5th), Kyle Schomske (5th) and Jeremy Lutes (6th).

Breaking the game wide open with a big third quarter scoring surge, Akron went on to down Niagara-Orleans League rival Wilson 56-28 in the Section VI Class B boys basketball state qualifier game this afternoon at Buffalo State.

Leading by only 8, 25-17, at the half, Akron exploded for a huge 24-5 third period scoring burst highlighted by a flurry of threes to race away to a commanding 27 point, 49-22, advantage heading into the final period.

Blake Gerstung and Ben Gerstung both had a pair of threes in the decisive period as Brayden Lamont and Syras Jonathan each had one and Derren Brooks a pair of baskets to lead that uprising.

Jonathan led the Tigers balanced attack with 14 as Blake Gerstung, Ben Gerstung and Brooks each had 12.

Aidan Neumann took game high honors for Wilson with 15.

Akron, which also downed Wilson twice during the N-O season, jumped out to a 12-3 first quarter lead as Jonathan had a two and a three, Brooks four points and Coy Patterson a three.

The Tigers maintained an 8 point, 25-17, lead at the half as Ben Gerstung had a three and a three-point play and Blake Gerstung a three in the second quarter. Neumann erupted for 12 points in the period, including a pair of threes, to keep the Lakemen close.

However, Wilson would get no closer as Akron’s barrage of threes highlighted the big 24-5 third period uprising which broke the contest wide open.

Improving to 23-1, Akron advances to the Far West Region of the Class B state tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Gates Chili against the Section V champion either East Rochester or World of Inquiry.

Wilson finishes the season at 17-7.