Contributed Photo – Shown here with his award, Jace DiMatteo is joined by his father Coach Jeremy DiMatteo and Coach Bobby Reome.

The Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading program (AYSAP) is proud to announce that Jace DiMatteo has been selected as the recipient of the Black Lion Award, one of the most prestigious honors in football.

The Black Lion Award is a national recognition given to players who embody the qualities of leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, and unselfish concern for their team. Unlike most awards that highlight individual statistics, the Black Lion Award is about something far greater—team-first mentality, character, and heart.

“Jace exemplifies everything this award stands for. He was the heartbeat of the team, showing up to practice an hour early, staying after practice, and constantly finding ways to involve all his teammates,” said Coach Bobby Reome. “His commitment went beyond just leading by example—he actively worked to build a stronger team, always looking for ways to uplift those around him.”

“Whether it was helping a teammate finish a drill, taking extra time to explain concepts, or pushing everyone to be their best, Jace never hesitated to put others before himself. His dedication and selflessness made an impact not just on the field but in the locker room, shaping the culture of the team in ways that will last beyond this season” Reome added.

“The award is named in honor of Major Don Holleder and the Black Lions of the 28th Infantry Regiment, who displayed extraordinary bravery and selflessness in service to their country. It serves as a reminder that football is more than just a game—it is about brotherhood, discipline, and playing for something bigger than oneself.

“Presenting this award to Jace is a testament to the impact he has had on his teammates and the Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading program as a whole. His leadership and selflessness have left a lasting impression, and his influence will continue to inspire future athletes” said Reome.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Kolton Fletcher goes in for a layup ahead of Oakfield-Alabama defender Avery Watterson during the Mustangs win over the Hornets this evening at SUNY Niagara.

Avenging an earlier season 82-71 loss, Medina bested Oakfield-Alabama 65-49 this evening in the final game of the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Boys Basketball Challenge at SUNY Niagara.

Preston Woodworth scored a game high 26 points and Jerrell Nealy tallied 19 to spearhead the Medina offense. Christian Moss added 8, Kolton Fletcher 5, Jayzon Wills 4, Cole Callard 2 and Avion Johnson 1.

Avery Watterson paced Oakfield-Alabama with 18.

Medina grabbed a slender 16-15 lead at the end of a sea-saw first period which saw 6 ties and 3 lead changes. Woodworth scored 7, including a three, and Wills 4 to lead the Mustangs during that stretch.

The Mustangs maintained a narrow 28-24 advantage at the half as Fletcher scored 5 and Nealy 4 in the second period.

Medina extended its lead to 11, 42-31, by outpointing Oakfield-Alabama 14-7 in the third period as Woodworth scored 8, including two threes, and Nealy 4.

The Mustangs then locked up the victory by outscoring the Hornets 23-18 in the final period. Woodworth tallied 11, including three threes, and Nealy 8 to spark that uprising.

Medina’s Preston Woodworth puts up a three point shot attempt as Gavin Armbrewster defends for Oakfield-Alabama.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s CJ D’Agostino tries to put up a shot against Barker defender Donovan Hefferon during the Eagles win over the Bulldogs this evening at SUNY Niagara.

Leading from wire-to-wire Kendall downed Barker 45-35 in the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region Leagu Boys Basketball Challenge this evening at SUNY Niagara.

Avenging an earlier season 67-55 home court loss, Kendall jumped out to a 9-3 first quarter lead. The Eagles went on to hold leads of 22-12 at the half and 29-27 at the three-quarter mark.

The Eagles then outscored the Bulldogs 16-8 in the final period to lock up the win.

CJ D’Agostino took game high scoring honors with 16 for Kendall as Jonas Rhodes added 7, Jonny Conte, Sammy Conte and Vinnie D’Agostino 6 each and William Kludt 4.

Owen Harris led Barker with 12 as Anthony Taliaferro added 9, Isaac Monaco, Logan Murrell, Donovan Hefferon and Jackson Prynn 3 each and Maico Vazquez 2.

Barker’s Isaac Monaco goes in for a layup attempt.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Nate Gibson puts up a shot against a trio of Holley defenders including Destin Kuyal, Cam Mosier and Avante Walker during the Purple Eagles win over the Hawks at SUNY Niagara this afternoon.

Moving on top to stay in the third quarter, Albion outlasted Holley down the stretch to claim a 69-59 victory in the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Boys Basketball Challenge this afternoon at SUNY Niagara.

Breaking away from s 29-29 halftime tie, Albion took a 41-37 lead at the end of the third period as five players contributed baskets during that stretch.

The Purple Eagles then outpointed the Hawks 28-22 in a high scoring final period to claim the win. Wesley Olles scored 11 and Tyler Cody 9 and Isaiah Riley 7 to lead that scoring surge. Cody had two threes and Olles and Riley one each.

Olles finished with a game high 25 points as Cody had 19, Riley 10 and Seth Krenning 9.

Vinny Golisano scored 20, Destin Kuyal 16 and Chris Mosier 10 to pace Holley.

Holley jumped out to a 15-11 first period lead as Kuyal had 6, Golisano 5 and Mosier 4.

However, Albion answered with a 18-12 second period scoring burst to rally into the 29-29 half-time deadlock. Cody tallied 8, Olles 6 and Krenning 4 to lead that rally.

N-O has 3 more wins
The N-O League also won the first three games of the busy six game schedule as Newfane defeated Byron-Bergen 55-48, Wilson downed Wheatland-Chili 58-44 and Akron topped Alexander 53-40.

Holley’s Vinny Golisano goes up for a shot as Isaiah Riley defends for Albion.

Snapping a long three  years plus long losing streak, Lyndonville defeated host Houghton 53-41 in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.

Lane Woodworth scored 16, Juan Alberdi 11, Quincey McClinsey 9 and Colton Smith 8 to spark Lyndonville which jumped out to a 20-6 first quarter lead.

Jack Prentice took game high scoring honors for Houghton with 33.

The victory snaps a 74 game losing streak for Lyndonville.

The Tigers, which lost their first 13 games this season, went 0-20 last year, 0-21 during the 2022-23 season and lost their last 20 during the 2021-22 campaign.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Isabella Groves puts up a shot against Medina defenders Tatianna Maxon and Sam Heschke during the Lady Tigers win over the host Mustangs today.

Completing a home-and-home season series sweep, Lyndonville defeated host Medina 49-30 in a non league girls basketball game today.

Isabella Groves scored a game high 18 points, Alexa Robinson 11, Addison Dillenbeck 9, Hannah Fox 5, Lilly Raduns 4 and Brooke Robinson 2 for the Lyndonville which also scored a 57-35 home court win over Medina earlier in the season.

Alexa Demmer scored 11, Ariel Smith 9, Roswyn Oakes 4 and Honesty Hill and Sam Heschke 3 each for the Mustangs.

Leading by a narrow one point, 13-12, margin at the end of the first period, Lyndonville broke the game open in the second quarter by outscoring Medina 20-5.

Groves scored 7, including a three and Dillenbeck had a three and a two to lead that uprising which vaulted the Lady Tigers out to a 33-17 half-time advantage.

The Lady Tigers maintained a 14 point, 40-26, advantage at the end of the third period.

Lyndonville improves to 9-5 and Medina slips to 3-12.

Medina’s Roswyn Oakes grabs a rebound from Lyndonville’s Hannah Fox.

Lyndonville bested Alden 60-6 in a non league wrestling match Friday evening.

Chance Amsdill, Justin Holmes, Ty Holmes, Jake Gidley and Greyson Romano all registered pins for the Tigers.

In the girls match, Abby Alexander and Aleena Heideman scored wins for Lyndonville.

On Thursday, Lyndonville dropped a 47-20 decision to Wilson in another non league match.

Jesus Reyes Rosario had a technical fall and Shannon Withey a decision for the Tigers.

Roy-Hart bested Attica 55-40 to open the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Boys Basketball Challenge at SUNY Niagara this evening.

Dan Aquilina scored 25, Bryden Ricker 11 and Erique Powell 8 to lead the Rams which also downed the Blue Devils 68-51 earlier in the season.

The evening’s other game matching Wilson and Wheatland-Chili was postponed. It is scheduled to be made up on Saturday which will now have a total of six games.

Saturday’s revised schedule is as follows: Newfane vs. Byron-Bergen, 11:30 a.m.; Wilson vs. Wheatland-Chili, 1 p.m.; Akron vs. Alexander. 2:30 p.m.; Albion vs. Holley, 4:15 p.m.; Barker vs. Kendall, 6 p.m.; Medina vs. Oakfield-Alabama, 7:45 p.m.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Alexa Demmer drives to the basket between Newfane defenders Anna Chunco , Sienna Bowers and Julia Noonan during the visiting Lady Panthers win over the Mustangs this evening.

A big scoring burst to close the first half keyed Newfane to a 50-37 win over host Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening.

Improving to 8-2 with the win, Newfane remains a half game ahead of 7-2 Wilson which downed visiting Albion 54-28.

Trailing 20-19, Newfane closed the first half with a 10-1 run to regain the lead for good 29-21 at the half. A three and a layup off a steal by Anna Chunco ignited that uprising which also included two baskets off turnovers by Stephanie Chunco.

The Lady Panthers went on to hold a 17 point, 42-25, lead at the three-quarter mark after outscoring the Mustangs 13-4 in the third period.

Anna Chunco finished with 12. Sienna Bowers 9, Kameryn Boyer 8, Stephanie Chunco 6, Ah-Leena Golden 5, Bailee Patcyk and Alexis Rutherford 4 and Julia Noonan 2 for the Lady Panthers.

Honesty Hill scored a game high 16 for the Mustangs as Alexa Demmer had 8, Ariel Smith 6, Sam Heschke 5 and Tatianna Maxon 2.

The Mustangs did get off to a good start grabbing a 14-10 first period lead as Hill had a three and a two, Smith a pair of baskets, Heschke a three and Demmer a bucket.

Two free throws by Heschke and a basket by Demmer upped the Mustangs lead to 18-10 at the outset of the second period.

However, the Lady Panthers outscored the Mustangs 19-3 over the rest of the period to rally into the lead for good by 8, 29-21 at the half.

The loss drops Medina to 2-7.

Sienna Bowers puts up a shot for Newfane against Medina defender Roswyn Oakes.

Wilson 54, Albion 28
Rowan Simpson scored 17, including five threes, Kairi Beck 10 and Emily Phillips 8 to lead Wilson.

Melia Prince had 12, Kenzi Snook 6 and Leah Pawlak 5 for Albion which slips to 2-7.

Akron vs. Roy-Hart ppd.

The key Akron (6-2) at Roy-Hart (5-2)match-up was postponed due to a leak in the roof of the Roy-Hart gym.

Pembroke 51, Holley 27
Pembroke downed Holley 51-27 in a Genesee Region League contest.

Peyton Liss had 19 points, Seneca Calderon 9 points and 7 rebounds, Morgan Coniber 8 points and Ashlyn Robinson 11 rebounds for Pembroke.

Zoey Wolf had 9 points and Alivia Wolf 7 for Holley.

The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina/ Wilson/Newfane Knights Club Hockey team dropped a 8-1 decision to undefeated (13-0) Nichols School in Buffalo today. Nichols this season had scored 110 goals while only yielding 24, a formidable opponent, indeed.

The opening period was  excellent, as neither team scored, nor were there any penalties. RBM goalie, Noah Orenz (Newfane) stopped all 18 shots.

In the second period, Nichols finally found their stride scoring four times before Gavin Ickowski (Roy-Hart) tallied RBM’s sole score for the evening from Aiden Cronkhite (Newfane).

The final period had just one Nichols goal.

Outshot 47 to 18, RBM played an excellent game against probably the best Club team of all three Varsity leagues.

RBM Wilson/Newfane’s next game is this Sunday against St. Joseph’s at home beginning at 9 a.m.