Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Deyonci Farley goes to the hoop as Jarrett Gilson defends for Newfane during the host Panthers sectional win over the Purple Eagles this evening.

A big third period scoring surge proved to be the difference at No. 6 seed Newfane downed visiting No. 11 Albion 68-61 this evening in the pre quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball playoffs.

Leading by a narrow four point, 24-20, margin at the half, Newfane put together a huge 27-8 third period scoring burst.

Josh Everett hit three threes, Sam Capen added 7 points, including a three, and Derek Srock chipped in with a pair of baskets to key that decisive uprising which vaulted the Panthers out to s 23 point, 51-28, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Newfane’s Sam Capen goes in for a layup against Albion defender Kevin Hillman.

A pair of rebound baskets by Deuce Capen and a layup by Matt DiTullio kept Newfane up by 20, 59-39, with four minutes to go in the final period off setting a burst of three quick threes by Liam Ward for Albion.

Albion though made the finish interesting by putting together a 22-7 scoring surge to cut the deficit to five, 66-61 by capitalizing on a string of missed free throw opportunities by the Panthers.

However, only four seconds remained at that point and Josh Everett locked up Newfane’s win by ending the Panthers late string of missed free throw opportunities with a pair from the line with 3.9 seconds to go to cap the 68-61 win.

The Purple Eagles big late surge included two threes, a layup and a jumper by Bryce Pritchard, two threes and a rebound bucket by Deyonci Farley and a three by Kevin Hillman.

In all, the Purple Eagles made a total of seven threes during the 33-17 final period scoring edge.

Albion also got off to a fast start grabbing an 8-0 lead at the outset and a 14-9 edge at the end of the opening period. Farley led that early surge with three threes.

However, Newfane answered with an 11-3 run to open the second period to rally into the lead at 20-17. Derek Scrock had two layups and DiTullio a layup off a steal to highlight that surge.

Albion did briefly retie the game at 20-20 on another three by Farley but Newfane countered with a layup by Deuce Capen and a layup off a steal by Jarrett Gilson to regain the lead for good at 24-20 at the half.

Deuce Capen finished with 19, Sam Capen 12, Everett 11 and Srock 10 to lead the Panthers attack.

Farley had a game high 28 for Albion as Ward added 14 and Pritchard 12.

Newfane next visits No. 3 Olean in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

In another Class B1 pre quarter, No. 9 Fredonia defeated No. 8 Depew 51-43. Fredonia will now visit top seeded Medina in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Albion’s Kevin Hillman tries to drive around Newfane defender Deuce Capen.

Class D1
No.8 Alfred-Almond 50, No. 9 Kendall 47
No. 9 Alfred-Almond trimmed visiting No. 8 Kendall 50-47 in a Section V Class D1 contest.

Nate Warters scored 22 and Hunter Menze 10 for Kendall which trailed 26-16 at the half and 36-32 after three quarters.

The Eagles could get no closer than two in the final stanza.

Class B2
No. 6 JFK 57, No. 11 Roy-Hart 44
Lance Krieger scored 11, Charlie Bruning 9 and Gavyn Boyle 8 for Roy-Hart in the Rams 57-44 loss at JFK.

Girls Basketball
Class C3
No. 6 Cal-Mum 52, No. 11 Lyndonville 36
Alecia Hinkson scored 13, Anna Lewis 11 and Gracie Johnson 7 for Lyndonville in the Class C3 loss at Cal-Mum.

Class C1
No. 8 Warsaw 60, No. 9 Holley 31

Contributed Photo – The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina/ Akron club hockey team includes, in front from left, Andrew Warner, Tonawanda, 11th grade, Andrew Marsh, Akron, 12th, Dylan Krzykowski, Akron, 12th, Michael Kuchey, R-H, 12th and Tom Paisley, R-H, 12th, In the back row are Ryan Mettler, R-H, 9th, Reed Winslow, R-H, 9th, Conner McNeil, Medina, 10th, Dominic Peracciny, R-H, 10th, Mitchell Johnson, Barker, 11th, Colin Dodge, R-H, 11th, Jason Kuchey, R-H, 11th, Rhett Wagner, Medina, 12th, Jacob Harris, Barker, 11th, Trevor Crawford, Akron, 11th, Nick Wood, Akron, 11th and Tagen Decker, R-H, 10th. Missing from the photo is goalie Tyler Lehan, Grand Island, 12th.

In preparation for their championship game in the WNY Mixed Division, the athletes of the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina/ Akron Club hockey team will be involved with activities this week in Buffalo.

Together with the Large Division teams, Orchard Park and Canisius, the Small Division teams, East Aurora- Holland and St. Mary’s, and their title game opponent, ELPS (Eden- Lake Shore- Pioneer- Springville), RBM has players in the Skills Competition today at Harbor Center. Then the team will attend the tournament dinner at the Millenium Hotel on Thursday.

The title game itself is on February 25 at 8 p.m..  This marks the second time in the two year history of the RBM program that they have come this far.

The coaching staff is emphatic in its praise of the efforts of each member of the organization.  The six defensemen are comprised of Trevor Crawford (Akron), Jacob Harris (Barker), Tom Paisley, Jason Kuchey, Colin Dodge and Reed Winslow all of Roy-Hart.  The forwards are Nick Wood, Dylan Krzykowski and Drew Marsh of Akron, Rhett Wagner and Conner McNeil of Medina, Mitchell Johnson of Barker, and Tagen Decker, Ryan Mettler, Michael Kuchey and Dominic Peracciny of Roy-Hart.

In goal this season has been Andrew Warner of Tonawanda and Tyler Lehan of Grand Island.

The team is coached by Mike Kuchey, Todd Boci, Dory Marsh, Mark McNeil and Luke Luckman.

RBM has already earned a spot in the State Championship Tournament to be held March 1-3 on Long Island.  This week’s game decides both the Western New York Club Champion as well as the seeding for the State Tournament.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Natalie Lathrop and Newfane’s Paige Littman battle for a rebound during the visiting Lady Panthers sectional win over the Purple Eagles this evening.

Avenging a pair of regular season losses, No. 11 seed Newfane upended host No. 6 Albion 37-31 this evening in the opening round of the Section VI Class B1 girls basketball playoffs.

Megan Knoll scored 11, Rachel Chunco 8 and Lauren Boudeman 5 to lead the way for Newfane which next hosts No. 14 Fredonia on Thursday.

Lexi Wolck scored 8, Paige Derisley 6 and Kirsten Struble and Kendall Derisley 5 for Albion.

Newfane held leads of 12-5 after one period, 22-14 at the half and 26-18 at the three-quarter mark.

Albion did rally back to within one in the final period but could not pull even.

Wolck scored 6 in the final period for Albion while Knoll had 4 for Newfane.

Class B2

Akron 65, Roy-Hart 45

No. 5 seed Akron downed No. 12 Roy-Hart 65-45 in the opening round of the Section VI Class B2 playoffs. Shelby Wolf scored 21 for Roy-Hart.

Section V Class D1

No. 8 Alfred-Almond nipped visiting No. 9 Kendall 33-32 in the opening round of the Section V Class D1 playoffs.

Albion’s Lexi Wolck puts up a shot as Newfane’s Lauren Boudeman tries to block.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Liam Ward goes in for a layup against Alden defender Lucas Bush during the host Purple Eagles sectional win over the Bulldogs this evening.

A huge first quarter scoring barrage propelled No. 11 seed Albion to a 68-40 victory over visiting No. 14 Alden this evening in the opening round of the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball playoffs.

Fast breaking at every opportunity, Albion roared out to a commanding 27-1 first period advantage as Liam Ward scored 12, including a pair of threes, Bryce Pritchard 8, Michael DiCureia 5 and Deyonci Farley 4.

The Purple Eagles upped the advantage to 33, 41-8, at the half as Ward, Pritchard and Farley each had a pair of baskets in the second period.

Albion enjoyed a 25 point, 54-29, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Ward finished with 14 and Pritchard and Farley 12 each to lead a parade of 11 Albion point getters. Bailey Blanchard added 8, Dominic Burton and Michael DiCureia 5, Xavier Cornick and Chris Shabazz 3 and Dylan Fox, Vincent Zona and Jonathan DePuy 2 each.

Lucas Jurek led Alden with 12.

Albion has little time to celebrate the win however as the Purple Eagles now visit No. 6 seed Niagara-Orleans League foe Newfane at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Panthers took both N-O meetings for the Purple Eagles this season.

Section V Class C1

No. 4 Avon defeated No. 13 Holley 94-53 in the opening round of the Section V Class C1 playoffs.

Albion’s Chris Shabazz puts up a shot as Alden’s Jacob Baker tries for the block.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Camri King takes a shot as Lexus Frears defends for Tonawanda during the Mustangs sectional opening win over the visiting Lady Warriors this evening.

Jumping out to a 12-0 lead at the outset, No. 7 seed Medina defeated visiting No. 10 Tonawanda 44-31 this evening in the opening round of the Section VI Class B1 girls basketball playoffs.

Camri King and Kharise Johnson both scored two baskets and Jarielys Flores-Medina and Sarah Cochrane one each in the opening period which finished with Medina up 12-2.

The Mustangs maintained a 10 point, 20-10, lead at the half and then broke the contest wide open in the third period with an 18-6 surge.  Flores-Medina scored 6 points, King 5 and Tyesha Robinson 4 to lead the Mustangs in the stanza which finished with Medina up by 22 at 38-16.

King finished with 13 and Robinson 10 to lead Medina as Johnson and Flores-Medina booth had 8, Cochrane 3 and Anya Bloom 2.

Lexus Frears took game high scoring honors for Tonawanda with 15.

Improving to 12-9, Medina next visits No. 2 seed East Aurora in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Medina’s Tyesha Robinson puts up a shot over Tonawanda defender D’Era Jefferson.

Legion defeated JR Wilson 38-32 Monday to regain a narrow one point lead in the Medina Euchre League standings over Sacred Heart which downed Vets Club 37-33.

Legion is now 675-585 on the season with Sacred Heart at 674-586, JR Wilson 648-612 and Vets Club 523-737.

League competition continues on February 25 with Legion at JR Wilson and Sacred Heart at Vets Club.

Contributed Photo – Jacob Bruning

Roy-Hart graduate Jacob Bruning made his pitching debut with the Niagara University baseball squad over the weekend during the Purple Eagles season opening series at North Carolina A&T.

In a “lefty specialist” relief role, Bruning, a freshman, pitched an inning and a third in his two appearances allowing one hit and striking out two.

Academically, he is part of Niagara’s Academic Exploration Program for students who have not declared a major.

Last year, as a senior at Roy-Hart, he helped pitch and hit the Rams into the state semifinals. He earned first team All-Western New York and Class B All-State honors.

Albion High graduate Carlitos Sanchez helped the Genesee Community College men’s swimming and diving team earn second place honors at the Region 3 championships this weekend.

Sanchez was a member of the winning 200 and 400 Freestlye Relay teams.

He also placed second in the 100 Freestyle and third in the 100 Backstroke.