Niagara-Orleans League teams went 1-1 in Section VI semfinal round basketball playoff action Thursday.

No. 3 seed Wilson downed No. 7 Cassadaga Valley 59-45 in the semifinal round of the Class C girls playoffs.

Peyton McInnis scored 21, Cait Cliffe 13, Lila Frerichs 10 and Rian Faery 9 for Wilson which captured the N-O championship this season with a 12-0 record.

Wilson will next face top seeded Randolph for the Class C title on Saturday. Randolph downed No. 5 Portville 58-38 in the other semi.

In the Class B2 boys semifinals No. 3 Newfane was defeated by No. 10 Fredonia 53-49.

Evan Myers scored a game high 27 and Ben Dickinson added 11 for Newfane which took the N-O title with a 12-0 record.

LYNDONVILLE – The big game between Lyndonville and Keshequa for the Class D1 title has been rescheduled from today to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Letchworth.

With wintry weather in the forecast this evening the game was pushed back a day. All purchased tickets remain valid, according to an announcement from Section V.

The Lyndonville girls varsity is seeking its first sectional title in history. The Tigers will face top-seeded Keshequa.

Lyndonville is seeded No. 3 with a 15-7 record. Keshequa is 17-5.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Shelby Boring and her Lady Tiger teammates will face top seeded Keshequa for the Cass D1 title on Friday at Letchworth.

Taking aim at capturing the first sectional title in program history, No. 3 seed Lyndonville will take on top seeded Keshequa in the Section V Class D1 championship game at 8 p.m. Friday at Letchworth.

Lyndonville, which is 15-7, advanced to the finals with a pair of narrow victories by a total of just three points 37-35 over South Seneca in the quarterfinals and 43-42 in overtime over Fillmore in the semifinals.

Keshequa, which is 17-5, has romped to a pair of lopsided playoff wins 60-26 over Mt. Morris in the quarterfinals and 44-23 over Genesee Valley/Belfast in the semifinals.

Underclassmen lead the offense for Keshequa as eighth grader Braelyn Isaman has scored 223 points, sophomore Ava Thayer 185. eighth grader Ryley Bennar 146. senior Julia Wilskins 129 and junior Anna Linde 112.

Sophomore Addison Dillenbeck leads Lyndonville’s top six scorers with 278 points as senior Lorelei Dillenbeck has 211, junior Ashlee Stephens 188, senior Haley Shaffer 124, senior Shelby Boring 83 and freshman Isabella Groves 49.

The victor will then face the winner of Friday’s D2 title contest between No. 1 Andover/Whitesville and No. 6 Elba next week for the overall Section V Class D title and a berth in the state playoffs.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Sherri Stephens drives against Wheatland-Chili defender Megan Young during the 1996 Section V Class DDD championship game at SUNY Geneseo.

When Lyndonville takes to the court at Letchworth Friday night the Lady Tigers will be playing in the sectional championship game for just the second time in program history.

No. 3 seed Lyndonville will take on top seeded Keshequa at 8 p.m. for the Class D1 championship.

Lyndonville’s only other trip to the finals came during the 1995-96 season when the Lady Tigers were downed by Genesee Region League foe Wheatland-Chili 46-38 for the Class DDD championship at SUNY Geneseo.

Interestingly, there are a good number of family connections between this year’s Lady Tigers team and the 1995-96 squad.

No less than four members of this years squad – senior guard Haley Shaffer, junior center Ashlee Stephens, senior guard Lorelei Dillenbeck and sophomore forward Addison Dillenbeck – all have relatives who played on the 1995-96 team.

Those 1995-96 connections include Teri Woodworth and Sara Woodworth who are Shaffer’s mother and cousin; Sherri Stephens who is Stephens’ aunt and Michelle Thurber Dillenbeck who is Lorelei and Addison’s mother. In addition, Michelle’s husband is Lady Tigers co-coach Lee Dillenbeck and her sister is co-coach Katelyn Thurber Draper.

Sara Woodworth, who scored a team high 16 points and Stephens who tallied 7 in the title game against W-C, were both named to the All-Tournament team.

The lineup for the 1995-96 Lady Tigers squad, which was coached by Mark Hughes, also included Kristina Herman, Solfrid Fladberg, Amy Bentley, Jesse Thering, Ellie Mauragis and Christine Dunn.

That team, which had a then school record total of 13 wins, defeated Alfred-Almond 53-33 in the quarterfinals and Avon 53-32 in the semifinals to become the first Lady Tigers squad to play in the championship game.

Contributed Photos – Brian Fry, left, and Jacob Bruning

The Division 1 collegiate baseball season is already underway for two local student/athletes, Medina High graduate Brian Fry and Roy-Hart grad Jacob Bruning.

Fry is beginning his sophomore season at Toledo University while Bruning is starting his redshirt senior year at South Alabama University. He transferred after playing the previous four years at Niagara University.

Fry, who is starting at second base, is 6 for 15 at the plate so far including an RBI double. He started 52 games for the Rockets last season driving in 21 runs while banging out 39 hits including a team leading 14 doubles. He is majoring in Middle Childhood Education.

Bruning has made two relief appearances so far for South Alabama. Last year at Niagara he posted a 4-4 record on the mound with 47 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. He is majoring in Sport Management.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Isabella Groves puts up a shot as Kylee Ellsworth defends for Fillmore during the Lady Tigers exciting sectional semifinal overtime win over the Lady Eagles this evening at LeRoy.

In an overtime thriller, No. 3 seed Lyndonville nipped No. 2 Fillmore 43-42 at LeRoy this evening in the Section V Class D1 semifinals.

Lyndonville forced the contest into overtime as a basket by Ashlee Stephens knotted the score at 37-37 with 50 seconds to go in regulation time.

The Lady Tigers then regained the lead for good at 42-37 on a three and a two by Isabella Groves to open the overtime period.

Fillmore cut the deficit to 42-40 after three free throws by Amelia Rose but Lyndonville answered back with a free throw by Addison Dillenbeck for what proved to be the game winning point.

Lyndonville’s Haley Shaffer looks to pass as Fillmore’s Rachel Hatch tries to knock the ball away.

Fillmore pulled back to within one at 43-42 after a basket by Hope Russell. However, the Lady Eagles could not pull even or regain the lead as several shots missed in the final seconds as the Lady Tigers escaped with the narrow victory and a trip to the finals.

Stephens and Addison Dillenbeck both finished with 13 for Lyndonville as Groves and Lorelei Dillenbeck each had 7, Shelby Boring 2 and Haley Shaffer one.

Russell finished with a game high 21 and Rose 11 for Fillmore.

Lyndonville grabbed a slender 11-9 lead at the end of the first period as Addison Dillenbeck had 5 and Stephens 4 in the early going.

The Lady Tigers maintained a narrow 23-20 advantage at the half as Stephens and Lorelei Dillenbeck both had 5 in the second quarter.

Lyndonville then opened up a 10 point, 32-22, advantage late in the third period after buckets by Addison Dillenbeck, Groves, Stephens and Lorelei Dillenbeck but the big lead did not hold up.

Fillmore got right back in the game by closing the period with a key 7-0 run, 5 by Russell, to slice the Lyndonville lead to three, 32-29, at the three-quarter mark.

The lead changed hands three times in the tense fourth quarter.

Fillmore went up 37-35 on a basket by Rachel Hatch but Lyndonville answered the challenge as a bucket by Stephens knotted the contest at 37-37. That ended up sending the contest into a four minute overtime period as both sides missed scoring opportunities over the final hectic 50 seconds.

The Lady Tigers then made a three and a two by Groves and a free throw by Addison Dillenbeck be just enough scoring in the overtime period to claim the win.

Lyndonville now advances to Friday’s Class D1 championship game at 8 p.m. at Letchworth against  No. 1 Keshequa  which defeated No. 4 Genesee Valley/Belfast 44-23 in the other semifinal.

It will be just the Lady Tigers second ever appearance in the sectional finals. The first game during the 1995-96 season when Wheatland-Chili edged Lyndonville 46-38.

Ashlee Stephens goes up for a shot for Lyndonville as Preslee Miller defends for Fillmore.

Looking to gain a berth in the title contest, No. 3 seed Lyndonville will take on No. 2 Fillmore in the Section V Class D1 semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday at LeRoy.

Lyndonville, which nipped No. 6 South Seneca 37-35 in the quarterfinals, brings a 14-7 record into the semis while Fillmore, which downed No. 7 Arkport-Canaseraga 47-27, is 16-5.

The victor will advance to Friday’s Class D1 championship game against the winner of Monday’s other semifinal between No. 1 Keshequa (16-5) and No. 4 Genesee Valley/Belfast (13-8).

It marks the second straight year that Lyndonville has advanced to the semifinals. Last year the Lady Tigers lost to York 43-23.

Lyndonville is led by the quintet of seniors Lorelei Dillenbeck, Haley Shaffer and Shelby Boring along with junior Ashlee Stephens and sophomore Addison Dillenbeck.

Addison Dillenbeck leads the Lady Tigers in scoring with 265 points (12.6 average). Lorelei Dillenbeck has netted 204 (9.3 ave.), Stephens 175 (9.2 ave.), Shaffer (123 (6.1 ave.) and Boring 81 (4.0 ave.)

Jumping out to leads of 21-4 after the first period and 40-19 at the half, top seeded Lew-Port went on to down visiting No. 8 Albion 85-58 in the quarterfinals of the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball playoffs this afternoon.

Jalen Duff scored a game high 32 points to lead the Lancers which improve to 18-3.

Amari Jones scored 18, Aquil Gaffney 11 and Blake Preston 8 for the Purple Eagles which finish the season at 9-12.

In a Class B2 quarterfinal, No. 3 seed Newfane nipped visiting No. 6 Allegany-Limestone 56-55 as Nate Snow made two clutch free throws with 11 seconds to go.

In a Class C quarterfinal, No. 7 Wilson dropped a 67-51 decision to No. 2 MST Prep.

State Wrestling Tournament

Orleans County’s three representatives at the Division 2 state wrestling championships in Albany were all eliminated today with consolation round losses.

Lyndonville senior Payton Grabowski went 2-2 for the weekend while Lyndonville junior Sebastian Temich,  and Medina senior Dominick Callara both went 1-2.

Grabowski won his opening match but lost his second while Temich and Callara both lost their first round matches  All three wrestlers rebounded with consolation round victories. However, they were then all eliminated with losses in their second consolation matches.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Lorelei Dillenbeck, who scored the game winning basket, here puts up a shot over South Seneca’a Haley Parry during the Lady Tigers sectional win over the visiting Lady Falcons this evening.

Surviving a late scare, No. 3 seed Lyndonville nipped visiting No. 6 South Seneca 37-35 in a Section V Class D1 quarterfinal round thriller this evening.

Lyndonville built up an 11 point lead early in the fourth quarter but South Seneca came battling back scoring 13 straight points to rally into a 35-33 lead with 34 seconds remaining. Chloe Scott scored 6 points, including the go ahead basket, and Ciera Babcock 5 to lead the Lady Falcons rally.

However, Lyndonville answered right back as Lorelei Dillenbeck made her only basket of the night a HUGE one as she drained a clutch three with just 7.7 seconds to go to put the Lady Tigers back on top to stay at 36-35. Three seconds later Shelby Boring likewise made her only point of the night a big one when she made a free throw upping the Lady Tigers lead to two capping off the exciting win.

Addison Dillenbeck led Lyndonville with 15 as Haley Shaffer tallied 10, Ashlee Stephens 8, Lorelei Dillenbeck 3 and Boring 1.

Scott scored 11, Babcock 9 and Ava Utter 8 to lead South Seneca.

Lyndonville jumped out to a 13-4 first quarter lead as Addison Dillenbeck, Shaffer and Stephens each scored a pair of baskets.

Lyndonville maintained leads of 20-10 at the half and 27-20 after three quarters. The Lady Tigers upped the advantage to 11, 33-22, early in the final period after tallies by Shaffer, Stephens and Addison Dillenbeck.

That set the stage for South Seneca’ big comeback and Lyndonville’s decisive last second rally.

The win propells Lyndonville into a semifinal round meeting with No. 2 seed Fillmore on Monday evening at 6 at LeRoy. Fillmore downed No. 7 Arkport-Canaseraga 47-27 this evening in the quarterfinals.

Section VI Girls Playoffs
No. 4 seed Akron downed visiting Niagara-Orleans League foe No. 12 Roy-Hart 54-37 in a Section VI Class B2 playoff contest.

Section VI Boys Playoffs
No. 2 seed Clymer defeated visiting No. 10 Barker 60-42 in a Section VI Class D playoff contest.

Austin White took game high scoring honors for Clymer with 21 while Aidan Voss scored 14, Aidan Mescall 9 and Luey Castro 8 for Barker.

Lyndonville’s Addison Dillenbeck puts up a shot against South Seneca defender Alysa Elder.