Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Newfane’s Ben Dickinson grabs a rebound away from Medina’s Jerrell Nealy and Christian Moss during the Panthers win over the host Mustangs this evening.

A big scoring surge to close the first half keyed front-running Newfane to an 80-44 victory over host Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.

Leading by a narrow two point, 22-20, margin, Newfane exploded with a 17-0 scoring burst to close the second quarter and take a 39-20 advantage at the half to break the game wide open.

Mac Capen scored 5 and Ben Dickinson 4 to led the Panthers decisive uprising which also included baskets by Nate Snow, Brayden Seitz, Landon Braman and Luke Emmons.

Fast breaking at every opportunity, the Panthers went on to increase the advantage to 31, 64-33, at the three-quarter mark as Braman scored 7 and Capen and Konner Courtemanche 5 each in the third period.

Dickinson led the Panthers balanced attack with 16 as Capen had 14, Snow and Seitz 10, Braman 9, Camryn Oudette 8, Courtemanche and Emmens 5 and CJ Nagel 3.

Preston Woodworth led Medina with 11 as Jerrell Nealy added 7, Christian Moss 6, Justin Pitts and Roosevelt Mitchell 4, Cole Callard and Jason Beyer 3 and Trevon Shine, Elijah Doxey and Jack Cecchini 2.

Defending champion Newfane stays unbeaten at 10-0 in N-O action while Medina slips to 3-6.

The Panthers next host Roy-Hart and the Mustangs visit Albion on Friday.

Medina’s Cole Callard puts up a shot against Newfane defenders Mac Capen and Ben Dickinson.

Wilson 52, Albion 51
Trailing 39-31, Wilson rallied to outscore visiting Albion 21-12 in the decisive fourth quarter to claim a slender 52-51 N-O win.

Ryan Hough scored 9 and Blake Martin 8 to lead the Lakemen’s late surge.

Martin finished with 17 as Hough and Aidan Neumann both added 15.

Blake Preston scored 17, Seth Krenning 12 and Wesley Olles 11 for Albion.

Wilson is now 3-7 and Albion 1-9 in league action.

Akron 54, Roy-Hart 49
Akron stayed in the N-O title chase by downing Roy-Hart 54-49 to improve to 10-1.

Blake Gerstung scored 17, Ben Gerstung 15 and Brale Abrams 19 to lead the Tigers while Dan Aquilina tallied 22 and Brayden Ricker 10 for the Rams.

The Tigers will close out the N-O season with a key home game against undefeated (10-0) Newfane on February 13.

Byron-Bergen 66, Holley 33

Building up a commanding 37-14 half-time advantage, Byron-Bergen went on to down visiting Holley 66-33 in a Genesee Region League game.

Braedyn Chambry scored 30 to lead the Bees while Destin Kuyal and Ben Cox each had 8 for the Hawks.

Oakfield-Alabama 72, Kendall 69
A fourth quarter comeback bid fell just short as Kendall dropped a narrow 72-69 decision to visiting Oakfield-Alabama in a G-R contest.

Trailing 61-49 after three quarters, Kendall rallied to outscored Oakfield-Aalbama 20-11 in the final period but could not pull even. The closest the Eagles could get was within one.

Brenden Westcott scored 25 and Gavin Armbrewster 20 to lead the way for the Hornets.

Hunter Richards took game high scoring honors with the Eagles with 30 as Austin Wakefield had 14 and Jacek Kwiatkowski 11. Richards also grabbed off 14 rebounds.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Melanie Green opened the spring portion of her senior golf season at the University of South Florida on a high note by winning the Florida Atlantic University Paradise Invitational which concluded today at Boca Raton, Florida.

Green, who is a Medina High graduate, captured the 54 hole tournament title by two shots with a 210 total on rounds of 70-69-71. Her six under par total included a total of 10 birdies.

Green, who had top five finishes in all four of USF’s Fall events, was tied for first place after the second round on Monday.

A three time American Athletic Conference All Conference honoree, her win helped USF capture the team championship by 4 strokes over the University of Denver.

USF will next compete in the Westbrook Invitational in Arizona at the end of February

Celebrating Senior Night Kendall downed visiting Attica 43-32 in a Genesee Region League girls basketball game this evening.

Ava LaMay scored 18 to lead the way for Kendall as Danielle Offaus added 8, Alea Barrett 5, Sophia Picardo 4 and Booke Rodas, Addison Kludt, Stella Kwiatek and Lia Larson 2 each. LaMay also grabbed off 13 rebounds.

Kendall jumped out to a 10-2 first quarter lead as LaMay scored 6 and Offhaus 4.

LaMay tacked on 7 more in the second period and Picardo hit a three to help keep the Lady Eagles up by 8, 22-14, at halftime.

Kendall maintained a 30-23 lead after three quarters and then locked up the win by outscoring Attica 13-9 in the final period.

Barrett had a three and a two down the stretch for the Lady Eagles as Offhaus, LaMay and Rodas all chipped in with baskets.

Improving to 11-6, Kendall next visits Oakfield-Alabama at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey team hosted their second game in 20 hours Sunday and for the fifth time this season went into overtime this time dropping a narrow 4-3 decision to Canisius.

Taking a 2-0 lead in the first period, RBM appeared to be in command. The initial score came on a goal by Joel Harris (Barker) assisted by Jack Goehle (Newfane) and Lawson Wallworth (Roy-Hart). The second goal was scored by Paul Lassman (Wilson) with assists by Luc Wagner (Medina) and Jackson Hauser (Barker).

At the end of two periods, RBM still held a 2-1 advantage.

In the third period, Harris scored again from Colby Boyer (Newfane) and Wallworth, but they could not hold the lead and Canisius forced the overtime.

In the extra period, RBM had a penalty and Canisius scored the winning powerplay goal at the 2:54 point to end the game.

RBM is now 7-3-1 with 4 OT losses added. They are currently in second place in their division with one make-up game before the playoffs begin next Sunday at home against Cheektowaga at 5:20 p.m.

With just two weeks remaining in the regular season Niagara-Orleans League basketball competition will begin heading into the stretch run this coming week.

On the boys side, undefeated (9-0) defending champion Newfane holds a slender lead over 9-1 Akron. The Panthers visit Medina on Tuesday and host Roy-Hart on Friday while the Tigers host Roy-Hart on Tuesday.

On the girls side, undefeated (9-0) Wilson has already clinched at least a tie for a sixth straight and 14th in the last 15 years N-O title. The Lakewomen can lockup outright possession of the crown with a win at Albion on Tuesday.

Weekly Schedule
Monday
Girls Basketball – Attica at Kendall, 7 p.m.

Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Albion at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Medina, Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; Alexander at Lyndonville, Holley at Byron-Bergen, Oakfield-Alabama at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Medina at Newfane, Wilson at Albion, Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Alexander, Byron-Bergen at Holley, Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball – Notre Dame at Lyndonville, Pembroke at Holley, Kendall at Attica, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Barker at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball – Medina at Albion, Roy-Hart at Newfane, Wilson at Barker, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Notre Dame at Lyndonville, Holley at Pembroke, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Boys Basketball – Warsaw at Albion, 12:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Alexander at Kendall, 11:30 a.m.
Wrestling – Section V and Section VI state qualifier tournaments

N-O Standings
Boys Basketball – Newfane 9-0, Akron 9-1, Roy-Hart 4-4, Medina 3-5, Barker 3-6, Wilson 2-7, Albion 1-8
Girls Basketball – Wilson 9-0, Akron 7-3, Albion 5-4, Newfane 5-4, Roy-Hart 3-5, Medina 2-6, Barker 0-9

The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey hosted non-divisional perrennial powerhouse Orchard Park Saturday and came away with a 5-2 loss.

The first two periods of the game were very close with OP taking the lead in the first 1-0, but RBM responded on a score by Paul Lassman (Wilson) assisted by Luc Wagner (Medina) and Colby Boyer (Newfane).

Orchard Park took a 2-1 lead in the second, but Wagner scored his team leading 16th goal of the season with assists going to Joel Harris (Barker) and Jack Goehle (Newfane) to force a 2-2 tie in the third.

OP, however, sealed the game with the final three scores.

RBM hosts Canisius this morning at 10:50.

Leading all the way, Wheatland-Chili downed Medina 60-44 in a Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Basketball Challenge game this evening at Genesee Community College.

Leighton Williams Jr. scored 19 to pace W-C which led 19-10 after the first quarter, 35-21 at the half and 52-33 after three quarters.

Justin Pitts scored 11, Jerrell Nealy 10 and Preston Woodworth 8 to lead Medina.

In other Challenge contests, Pembroke downed Barker 67-43, Alexander topped Wilson 60-41 and Newfane bested Attica 54-42.

Tyson Totten scored 35 to lead Pembroke as Aidan Mescall tallied 16 and Luey Castro 12 for Barker.

Blake Martin scored 19 and Aidan Neumann 12 for Wilson.

Landon Braman led Newfane with 20.

Holley downed Barker 60-26 in the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Girls Basketball Challenge today at Niagara County Community College.

Alivia Wolf scored 26 and Samantha Bates 24 to lead the Lady Hawks.

Keira Dalton led Barker with 7.

In other Challenge contests, Pembroke defeated Medina 61-33, Byron-Bergen downed Roy-Hart 61-27, Notre Dame topped Albion 42-28, Alexander bested Akron 67-23, Wilson trimmed Elba 57-51 and Oakfield-Alabama downed Newfane 47-23.

Jayden Hootman and Peyton Liss both scored 16 for Pembroke while Honesty Hill led Medina with 9.

Janessa Amesbury led Byron-Bergen with 22 while Lila Brigham had 8 for Roy-Hart.

Sophia Falleti scored 21 and Emma Sisson 14 to pace Notre Dame while Madison Hughson had 14 and Leah Pawlak 10 for Albion.

Alyssa Kramer scored 30 to lead Alexander as Sloan Jonathan had 8 for Akron.

Rian Faery scored 20 and Peyton McGinnis 19 for Wilson while Sydney Reilly netted 25 and Lydia Ross 17 for Elba.

Caitlyn Ryan scored 18 for Oakfield-Alabama as did Mallory Schultz for Newfane.

Lyndonville and Holley-Kendall both had a champion crowned during Section V class tournament wrestling competition today.

Lyndonville’s Ty Holmes won the Class B3 124 lb. title with a 4-0 decision over Brock Kellog from Arkport. He advanced to the finals with a decision win in the quarterfinals and a major decision win in the semis.

Holley-Kendall’s Hunter Jewell Smith won the Class B2 285 lb. title by pinning Dillon Cartagen from East Rochester in 1:01. He advanced to the title round with pins of :50 in the quarterfinals and 2:11 in the semis.

Lyndonville, which hosted the B3 tourney, also had Sebastian Temisch (160) place second, Brody Hazel (138) third, Justin Holmes (108) fourth and Chanse Amsdill (101) fifth.

Holley-Kendall also had William Kruger (152) place second, Brenden Eichas (124) fourth and Parker Denning (124) fifth.

Section VI Class C-D Tournament

Medina had a trio of second place finishers at the Section VI Class C-D Tournament held at Southwestern in Reece Senske (108), Luke Duffina (124) and Conor Crandall (190).

In the finals Senske lost 2-0 to Evan Newman from Falconer, Duffina 8-5 to Trevor DellaPenta from Eden and Crandall by pin in 3:28 to Tavio Hoose from Southwestern.

Senske advanced to the finals with a first period pin and a decision win, Duffina with two pins and a decision and Crandall with a pin and a decision.

The Mustangs also had Brody Fry (190) place third and Sawyer Kingsbury (215) fourth.

Roy-Hart/Barker had Ronan Klug (160) place seconds, Joey Jopp (124) third and Lucas Kimber (116) and Luke Fay (131) fourth.

Niagara-Orleans League champion Newfane had a pair of winners in Jakob Lucinski (101) and Aidan Gillings (138) as did Wilson in Jacob Stephenson (160) and William Wortkoetter (285).

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Blake Preston puts up a shot as Elba’s Michael Long tries for the block. The action took place during the Purple Eagles win over the Lancers at Genesee Community College this afternoon.

Snapping a lengthy eight game losing streak, Albion downed Elba 44-34 at Genesee Community College this afternoon as part of the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Basketball Challenge.

Blake Preston took game high scoring honors for Albion with 16 as Wesley Olles and Kyle Radder both had 7, Tyler Cody, Seth Krenning and John Eibl 4 and Brody Vercruysse 2.

Michael Long scored 12 and Angelo Penna 8 to lead Elba as Ryan Marceill added 6, Ashton Bezon 5 and Nicholas Scott 3.

Albion jumped out to a 13-4 first quarter lead as Preston tallied 7 and Cody 4.

The Purple Eagles extended their advantage to 16, 28-12, at the half by closing the second quarter with a 10-0 run as Preston hit a three and Radder, Eibl and Vercruysse all had baskets.

Albion maintained a 12 point, 30-18, lead at the three-quarter mark despite scoring just two points on a pair of free throws in the third period.

The Lancers did rally back to within six, 40-34, late in the final period after a 10-3 run on a three by Long, a two by Bezon and five free throws but could get no closer.

Preston hit two big threes in the final period for the Purple Eagles which finally put a lock on the victory on two clutch free throws each by Radder and Olles in the final 20 seconds.

Albion’s John Eibl tries to drive against Elba defender Angelo Penna.