By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 February 2026 at 2:22 pm
Four of the Niagara-Orleans League’s seven girls basketball teams will be colliding in the opening round of the Section VI playoffs.
In Class B, No. 12 Roy-Hart will visit No. 2 Akron and in Class C No. 14 Barker will visit No. 3 Wilson, both at noon on Saturday.
Also in Class B, No. 14 Medina will visit No. 3 Salamanca and No. 16 Newfane will visit No. 1 Olmstead, both at noon on Saturday.
In Class A2, No. 5 Albion will visit No. 4 Iroquois at 6 p.m. on Tuesday February 24. The winner will face top seeded Depew in the semifinals on Saturday February 28 at Buffalo State.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 February 2026 at 1:59 pm
Albion and Medina will both open Section VI boys basketball playoff competition on the road.
In Class A2, No. 10 seed Albion will visit No. 7 Olean at noon on Saturday. The winner will visit No. 2 Maryvale on Wednesday February 25.
In Class B1, No. 5 Medina will visit No. 4 Alden at 7 p.m. on Tuesday February 24. The contest will be a rematch of last year’s sectionals when the Bulldogs romped past the Mustangs 65-38.
Also in Class B1, No. 11 Roy-Hart will vist No. 6 Springville at 7 p.m. Friday.
In Class B2, No. 2 Akron will host No. 7 Falconer and No. 5 Newfane will visit No. 4 MST at 7 p.m. on Tuesday February 24.
In Class C, top seeded Wilson will host a quarterfinal game on Thursday February 26 against either No. 8 Portville, No. 9 Holland or No. 16 Maritime.
Also in Class C, No. 12 Barker will host No. 13 Cassadaga Valley at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner will visit No. 5 Cattaraugus/Little Valley on Tuesday February 24.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 February 2026 at 9:08 pm
Building up a 35-10 half-time advantage, Notre Dame went on to down visiting Lyndonville 61-20 in the Genesee Region League girls basketball season finale.
Sofia Falletti scored 19 and Shirley Thompson 10 to lead the way for the Irish.
Braelynn Dillenbeck scored 5, Hannah Fox and Leah Kenyon 4, Leah Costello 3 and Isabella Groves and Emily Dill 2 for Lyndonville.
Notre Dame finishes the regular season at 15-5 and Lyndonville at 10-10.
In another G-R finale, Pembroke downed Holley 42-12.
Ali VanAmeron had 10 rebounds and Hanna Ostrom 8 rebounds for Holley.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 February 2026 at 8:32 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jarell Mann puts up a shot between JFK defenders Alexion Diaz and Daquan Ford during the Mustangs home court win over the Bears this evening.
Tuning up for the upcoming sectional playoffs, Medina posted an 84-58 victory over visiting JFK this evening in the non league regular season finale.
Jerrell Nealy scored a game high 25 points, Christian Moss 15 and Preston Woodworth 12 to lead a parade of 11 Mustang point getters. Jayzon Wills added 7, Avion Johnson and Hadrian Batista 5, Kolton Fletcher and Jarell Mann 4, Jude Lacy 3 and Carlos Doval and Steven Gobelli 2.
JFK was led by Alexion Diaz with 14, Daquan Ford 13 and Hayden Jozwiak 11.
Leading by a narrow three point, 34-31, margin at the half, the Mustangs broke the game open in the third quarter outscoring the Bears 26-11. Woodworth scored 8, Wills 5, Moss 4 and Batista 3 to lead that uprising as the Mustangs roared away to a 60-42 lead.
Keeping the momentum, Medina then closed out the win with a 24-16 fourth quarter scoring edge. Johnson had a three and a two during that stretch as Nealy and Moss both had a pair of baskets.
Nealy also had a big first half scoring 8 in the first period and 11 in the second quarter which also included 6 by Woodworth.
Medina led by three, 13-10, at the end of the opening period as the Mustangs went over four minutes before scoring their first points.
Medina will now take a 14-6 record into the sectionals while JFK is 4-16.
Medina’s Kolton Fletcher breaks in ahead of the Bears defense for a layup.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 February 2026 at 9:25 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Vinnie D’Agostino gets bumped by Lyndonville’s Quincy McClinsey as he puts up a shot during the Eagles home court win over the Tigers this evening.
Setting the tone with an 11-2 run at the outset, Kendall went on to romp to a 50 point, 73-23, win over visiting Lyndonville in a Genesee Region League boys basketball make-up game this evening.
CJ D’Agostino scored 21, Noah Morehouse 19 and Vinnie D’Agostino 12 to lead the Kendall attack as Ryan Gaesser added 9, Sammy Conte 8 and Jonny Conte and Caleb Opalecky 2 each.
Atticus Mack had 8 to lead Lyndonville as Devon Babcock had 5, Colton Smith 4 and Lane Woodworth, Lyric Raduns and Quincy McClinsey 2 each.
CJ Agostino scored 9 and Morehouse 6 in the opening period to spark Kendall out to a 21-8 lead.
Up by 16, 29-13, at the half, the Eagles broke the contest wide open in the third period by outpointing the Tigers 29-6 to race away to a 39 point, 58-19, advantage.
Morehouse had a pair of twos and a three, CJ D’Agostino two twos and a three-point play, Sammy Conte two threes, Vinnie D’Agostino a three, a two and a free throw and Gaesser a three during that uprising.
Improving to 13-6, Kendall will close out the regular season at Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Lyndonville, which is 4-15, will visit Lima Christian on Wednesday in the regular season finale.
Lyndonville’s Quincy McClinsey goes in for a shot as Kendall’s Noah Morehouse defends. Andrew D’Agostino moves in to support.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 February 2026 at 5:08 pm
Building up a 30-12 half-time advantage, undefeated (19-0) Oakfield-Alabama downed visiting Roy-Hart (7-13) 70-33 in a non league girls basketball game this afternoon.
Hadley Hicks scored 16, Allison Harkness 13 and Emma Moeller 10 to lead the way for the Lady Hornets.
Adella Dukes scored 13, Courtney Aquilina 8 and Brooke Corser 4 for the Lady Rams.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 February 2026 at 7:14 pm
Albion’s Stryker Sanders has earned a return trip to the state Division 2 wrestling championships by placing second at the Section VI state qualifier which concluded this evening at SUNY Fredonia.
Rebounding from a narrow 1-0 loss in his championship match, Sanders scored a 9-5 decision victory in the “True Second” match to advance to the states.
Sanders opened the tournament with a pair of pins and then scored a decision victory in the semifinals.
Albion also had Justin Mengs (110) place third and Jaxon Lynch (150) fourth.
Roy-Hart/Barker’s RJ Townsnd likewise rebounded from a title bout loss by pin to score a pin of 5:26 in his “True Second” match to advance to the states.
Townsend advanced to the final with two pins and a decision win.
Medina’s Luke Duffina (138) also placed third.
Roy-Hart also had Luke Fay (138) finish sixth.
Akron’s Joey Burg won the 165 lb. title scoring a technical fall, a pin and two decision wins in his four matches.
Akron also had Alex Brandl (138) place fifth.
Newfane had Jake Morello (150) place second and Jonah Morello (103) and Rian Czaja (126) sixrh.
Wilson had Victor Cusatis (150) place third and Roman Zarbo (110) fourth.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 February 2026 at 2:51 pm
The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey Knights made their way to Jamestown Saturday evening in their opening game of this season’s playoffs and suffered a 4-1 defeat, ending their season.
Getting on the board first at the 9:11 point of the opening period, RBM’s goal was scored by Ryan Felicetti (Wilson) with the assist from Connor Woodward (Wilson).
That lead lasted for a short period of time before Jamestown tied the score which saw the opening period end at 1-1.
That was the closest RBM would be for the night.
Jamestown scored two goals in the second period and a shorthanded goal in the final period.
Jamestown outshot RBM 45-29 for the entire contest.
The Knights ended the season with a record of 5-11-1.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 February 2026 at 7:25 pm
A quartet of Holley-Kendall wrestlers earned top six place finishes at the Section V Division 2 state qualifier tournament which concluded this afternoon at Bath Haverling.
Jeremy Lutes (103) placed fourth, Brenden Eichas (138) and Immanuel Cornell (285) fifth and Parker Denning (144) sixth.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 February 2026 at 1:47 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Elijah Doxey goes in to score what proved to be the game winning three point play as CJ D’Agostino defends for Kendall. The Purple Eagles rallied with a big fourth quarter to nip the Eagles 62-61.
Putting together a huge fourth quarter comeback, Albion rallied to nip visiting Kendall 62-61 In a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.
Trailing by 15, 52-37, at the end of the third period, Albion rallied to outscore Kendall 25-9 in the decisive final quarter including a big 17-2 closing run to claim the wild win.
Still down by 14, 59-45, the Purple Eagles got back into the game with a key 9-0 run, including five by Elijah Doxey and four by Tyler Cody, to cut the deficit to 59-54.
Vinnie D’Agostino interrupted with a basket for Kendall upping the lead back to seven at 61-54, but the Eagles could not score again.
Albion got free throws by Adam Burgio and Elliot Trapiss to make it a two possession, 61-56, game setting the stage for a dramatic final 20 seconds.
Wesley Olles hit a big three with 17 seconds remaining to pull Albion to within two at 61-59.
The Purple Eagles then capped off the big comeback win on a steal and lay-up by Doxey which he converted into a game winning three point play with 14 seconds to go.
Doxey finished with a game high 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as Cody had 14, Nate Gibson 11, Olles 8, Burgio 4, Ezra Bloom 2 and Trapiss 1.
Tyler Cody puts up a shot in traffic for Albion as Vinnie D’Agostino (10) and Noah Morehouse (22) defend for Kendall.
All five starters hit double figures for Kendall as CJ D’Agostino had 16, Noah Morehouse 14, Vinnie D’Agostino 11 and Sammy Conte and Jonny Conte 10 each.
Kendall jumped out to a 16-4 first quarter lead as CJ D’Agostino had 8 and Morehouse and Sammy Conte 4 each.
The Eagles went on to lead by margins of 11, 29-18, at the half and by 15, 52-37, at the three-quarter mark. Jonny Conte had 6 in the second period while Morehouse had 8 and CJ D’Agostino 6 in the third quarter.
However, Albion caught fire in the final period as 12 points by Doxey, 6 by Cody and a big 3 by Olles sparked the Purple Eagles successful comeback bid.
Albion finishes the regular season at 10-9.
Kendall is now 12-6 with two Genesee Region League games remaining next week at home against Lyndonville on Monday and at Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Holley 58. Oakfield-Alabama 53
Holley trimmed visiting Oakfield-Alabama 58-53 in a G-R game this afternoon as Blake Coleman had 6 key points, including a three, to put the Hawks on top in the fourth quarter.
Josh Silpoch scored 20 and Avante Walker 14 to lead Holley.
Jonny Conte puts up a shot for Kendall against Albion defender Adam Burgio.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2026 at 9:43 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Caliyah St. Louis puts up a shot against Newfane defenders Emma Johnston (23) and Julia Leibring (11) during the Mustangs narrow win over the visiting Lady Panthers this evening.
Rebounding from an early 12 point deficit, Medina rallied to nip visiting Newfane 55-53 in the Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball season finale.
Trailing 20-8, Medina got back into the game by putting together a big 17-4 scoring urge to rally into a 25-24 lead at the half.
Alexa Demmer had 6 points and Samantha Heschke hit a 3 to lead that rally which also included baskets by Tatianna Maxon, Roswyn Oakes, Harmoni Wilson and Caliyah St. Louis.
The contest was deadlocked at 39-39 at the end of the third period as Newfane closed with a 6-0 run on baskets b Emma Johnston, Ah-Leena Golden and Taylor Kempton.
Golden had 8 in the period for the Lady Panthers while Maxon tallied 7 for the Mustangs.
Medina grabbed a 44-39 lead at the outset of the decisive final period on a two and a three by St. Louis.
Newfane did rally back into a tie twice, at 44-44 and again at 46-46, but could not regain the lead.
A three by Demmer put Medina back on top to stay at 49-46. Baskets by St. Louis, Heschke and Demmer then closed out the narrow victory for the Mustangs.
Demmer finished with 15 and Maxon and St. Louis 13 each to lead Medina. Heschke added 5, Wilson 4, Roswyn Oakes and Autumn Cornelis 2 each and Emberlyn Oakes 1.
Golden poured in a game high 30 to lead Newfane as Julia Leibring added 10, Julia Noonan 7, Emma Johnston 4 and Kempton 2.
Medina finishes the N-O season at 5-7 and Newfane at 3-9.
Ah-Leena Golden, who scored 30 for Newfane here drives to the basket against Medina defender Emberlyn Oakes.
Akron 43, Wilson 38
Akron earned a share of the N-O title with Wilson by downing the Lakewomen 43-38.
Clara Bogdan scored 13 and Marissa Brege 9 to lead Akron while Bella Thrush and Kairi Beck each scored 9 for Wilson.
Akron and Wilson finish the N-O season with identical 10-2 records.
Roy-Hart 73, Barker 35
Adella Dukes scored a game high 28 points, Millie Owens 16 and Kylie McOmber 8 to lead Roy-Hart past Barker.
Elise Monaco scored 13 and Cheyanne Rouse and Charlotte Haag both had 9 for Barker.
Final N-O Standings: Akron 10-2, Wilson 10-2, Albion 7-5, Roy-Hart 6-6, Medina 5-7, Newfane 3-9, Barker 1-11.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2026 at 9:19 pm
Notre Dame outlasted host Albion 65-59 in overtime in a non league boys basketball game this evening.
Albion sent the contest into overtime deadlocked at 51-51 on a basket by Nate Gibson with two seconds remaining.
However, Notre Dame emerged with the win by outpointing Albion 14-8 in the extra period.
Chase Antinore finished with 22, Matthew McCulley 14 and TJ Cephus Jr. 10 to lead Noree Dame.
Tyler Cody had a game high 25 to pace Albion as Wesley Olles added 15 and Gibson 10.
Albion jumped out to a 17-6 first quarter lead as Gibson and Cody both had a two and a three and Olles a pair of baskets.
However, the Irish answered back with a 20-10 second period scoring edge to rally into a 26-26 tie at the half. Antinore scored 8, McCulley 7 and Cephus 5 to lead that rally.
Albion rallied into a narrow 38-37 lead at the end of the third period as Cody had 7 in the stanza.
Notre Dame is now 16-3 and Albion 9-9.
The Purple Eagles will next host Kendall in another non league game at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2026 at 9:17 pm
Newfane put together a decisive closing scoring surge to lock up a 53-45 win over visiting Medina in the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball season finale this evening.
Trailing 41-40, Newfane rallied to outscore Medina 13-4 the rest of the way to claim the win. Mac Capen had two baskets and a pair of free throws to lead that Panthers uprising which also included a three by Isaac Zachery, a basket by Camlo Flowers and two free throws by Kasey Wheat.
Capen finished with a game high 19, Wheat 14, Flowers 11, Nasir Spencer 6 and Zachery 3.
Kolton Fletcher scored 13 and Christian Moss 10 to pace Medina as Preston Woodworth added 7, Kendrick Russaw 6, Jerrell Nealy 5 and Hadrian Batista and Jayzon Wills 2 each.
The Panthers grabbed a 12-9 first quarter lead but the Mustangs rallied into a 26-23 lead at the half. Fletcher scored 13 and Moss 7 during that stretch while Capen had 6 and Flowers 4 for the Panthers.
The Mustangs upped the led to 30-25 at the outset of the third period after a three by Nealy and a basket by Wills.
However, the Panthers came storming back with a 14-4 run to close the period and rally into a 39-36 lead. Wheat hit a pair of threes to lead that rally which also included two baskets each by Capen and Spencer.
Keeping the momentum, the Panthers then outscored the Mustangs 14-9 in the decisive final period to claim the 53-45 victory. Capen had 6 points and Zachery hit a three to lead that surge.
The Panthers and Mustangs finish the N-O season with identical 6-6 records.
Barker 64, Roy-Hart 46
Donovan Hefferon scored 20, JJ Prynn 15, Anthony Taliaferro 13 and Carter DerSarkissian 11 to lead Barker to a 64-46 N-O win over Roy-Hart.
Akron 66, Wilson 43
Wilson had already locked up the N-O title but Akron spoiled the Lakemen’s bid for an undefeated N-O season as the host Tigers posted a 66-43 win.
Blake Gerstung scored a game high 33, including a school record 9 threes, to lead Akron as Derren Brooks added 14, Ben Gerstung 9, Brodie Hill 6 and Chuckie Rebmann 4.
Ryan Hough led Wilson with 9 as Brock Lepsch and Shamus George both had 7 and Aidan Neumann 6.
Final N-O Standings: Wilson 11-1, Akron 10-2, Albion 6-6, Medina 6-6, Newfane 6-6, Barker 2-10, Roy-Hart 1-11.
