Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Ella Lewis drives to the basket against Pembroke’s Isabel Breeden during this evening’s Genesee Region League opener at Lyndonville.

A decisive scoring burst at the outset of the final quarter keyed Pembroke to a 43-35 win over host Lyndonville this evening to open the Genesee Region League girls basketball season.

In other G-R openers, Kendall  defeated host Wheatland-Chili 31-26 and Attica downed host Holley 66-24.

Leading by a narrow one point (29-28) margin, Pembroke opened the final period with a 10-3 run highlighted by a three and a jumper by Serene Calderon and a three by Emily Peters to open up a 39-31 advantage with 4:30 remaining.

Lyndonville did close the gap to four, 39-35, in the final minute after a layup by Gracie Johnson and two free throws by Alexis Hughes but the Lady Tigers could get no closer.

Isabel Breeden answered with a big three-point play for Pembroke with 32 seconds remaining to put a lock on the win.

Calderon finished with a game high 16 and Breeden added 14 to spark Pembroke.

Ashlee Stephens led Lyndonville with 10 as Lorelei Dillenbeck added 8, Ella Lewis 7, Hughes 6 and Johnson and Karlee Rounds 2 each.

Pembroke put together an early 13-0 run to grab a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Calderon netted seven during that stretch.

Lyndonville closed the gap to four twice in the second period, first at 18-14 after a three by Stephens and again at 20-16 after a jumper by Rounds. However, Pembroke maintained an eight point, 24-16 lead at the half on late back-to-back layups by Breeden.

The Lady Tigers came battling back in the third period outscoring the Dragons 12-5 to slice the deficit to just one, 29-28, at the three-quarter mark. Lewis had a layup and a jumper, Stephens a three, Hughes a jumper and Dillenbeck a layup off a steal during that stretch.

Pembroke though countered with a 14-7 scoring edge down the stretch to claim the win.

Lyndonville next visits Attica on Friday.

Lyndonville’s Karlee Rounds puts up a shot as Serene Calderon and Isabel Breeden defend for Pembroke.

Kendall 31, Wheatland-Chili 26

Coming from behind in the second half, Kendall bested host Wheatland-Chili 31-26 as Elizabeth Snyder had 8 points and 13 rebounds, Julie Coble 7 points and 7 rebounds and Alezya Brown 6 points and 7 rebounds.

Trailing 16-11 at the half, Kendall rallied with a 12-2 third period scoring surge to grab a 23-18 advantage at the three-quarter mark.  Back-to-back threes by Brown and Grace Levett keyed that uprising.

Down the stretch the Lady Eagles then got a basket and two free throws from Snyder, a basket by Emma Allen and two clutch free throws in the final minute by Brown to lock up the win.

Now at 2-0 overall, Kendall next hosts Oakfield-Alabama on Friday.

Attica 66, Holley 24

Building up a 38-11 half-time advantage, Attica went on to down Holley 66-24 as Chase Harding led the way with 17.

Halee Passarell and Tatum Gagne each scored 7 for Holley which next hosts Bryon-Bergen on Friday.

Remaining undefeated at 6-0, Akron downed Newfane 111-59 this afternoon in a “virtual” Niagara-Orleans League girls swim meet.

CC Morey won both the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly and Rachel PeQueen doubled in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Free to lead the way for Akron.

Bridget Martin was a double winner in the 200 Free and 500 Free for Newfane which is now 2-5.

The Akron boys squad completed the sweep by besting Newfane 95-64 to regain the .500 mark at 3-3.

Ethan Niver was a double winner in the IM and Butterfly for Newfane which slips to 1-6.

N-O swim action continues on Thursday as Medina faces Barker.

N-O Standings

Boys: Roy-Hart 6-0, Medina 5-1, Akron 3-3, Albion 2-2, Newfane 1-6, Barker 0-5

Girls: Akron 6-0, Roy-Hart 5-1, Medina 3-3, Newfane 2-5, Albion 1-3, Barker 0-5

Pembroke nipped visiting Lyndonville 56-54 this evening in a season opening Genesee Region League boys basketball game.

In other G-R openers, Wheatland-Chili downed host Kendall 56-36 and Attica bested visiting Holley 62-27.

Two threes by Cansdale, one by Pfalzer and a pair of baskets by Jon Suro in the fourth quarter helped Pembroke earn the slender win.

Garrett Totten scored 13, Pfalzer 12 and Suro 10 on the evening for the Dragons which held narrow leads of 13-12 after one period, 26-24 at the half and 40-39 at the three-quarter mark.

Nathan Dillenbeck scored 15, Noah Poler 13, Russell Stephens 12, Anthony Moule 8 and Casey Winiecki 6 for Lyndonville.

Dillenbeck netted 6, Poler 3 and Stephens, Winiecki and Moule 2 each for the Tigers in the decisive fourth quarter.

Lyndonville next hosts Attica on Thursday.

Aaron Lund scored 20 and Terry Bryly-Henshaw 15 to spark Wheatland-Chili which led 29-12 at the half and 42-37 after three quarters.

Derek Edick scored 16 and Quante Gillians 9 for Kendall which next visits Oakfield-Alabama on Thursday.

Ayden Goll scored 16 and Ian Romesser and Drew Cusmano each added 11 to lead Attica which was up 30-17 at the half.

Broek Ostrom scored 9 and Chuck Turpyn 7 for Holley which next visits Byron-Bergen on Thursday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Ryan Olles looks to drive around Elba’s Maddie Muehlig during tho evening’s non league game at Albion.

Jumping out to a 16 point first quarter lead, Elba went on to defeat host Albion 63-22 this evening in a non league girls basketball game.

Brynn Walczak scored 13 of her game high 25 points in the opening period which saw Elba grab a commanding 20-4 lead.

Walczak tacked on eight more in the second period as the Lady Lancers upped their advantage to 25, 38-15, at the half.

Elba went on to lead by 33, 52-19, at the three-quarter mark as Maddie Muehlig tallied seven of her 12 points. in the third period.

On the evening the Lady Lancers also had Dakota Brinkman score 7, Kelsea Augello 6, Taylor Augello 5, Leah Bezon and Laci Sewar 4.

Sydney Mulka led Albion with 6 as Ryan Olles and Abi Scanlan both had 5, Demi Doward 4 and Madison Hughson 2.

The game was the season opener for Albion which will next host Newfane on Friday to start  the Niagara-Orleans League season.

Elba is now 2-0.

Elba’s Brynn Wolczak looks to shoot as Aly Knaak and Honesty Little defend for Albion.

Albion’s Sydney Mulka goes up for a shot between Elba defenders Rachel Walls and Georgia Luft.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Austin Tompkins in action in the 200 Medley Relay for Medina during this afternoon’s win over Akron.

Defending champion Roy-Hart improved to 6-0 by downing Newfane 114-51 this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League boys “virtual” swim meet.

Carter Green was a double winner in the 50 Free and 500 Free for Roy-Hart which also had Charles Rickard take the 200 Free, Noah Stern the 100 Free and Andrew Ossont the 100 Breaststroke.

Ethan Niver doubled in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly for Newfane which slips to 1-5.

Completing the sweep, the Roy-Hart girls squad improved to 5-1 with an 84-78 win over Newfane.

Amanda Hill doubled in the 50 Free and 100 Backstroke for Roy-Hart which also got individual event wins from Alexis Seib (Butterfly) and Brooke Livergood (100 Breaststroke).

Seib and Hill also teamed up with McCarthy Lang and Molly Russell to score a win in the 400 Free Relay to lock up the victory.

Bridget Martin doubled in the 200 Free and 500 Free for Newfane which is now 2-4.

The Medina boys downed Akron 98-70 to improve to 5-1.

Isaac Pace won both the IM and 100 Free for the Seahorses as Xander Payne took the 50 Free, Mike Marker the Butterfly and Ben Griffin the Breaststroke.

Zander Borton doubled in the 200 Free and 500 Free for Akron which is now 2-3.

The Akron girls stayed undefeated at 5-0 by downing Medina 120-49.

Marisa Maggiore doubled in the 200 Free and 500 Free and Rachel PeQueen in the 50 Free and 100 from for Akron.

Brooklyn Brown won the Butterfly for Medina which is now 3-3.

The Albion vs. Barker meet was postponed.

N-O Standings

Boys: Roy-Hart 6-0, Medina 5-1, Albion 2-2, Akron 2-3, Newfane 1-5, Barker 0-5

Girls: Akron 6-0, Roy-Hart 5-1, Medina 3-3, Newfane 2-4, Albion 1-3, Barker 0-5

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Elizabeth Snyder goes for a rebound against the Holley trio of Tia Hofforth, Halee Passarell and Sara Kingdollar during the Lady Eagles win over host Lady Hawks this evening in the area’s season opening basketball game.

Over two months later than the normal starting date for the season area high school basketball competition got underway this evening as Kendall downed rival Holley 30-19 in a non league girls contest at Holley.

Kendall built up a 16-5 halftime advantage after putting together a 13-3 second quarter run which included two three’s by Alezya Brown and a pair of baskets by Elizabeth Snyder.

The Lady Eagles maintained a 14 point, 22-8, advantage at the three-quarter mark as Emma Allen hit a three.

Holley did close the gap to seven at 26-19 late in the final period after an 11-2 run which included baskets by Tatum Gagne, Halee Passarell, Hayley Skidmore and Jailyn Bishop but the Lady Hawks could get no closer.

Julie Coble answered with a three for Kendall to lock up the win for the Lady Eagles.

Brown finished with 8, Coble and Snyder 7 each, Lauren Pilon 4, Allen 3 and Grace Robinson 1 for Kendall.

Passarell led Holley with 8 as Sara Kingdollar, Gagne, Skidmore, Harleigh Andrews and Bishop each had 2 and Adriana Botello 1.

Kendall next visits Wheatland-Chili and Holley hosts Attica in the Genesee Region League openers at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.  Click here to view video from the announcing of the starting lineups and the opening tip.

Holley’s Halee Passarell tries to drive around Kendall’s Alezya Brown.

Kendall’s Julia Szczepanski grabs off a rebound.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Bailey Blanchard, left, Medina’s Tyler Chinn and Roy-Hart’s Tom Ragonese will help lead their teams into Friday’s Niagara-Orleans League season openers.

Last season Albion ended a lengthy title drought by sharing the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball championship with Newfane at 9-3 a game ahead of runner-up Medina at 8-4.

Interestingly, the defending co-champs will meet in the N-O season opener as Albion will visit Newfane on Friday.

Friday’s other openers will have Barker at Medina and Roy-Hart at Wilson as Akron draws the bye.

Senior Bailey Blanchard, who earned N-O All-League Honorable Mention last season, heads Albion’s group of returning regulars which also includes seniors Anthony Freeman, Zach Coleccechi and Chris Shabazz. The Purple Eagles also return seniors Elijah Lloyd, Christian Doty, Kyle Woolston and Damion Lattimer.

“We’ve got a good group back so we”re looking to build off of last year and keep that rolling,” said Travis Downs who has taken over the varsity helm after guiding the JV squad the past couple of years. “The expectations are high both for the kids and me. It’s going to be a quick start so we have to hit the ground running.”

The Purple Eagles graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honoree Deyonci Farley, second team selection Kevin Hillman and Honorable Mention pick Liam Ward.

Newfane’s veteran group is led by seniors Sam Capen, a second team All-League honoree, and Michael Carmer, an Honorable Mention selection. The Panthers also have experience in seniors Deuce Capen, Jeremy Foltz, Trevor Heschke and Cade Littman.

The Panthers graduation losses included first Team All-League honoree Garrett Srock, second team selection Josh Everett and Honorable Mention pick Connor MacAvoy.

Medina returns a quartet of starters in seniors Tyler Chinn and Brian Fry along with juniors Joe Cecchini and Jarin Rhim. Chinn earned second team All-League honors while Fry and Rhim were both Honorable Mention selections.

The Mustangs also return experience in seniors Christian Drisdom, Dontea Rhim, Matt Henning and David Rhim along with junior Ricky Wood.

The Mustangs only graduation loss was Nate Sherman who earned first team All-League honors.

“We’ve got a good group back and we’re very happy to be getting the season in,” said Eric Hellwig who has taken over the varsity  reins as Tom Forrestel is not coaching this season due to Covid-19 concerns.

Roy-Hart, which is looking to improve upon last year’s 4-8 N-O record, also returns a good veteran contingent including seniors Tom Ragonese, Rhett Goodwin and Jon Gillings along with juniors Gavyn Boyle and Aiden Petrie.  Ragonese was a second team All-League honoree while Godwin and Boyle were both Honorable Mention selections.

“We’ve got five guys returning with good experience and that certainly will help us,” said Joe Pawlak. “The big keys for us are to play solid defense, rebound and get out and run. This is a close group and they are excited to get the season going.”

Barker graduate Jake Haight, who helped lead the Raiders to an undefeated (14-0) N-O title season his senior year (2014), takes over the varsity helm.

“Our goal is to give the guys a season and have fun doing it,” said Haight. “The kids are all excited to get back. It’s for them.”

Senior Joey Brandt, who earned All-League Honorable Mention last year, heads Barker’s veteran group which also includes seniors Shane Gerhardt, Logan Harris, Cole Ecker and junior Nathan Meza-Ray. The Raiders lineup also includes senior Nick Guezera and sophomore Brad Cantrell who looks to handle the point guard chores.

Wilson, which went 7-5 last year, is led by senior Mike Miller who earned All-League Honorable Mention. The Lakemen’s graduation losses included first team All-League honoree Luke Bradley.

Akron, which went 5-7 last year, returns a solid veteran senior group including first team All-League honoree Adam Mietz, Honorable Mention selections Mitchell Holtz and Jake Mazza along with David Kalinowski.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Sydnie Luckman, left, Roy-Hart’s Shelby Wolf and Albion’s Honesty Little, will help lead their teams into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season which is scheduled to tip off Friday.

Defending champion Wilson will visit Roy-Hart to highlight this coming Friday evening’s slate of season opening Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball games.

The other openers will have Newfane at Albion and Medina at Barker as Akron draws the bye.

Ironically for Albion the opener will come exactly one year to the day since the Purple Eagles played their last regular season game.

Wilson, which went 12-0 last season to claim the N-O title for the ninth time in the last 10 years, lost three first team N-O All-League honorees – Skylar Munnikhuysen, Izzy Dinse and Anna Frerichs – to graduation. The Lakewomen are led by the senior duo of Meg Musall and Isabella Lemke who both received N-O All-League Honorable Mention.

Roy-Hart, which is looking to improve upon last year’s 4-8 record, is led by senior Shelby Wolf, a second team N-O All-Leauge selection, and senior Rileigh McCabe who earned All-League Honorable Mention, Wolf scored 218 points and grabbed off 193 rebounds and McCabe had 160 pouts and 160 rebounds.

The Rams veteran laden lineup also includes seniors Miah Glena, Mya Quinn, Renee Lehman and Carnela Huntington along with juniors Kara Choate, Ava Owens, Ryan Hiller and Claire Halstead.

“We’re just excited to be back,” said Coach Grace Swick.

Senior Honesty Little, who earned second team All-League honors last year, heads Albion’s veteran group which also includes juniors Aly Knaak, Sydney Mulka and Aurora Serafin and sophomore Ryan Olles. Knaak and Olles both earned All-League Honorable Mention. The Purple Eagles are also bolstered by the return of junior Abby Scanlan who didn’t play last year.

“We’re just thankful to be able to play,” said Coach Lucian Price.

Albion’s graduation losses included All-League squad honorees Paige Derisley and Kendall Derisley.

Senior Rachel Chunco, who earned second team All-League honors ,along with Honorable Mention selections Hannah Hambruch and Marah Sheehan, both seniors, anchor the lineup for Newfane which finished in the runner-up spot last year at 9-3..

Senior Sydnie Luckman, a first team All-League honoree, heads the lineup for Barker which went 4-8 last season. The Lady Raiders also have seniors Natalie Bruning, Sarah Outten, Chloe Lee,. Nya Johnson, Courtney Hillman and Kate Babcock.

Medina’s returnees include seniors Anya Bloom, Kylie Hinman, Faith Ann Vanderwalker, Anna Cruz-Robb and Paige Atkins along with juniors Lily Carpenter, Nina Howard, Aleigh Mitchell and Amaya Cleveland.

“The girls are working hard and we just looking to make the most of the opportunity,” said Coach Eric Valley.

Akron, which went 6-6 last year, is led by senior Jessee Jonathan, a first team All-League honoree. The Lady Tigers also return senior Jayni Sundown and junior Ella Hill who both received Honorable Mention.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Zach Walker in route to a win in the 200 Individual Medley during this morning’s virtual meet against Barker.

Defending champion Roy-Hart reached the halfway point of the Niagara-Orleans League boys swim season with a 5-0 record by downing Barker 107-43 this morning in a virtual meet.

The Channel Cats had five different individual event winners including Jake Hagen (200 Freestyle), Zack Walker (200 Individual Medley), Noah Stern (50 Free), Carter Green (100 Butterfly) and Zach Livergood (500 Free).

Brooke Livergood earned a win in the 200 IM for Roy-Hart.

Ryan Santarsiero doubled in the 100 Free and 100 Breaststroke and Ryan Stevener took the 100 Backstroke for Barker.

The Roy-Hart girls improved to 4-1 with a 105-40 win over Barker.

Alexis Seib was a double winner in the 50 Free and 100 Free for Roy-Hart as Brooke Livergood took the IM, Raychel Dunker the Butterfly, Sophia Santella the 500 Free and Amanda Hill the Breaststroke.

Natalie Bruning was a double winner for Barker in the 200 Free and Backstroke.

Ryan Stevener captured the 100 Backstroke for Barker.

The Medina boys improved to 4-1 with a 91-73 virtual meet win over Newfane.

Isaac Pace won the 200 Free, Austin Tompkins the 50 Free and Ben Griffin the Breaststroke to lead the way for the Seahorses.

Ethan Niver doubled in the IM and Butterfly and Elijah Thompson in the 100 Free and Backstroke for Newfane which is now 1-4.

The Medina girls trimmed Newfane 88-81 to improve to 3-2.

Medina took the lead for good at 78-77 after a win by Gracie Cogovan in the Breaststroke. The Seahorses then locked up the meet with a win by the 400 Freestyle Relay quartet of Brooklyn Brown, Madelyn Satkowski, Corrine Hill and Amanda Woodruff.

Brown also captured the Butterfly and Satkowski the 100 Free.

Bridget Martin doubled in the 200 Free and 500 Free and Lauren Enderton in the IM and Backstroke for Newfane which slips to 2-3.

The Akron vs. Albion meet was postponed as Akron cancelled its activities due to the snowy weather conditions.

N-O Standings

Boys: Roy-Hart 5-0, Medina 4-1, Akron 2-2, Albion 2-2, Newfane 1-4, Barker 0-5

Girls: Akron 4-0, Roy-Hart 4-1, Medina 3-2, Newfane 2-3, Albion 1-3, Barker 0-5.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to help lead their teams into Tuesday’s league openers are, from left, Kendall’s Derek Edick, Lyndonville’s Nathan Dillenbeck and Holley’s Broek Ostrom.

Genesee Region League boys basketball action is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as Kendall hosts Wheatland-Chili, Lyndonville visits Pembroke and Holley travels to Attica.

Kendall is led by the veteran starting trio of seniors Derek Edick and Braxton Zarpentine and sophomore Zach Barrett.

The Eagles lineup also includes seniors Bryce Friedrich, Jacob Esposito, Hayden VanDusen and Michael Samons along with juniors Jorden Ostrander, Jeffrey Pratt, Dutch Steffen, sophomore Devin Edick and eight grader Quante Gillians.

“It’s nice to have those three guys returning to stabilize the backcourt. It’s nice to have some experience to lean on,”  said Coach Matt Zimmer. “I’m looking for our young group to step up. I’m optimistic but most  of all I’m thankful to have a season.”

Kendall’s graduation losses included Mason Kuhn, Dale Steffen and Nicholas Spellan.

Lyndonville is anchored by a quartet of returning starters including seniors Nathan Dillenbeck, Casey Winiecki and Russ Stephens and junior Noah Poler. Dillenbeck earned G-R All-Star honors last year’s the Tigers went 8-6 in the league and 12-9 overall.

The Tigers also return seniors Anthony Moule  and Hayden Woodward and sophomore Trenton Muck. Rounding out the squad are sophomores Owen Mank and Mason Nicholson and senior Jaden Dent.

Lyndonville’s main graduation loss was G-R All-Star Nate Hydock who averaged a double double of 13.1 points and 14.1 rebounds.

“We have four guys back who have had a lot of playing time which is great,” said Coach Lee Dillenbeck. “We’re just pretty excited about getting the season in for our seniors.”

Holley faces a rebuilding task as the graduation took virtually off of the Hawks starting group including G-R All-Star Kohl Morgan, Carson Major, Cody Tanis, Jacob Norman and Ryan Lang.

Junior Broek Ostrom is the only returnee with a good amount of playing experience.

“We’ll be learning,” said Coach Wil Prince.