A goal in each period proved to be just enough to earn top ranked Long Beach a narrow 3-1 win over Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina/Akron in the New York State Club Hockey championship game Sunday evening on Long Island.

RBM stayed even after one period on a goal by Dylan Krzykowski (Ak) but could not find the back of the net again.

Long Beach made solo goals in both the second and third periods be enough to claim the title in the defensive battle as RBM finished in the runner-up spot for the second year in a row.

RBM advanced to the title contest by romping past Locust Valley/North Short 7-2 in the semifinals earlier Sunday.

Rebounding from an early 1-0 deficit, RBM came back with a vengeance, scoring four times, three on power plays, for a 4-1 lead at the end of the opening period.  Jason Kuchey (R-H), Tom Paisley (R-H), Nick Wood (Ak) and Michael Kuchey (R-H) all scored.  Assisting on the goals were Drew Marsh (Ak) (2), Jason Kuchey (2) and Krzykowski.

There was no scoring in the second period, but Michael Kuchey scored twice and  Conner McNeil (M) once in the final period.  Adding assist points were Jason Kuchey, Michael Kuchey, Krzykowski, and Reed Winslow (R-H).

Tyler Lehan turned in another spectacular performance in goal.

In its two years of existence, the RoyHart/Barker/Medina/Akron team has won a WNY Sectional Championship and has two second place finishes in the quest for a State title.

Contributed Photo – Kyle Barna

Medina High graduate Kyle Barna had 4 goals and 2 assists as the Lake Erie College lacrosse team dropped a narrow 16-13 decision Sunday  to Merrimack College, which is No. 1 in the nation in the NCAA Division II rankings.

Barna, who previously played two years at Pfeiffer College, now has scored 7 goals in two games.

Lake Erie is next scheduled to visit Roberts Wesleyan College this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.

During his scholastic days at Medina Barna set the school record for most career points with 280 on 181 goals and 99 assists.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson girls basketball Coach Brian Baker, right, shown here with NCCC girls basketball Coach Nate Beutel scouting at a game last year, received the Section VI Coach of the Year award today. Beutel was also honored this weekend by being named the Region III Coach of the Year.

Wilson High girls basketball Coach Brian Baker was presented with the Section VI Frank A. Martin Memorial Coach of the Year award today in ceremonies at the sectional finals at Buffalo State College.

The award is given in memory of the Allegany-Limestone coach who passed away this past year.

Baker guided Wilson to its ninth Niagara-Orleans League championship in the last 10 years this season as the Lakewomen compiled a perfect 12-0 record.

G-R teams win Section V titles
Three Genesee Region League girls basketball teams captured Section V championships this weekend as top seeded Elba defeated Whitesville 54-42 in Class D2, Oakfield-Alabama downed top seeded South Seneca 43-39 in Class C3 and Pembroke bested Geneseo 43-38 in Class C2.

Elba (21-1) will next face undefeated Class D2 champion Fillmore (22-0) on Tuesday for the Section V Class D berth in the state playoffs. Fillmore downed Prattsburgh/Avoca 42-34 in the Class D1 title contest.

Pembroke will next face Class C1 champion Avon on Monday. Avon defeated Geneseo 57-48 in the Class C1 final. The Pembroke vs. Avon victor will take on Oakfield-Alabama on Wednesday with winner advancing to the state playoffs.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Newfane grad Paige Emborsky drives up the court for Niagara County Community College against Monroe Community College defender Cierra Harrison during the host Thunderwolves Region III championship win this afternoon.

Turning back a strong second half challenge, the top seeded Niagara County Community College women’s basketball team captured its first ever Region III championship by defeating visiting No. 2 Monroe Community College 78-68 this afternoon.

Up by as many as 18 early in the third period, Niagara saw Monroe rally back to within two late in the final stanza. However, the Thunderwolves answered back with a clutch 10-2 run to close the game, including five each by MVP Kenetria Redfern (Cheektowaga) and Shilah Parker (Cheektowaga), to claim their elusive first regional crown.

“Finally, and it’s even sweeter by beating Monroe,” said Thunderwolves Coach Nate Beutel of the win which ended Monroe’s four year reign as regional champions. “I’m just so proud of this group. They work so hard. They really deserve it.”

Redfern finished with a game high 30 points as Parker had 15, Cori Dickson (Cheektowaga) 10, Aubrey Halloran (Albany) 9, Paige Emborsky (Newfane) 8 and Molly Mahony (Lancaster) 6.

In all the Niagara lineup has a trio of former Niagara-Orleans League players including Emborsky,  Caitlynn Snook from Albion and Ellie Todd from Roy-Hart.

Albion grad Caitlynn Snook looks to drive around Monroe defender Kendra Lawton.

Emborsky, Dickson and Halloran were all named to the All-Tournament team as were Lyrik Jackson and Cierra Harrison from Monroe who led the Tribunes with 17 and 12 points respectively.

Staying undefeated on the season at 31-0, the Thunderwolves will next compete in the national championship tournament in Arkansas beginning on March 19.

Jumping out to a 10-0 lead at the outset, Niagara held an 11 point, 20-9, lead at the end of the opening period. Redfern had a jumper, a three and a layup, Parker two threes, Halloran two layups and Emborsky a three during that stretch.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second period which ended with Niagara still up by 11 at 43-32. Redfern scored 9, Dickson 7 and Emborsky 5 in the stanza.

The Thunderwolves then boosted the advantage to 18, 50-32, at the outset of the third period after a three by Dickson and jumpers by Redfern and Parker.

However, Monroe came storming back.

The Tribunes got right back in the game by putting together a 13-0 run, including two threes by Zorria West and one by Harrison, to cut the deficit to five, 50-45.

A late three-point play by Redfern though helped Niagara hold a seven point, 56-49, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Two layups by Redfern and a rebound bucket by Halloran put the Thunderwolves back up by nine, 64-55, midway through the final stanza.

The Tribunes though came battling back one more time with an 11-4 run, including a three and a two by Harrison and a pair of baskets by Zairea Hannah, to slice the deficit to just two, 68-66.with two minutes remaining.

The Thunderwolves though weathered the storm.

Redfern scored on a layup and then Parker hit a huge three to give Niagara a little breathing room at 73-66. Two free throws each by Parker and Redfern then put the Thunderwolves up by 11, 77-66, to finally put a lock on the hard earned victory.

Thunderwolves players and coaches celebrate after their regional championship win. In front are Alicia Farrell, Kenetria Redfern, Ellie Todd and Kelsey Lachowski. In back are Assistant Coach Vince Kazmierczak, Molly Mahony, Caitlynn Snook, Aubrey Halloran, Cori Dickson, Shilah Parker, Paige Emborsky and Head Coach Nate Beutel.

The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club hockey team spilt a pair of games Saturday to earn a spot in today’s semifinal round of the New York State Club Hockey championships being held on Long Island.

RBM first defeated Manhasset 3-2 to clinch a spot in the semis but then dropped a 4-2 decision to top ranked Long Beach.

Today’s semifinals will have 2-1 RBM vs. 3-0 Locust Valley/North Shore at 11:30 a.m. and 3-0 Long Beach vs. City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara.  The winners will meet in the title game at 6 p.m.

In Saturday’s first game,  Manhasset. took an early lead, but Jason Kuchey (R-H) tied the score for RBM with just two seconds left in the period, assisted by Dominic Peracciny (R-H).

In the next period, Michael Kuchey (R-H) scored a power play goal on passes from Dylan Krzykowski (Ak)  and Nick Wood (Ak) for a 2-1 lead.

Manhasset, however, tied the game and the third period proved to be a nail- biter until Jason Kuckey scored a short- handed goal with the assist going to his brother, Michael.

The night contest against Long Bech saw RBM grab the early lead as  Krzykowski scored assisted by Michael Kuchey.  The high- powered Long Beach team tied the score before the end of the period.

In the second period, RBM took the lead very early on another Jason Kuchey goal, from Michael Kuchey, only to have Long Beach tie the game and take the lead.  The score remained 3-2 until RBM pulled their goal tender in an effort to force the tie.  With 26 seconds remaining, Long Beach hit the empty net.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart graduate Ellie Todd, left. and Albion grad Caitlynn Snook in action for Niagara County Community College during the host Thunderwolves Region III semifinal victory over Jamestown Community College.

Pulling away in the third quarter, top seeded Niagara County Community College went on to defeat visiting No. 4 Jamestown Community College 81-50 this afternoon in the semifinals of the Region III women’s basketball tournament.

Leading by a narrow two point, 24-22, margin after the first quarter, NCCC extended its advantage a bit to eight, 38-30, at the half as Paige Emborsky (Newfane) had two threes and a layup and Shilah Parker (Cheektowaga) two threes.

Newfane’s Paige Emborsky looks to drive for NCCC against Jamestown defender Taylor Phelps.

The Thunderwolves then broke the contest wide open by outscoring JCC 20-8 in the third period to open up a commanding 20 point, 58-38, margin at the three-quarter mark.

Kenetria Redfern (Cheektowaga), who has been named Region III Player of the Year, led that surge with 11 points. Redfern and Emborsky both hit threes in the stanza.

Redfern then tacked on 9 points, including a pair of threes, in the final stanza which also featured threes by Emborsky, Parker, Cori Dickson (Cheektowaga) and Molly Mahony (Lancaster) as Caitlynn Snook (Albion) chipped in with 2 points and 2 rebounds.

Redfern finished with a game high 26 points as Emborsky had 17, Parker 16 and Dickson 13.

Olivia Lynn led Jamestown with 24.

NCCC Coach Nate Beutel has been named Region III Coach of the Year.

Now at 30-0, NCCC will now face the winner of the No. 3 Genesee Community College vs. No. 2 Monroe Community College semifinal in the championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Contributed Photos – Andy and Al Xapsos

During their scholastic days at Roy-Hart brothers Andy and Al Xapsos helped the Rams rise to what is now a three year long Niagara-Orleans League baseball championship run.

Now the brothers have been reunited on the diamond as members of the Finger Lakes Community College baseball squad.

Andy is a sophomore infielder and Al a freshman outfielder. Last year Andy hit .310 and drove in 16 runs.

The brothers last played together during Roy-Hart’s 2016 season when Andy was a senior pitcher/infielder and Al a sophomore infielder.

That spring they helped Roy-Hart compile a 12-2 N-O record and earn the Rams their first league title since 1953. Andy earned his third straight first team N-O All-League honor  and Al was a second team honoree.

Over the last two years Al helped Roy-Hart continue that title string as the Rams retained the N-O crown with record of 9-3 in 2017 and 10-2 last year. He earned first team All-League honors both years.

Now the brothers are prepping to again play together when Finger Lakes begins its season with a series of games at the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach March 17-21.

Avenging a recent title game loss, the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina/Akron Club Hockey team won their opening contest in the New York State Championship tournament today with an emphatic victory over Eden/Lake Shore/Pioneer/Springville  by a score of 7-2.

The very satisfying win avenged RBM’s 4-2 loss to ELPS in the Western New York championship game just this past Monday.

Today’s game was totally different.

RBM took a 4-0 lead in the opening period on goals by Dylan Krzykowski (Ak), Nick Wood (Ak), Jason Kuchey (R-H) and Michael Kuchey (R-H).  Earning assists during the stretch were Tom Paisley (R-H) Michael Kuchey and Dominic Peracciny (R-H).

The second period saw RBM scores posted by Rhett Wagner (M) and Krzykowski with assist points going to Michael Kuchey, Reed Winslow (R-H), Drew Marsh (Ak) and Wood.  The period ended with RBM holding a 6-1 lead.

RBM’s last goal was scored by Paisley on a power play assisted by Jason Kuchey and Marsh.

Andrew Warner played an excellent game in goal as did all of the RBM defensemen.

Saturday’s schedule calls for RBM to play Manhasset at 1 p.m. and the No. 1 rated club team in New York, Long Beach at 9:30 p.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Orleans County wrestlers on the Genesee Region All-League team include, in front, Chase Stinson, Rodney Davis and Mario Fidanza from Lyndonville. In back are Tristyn Moyer, Erik Balys, Cade Aina and Eli Stanton from Holley-Kendall.

Seven Orleans County wrestlers have earned spots on the annual Genesee Region All-League team.

That group includes seniors Erik Balys, Eli Stanton and Cade Aina and junior Tristyn Moyer from Holley-Kendall along with senior Chase Stinson, junior Mario Fidanza and sophomore Rodney Davis from Lyndonville.

Fidanza, who placed third at the Section V championships and earn a berth in the state tournament, compiled an overall record of 27-3.

Stinson, who also placed third at the sectionals went 33-9 and Davis 25-16.

For the Holley-Kendall quartet, Aina went 40-6, Balys 35-7, Moyer 33-8 and Stanton 32-10. Balys and Aina both placed fourth at the sectionals.