Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Carlos Doval puts up a shot during the Mustangs win over visiting Tonawanda this evening.

Ten players contributed to the point production as Medina romped to a lopsided 65-26 victory over visiting Tonawanda this evening in a non league boys basketball game.

Preston Woodworth scored 13, Jerrell Nealy 12 and Jimmy Dieter 11 to lead the Mustangs balanced attack which also included Carlos Doval with 8, Jayzon Wills and Avion Johnson 5 each, Christian Moss 4, Bryan Santiago Bautista 2 and Hadrian Batista and Vinny Gray with 2 each.

Chase Smith led the Timberwolves with 9.

Setting the tone for the evening, Medina jumped out to a 16 point, 22-6, first quarter lead as Woodworth scored 7 and Nealy 5 with each including a three.

The Mustangs boosted the lead to 29, 39-10, at the half as Nealy, Woodworth and Santiago Bautista all hit threes in the second period.

Medina led by 37, 58-21, at the end of the third period which saw Doval, Woodworth and Johnson all hit threes.

Improving to 9-0, Medina next faces a key battle for the Niagara-Orleans League lead at Wilson at 6 p.m. Friday. The Lakemen are 3-0 and the Mustangs 2-0 in N-O action.

Kendall posted a 68-49 victory over Byron-Bergen this evening to improve to 3-1 in Genesee Region League boys basketball action.

Vinnie D’Agostino and CJ D’Agostino both scored 15, Sammy Conte 13 and Jonny Conte 11 to pace Kendall which led 38-33 at the half and 53-29 at the end of the third quarter.

Joel Lamb scored 14, Cody Carlson 12 and Andre White 10 to lead Byron-Bergen.

Attica 72, Lyndonville 56
Lane Woodworth scored 22, including four three’s, to lead Lyndonville in the 72-56 G-R loss at Attica.

Colton Smith added 10,Atticus Mank 9, Quincy McClinsey 6, Devon Babcock 5 and Lyric Raduns 4 for the Tigers.

Elba 74, Holley 38
Cam Mosier scored 10 and Josh Silpoch 8 for Holley in the 74-38 G-R loss at Elba.

Albion bested visiting Barker 48-29 this evening to improve to 3-0 in Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball action.

Aaliyah Jones scored 13, Leah Pawlak 12, Melia Prince 11 and Jocelyn Friedl 10 to lead the balanced attack for Albion. Friedl also grabbed off 18 rebounds and Prince 14.

Elise Monaco scored 14 and Hailey Dodge 6 to lead Barker.

Wilson 58, Roy-Hart 20
Defending champion Wilson likewise improved to 3-0 with a 58-20 win over visiting Roy-Hart.

Abbie Faery scored 11 and Bella Thrush 10 to lead Wilson.

Adella Dukes scored 7 and Courtney Aquilina 5 for Roy-Hart.

Akron 80, Newfane 34
Building up a 34-18 half-time advantage, Akron then used a big 27-7 third period scoring surge to lock up an 80-34 win over visiting Newfane.

Akron is now 1-1 and Newfane 0-3 in N-O action.

Alexander 50, Holley 38.
Alexander topped Holley 50-38 in a Genesee Region League game.

Alexis VanAmeron had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals; Brynn Thomas 9 points and 5 steals and Hanna Ostrom 8 points for Holley.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson’s Aidan Neumann drives in for a shot as Isaac Smith defends for Roy-Hart. The action took place during the Lakemen’s win over the host Rams this evening.

Taking charge in the second quarter, front running Wilson went on to down host Roy-Hart 66-45 this evening to improve to 3-0 in Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball competition.

Leading by a narrow 13-12 margin at the end of the opening period, Wilson put together a big 21-9 second quarter scoring surge to open up a 34-21 half-time advantage.

Ryan Hough scored 6 and Aidan Neumann and Shamus George each tallied 5 to lead that uprising by the Lakemen.

Wilson maintained a 16 point, 46-30, lead at the end of the third quarter which was highlighted by threes by Neumann and Brock Lepsch.

The Lakemen led by as many as 31, 61-30, after opening the final period with a 15-0 run. Chase Martin hit two threes, Neumann one and Hough added his second slam dunk of the evening to highlight that uprising.

Neumann finished with 19, Martin 14, Hough 13 and George 10.

Matt Aquilina scored 16 and Vinny Fazzio 11 for Roy-Hart which is now 0-2 in N-O action.

Barker 71, Albion 69
Barker nipped visiting Albion 71-69 leaving both teams at 1-2 in N-O competition.

Two free throws by Anthony Taliaferro and one by Caden Garcia provided the decisive final three points for Barker.

Taliaferro finished with 22 as Carter DerSarkissian had 19, JJ Prynn 9 and Donovan Hefferon 7 for the Bulldogs.

Elijah Doxey took game high honors for Albion with 37 as Wesley Olles and Tyler Cody both had 10.

Newfane 59, Akron 44
In the other N-O contest, Newfane (1-2) upended visiting Akron (1-1) 59-44.

Vinny Fazzio puts up a shot for Roy-Hart.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jonathan Dix heads toward a win in the 100 Butterfly during the Seahorses win over visiting Albion today. Dix also won the 200 Individual Medley.

Medina scored a sweep over visiting Albion in a Niagara-Orleans League swim meet this evening.

The Seahorses won the boys’ meet 85-65 and the girls’ competition 81-70.

Jonathan Dix doubled in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly as did Bryson Ford in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke to lead the Medina boys squad as Timothy Zeiner took the 200 Free and Bradley Goyette the 500 Free.

Justin Kania won the 100 Free and Logan Kast the 100 Breaststroke for the Albion boys.

The Medina boys are now 2-1 Albion 1-3.

Lily Hungerford was a double winner for the Medina girls in the Butterfly and Backstroke as Madeline Mark took the 500 Free.

The Albion girls had a pair of individual event double winners as Keira Sidari took the Individual Medley and the 100 Free and Anna Grillo the 50 Free and Breaststroke.  Aubrey Bruning added a win in the 200 Free.

The Medina girls are now 1-2 and Albion 0-4.

Albion’s Keira Sidari in route to a win in the 200 Individual Medley. She also captured the 100 Freestyle.

Newfane vs. Akron
The defending champion Newfane boys improved to 3-0 by downing Akron 98-42 as Dylan Lamont doubled in the IM and Fly, Eli Kneeland in the 50 Free and 500 Free and Noah Kneeland in the 200 Free and Breaststroke.

The Newfane and Akron girls battled to an 83-83 tie.

Brooke Milhollen doubled in the 200 Free and Backstroke and Charolette Carlson in the IM and 500 Free for the Akron girls.

Newfane had Eden Hillman double in the 50 Free and 100 Free.

In a double overtime thriller, Medina nipped host Eden 56-54 in a non league game this evening to improve to 8-0 on the season.

Medina sent the contest into overtime deadlocked at 41-41 as Christian Moss blocked a shot at the buzzer.

Each team scored six in the first overtime to keep the contest knotted at 47-47.

The Mustangs then made a narrow 9-7 scoring edge in the second OT be just enough for the victory.

Jerrell Nealy scored the game winning basket and tacked on a free throw with six seconds remaining to snap a 53-53 deadlock.

Avion Johnson scored 7 and Nealy 5 for the Mustangs in the two overtime periods.

Johnson finished with a total of 15 and Nealy 14 as Preston Woodworth added 10, Moss 6, Jayzon Wills 5, Carlos Doval 4 and Jimmy Dieter 2.

Isiah Nellis scored 23 and Kobe Genco 19 for Eden.

Medina next hosts Tonawanda at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in another non league contest.

Pulling away down the stretch, Albion defeated Newfane 43-29 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening at Newfane.

Leading by a narrow 28-26 margin at the end of the third period, Albion put together a big 15-3 fourth quarter scoring edge to lock up the victory.

Madison Muckle had two threes and Melia Prince two baskets to lead the late surge for the Purple Eagles which also included baskets by Aailyah Jones and Jocelyn Friedl.

Jones finished with a game high 14 and Leah Pawlak 11 as Prince and Muckle both added 6, Semaj Miller 3, Friedl 2 and Brianna Lewis 1.

Emma Johnston scored 9, Julia Noonan 8 and Taylor Kempton 7 to lead Newfane.

Albion held narrow leads of 19-17 at the half and 28-26 at the three-quarter mark.

Jones hit two threes and Miller one in the second quarter. Pawlak then scored seven points, including a three, in the third period.

Albion is now 2-0 and Newfane 0-2 in N-O action.

The Purple Eagles next host Barker and the Lady Panthers visit Akron on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Sweet Home 48, Medina 31
Jumping out to an 11-0 lead at the outset, Sweet Home went on to down visiting Medina 48-31 in a non league contest.

Sweet Home led 14-5 at the end of the first quarter, 30-13 at the half and 38-22 after three quarters.

Caliyah St. Louis scored 19 and Alexa Demmer 8 for Medina.

Contributed Photo – Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy wrestlers earned third place honors as a team at this weekend’s George Perry Invitstional Tournament. They include Romen Allport, Ayden Porter, Cam Eckerd, Nate Lutes, Kyle Lutes, Matthew Colmenero, Zaya Ellis, Trey Ellis and Harrison Froman.

The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy has been busy over the last month and into the holiday season competing in five tournaments since the beginning of the season.

This weekend they competed at the George West Perry Invitational where they had 10 wrestlers place, five reached the top of the podium, and that helped the team reach a third place finish.

Here are the results for all PEWA team members:

George West Perry Invitational (Jan.4)
Harrison Froman (1st), Matthew Colmenero (1st), Kyle Lutes (1st), Nathan Lutes (1st), Romen Allport (1st), Trey Ellis (2nd), Ayden Porter (2nd), Zaya Ellis (3rd), Cam Eckerd (3rd), Major Dixon (4th).

Lou Lombardo Greece Tournament (Dec. 28)
Ayden Porter (1st), Cam Eckerd (1st), Lucas Ruggles (2nd), Grayson Buffin (3rd).

Battle of the Thrones Coronation Day (Dec. 28)
Trey Ellis (1st), Colton Moreland, (1st), Harrison Froman (2nd), Romen Allport (3rd), Royce Rotthoff (3rd), Elizabeth Colmenero (3rd), Mason Rotthoff (4th), Lucas Rotthoff (5th), Matthew Colmenero (5th), Major Dixon (5th).

Corning Youth Tournament (Dec. 21)
Colt Tumia (1st)

Battle in the Ville (Dec. 13)
Harrison Froman (1st), Romen Allport (1st), Mason Rotthoff (1st), Colton Moreland (1st), Harrison Joy (1st), Luke Joy (1st), Owen Whiting (1st), Matthew Colmenero (2nd), Cam Eckerd (2nd), Lucas Rotthoff (2nd), Kyle Schomske (2nd), Major Dixon (2nd), Jai’heem Drisdom (2nd), Lucas Ruggles (2nd), Trey Ellis (2nd), Jai’kiah Drisdom (3rd), Jaxon Francis (3rd), Zaya Ellis (3rd), Colt Tumia (3rd), Xavier Weis (4th), Kairo Bennett (4th), Ryan Coots 4th, Gunner Jackson (4th), Grayson Buffin (4th), Royce Rotthoff (5th).

Today’s final regular season Buffalo Bills game at Highmark Stadium also brings an end to an era of area high school football as the Section VI playoffs have been held at the stadium since 1979 (except for the Covid season).

The Albion and Medina football teams have played a good number of sectional championship games at the stadium. In fact, the two teams took turns playing in each of the first five games at what was then called Rich Stadium, all of which were victories for the Purple Eagles and Mustangs.

This scribe has enjoyed covering all of the local title games from the sideline at the stadium. The following are a few photos from some of those memorable contests. As a sidenote, this scribe also enjoyed being at the Bills inaugural game at the stadium in 1973, a preseason contest against the Washington Redskins.

File Photos – Albion in fact had the distinction of playing  in the inaugural sectional title game in 1979 as the Purple Eagles nipped Springville 13-12. Dan Monacelli, shown here picking up yardage during the game, scored all of Albion’s points. The Purple Eagles also scored title game victories over Frewsburg (49-14) in 1981, Silver Creek (35-6) in 1983 and Salamanca (15-8) in 1987.

Medina also made a very successful stadium debut in 1980 defeating Silver Creek 20-14 led by running back Eddie Bloom who is shown here in action during the game. The Mustangs also posted a title win over Cassadaga Valley (26-7) in 1982 led by running back Dave Fluellen.

The Medina – Albion rivalry was also showcased on Western New York’s biggest stage at the stadium in 1988 as the Mustangs edged the  Purple Eagles 14-7. The Mustangs were led by running back Jim Snyder, shown here, who scored both touchdowns.

Most recently Medina scored a very snowy victory over Fredonia (58-6) in the 2021 stadium title contest. Here quarterback Xander Payne hands off to Noah Skinner early in the game when the snow came down the hardest.

Weekly Schedule
Monday
Boys Basketball – Medina at Eden, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Medina at Sweet Home, 5 p.m.; Albion at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Albion at Barker, 6 p.m.; Wilson at Roy-Hart, Akron at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Attica, Holley at Elba, Kendall at Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Roy-Hart at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Barker at Albion, Newfane at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Alexander at Holley, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Albion at Medina, Akron at Newfane, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Boys Basketball – Tonawanda at Medina, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Attica at Lyndonville, Elba at Holley, Kendall at Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Medina at Roy-Hart/Barker, Newfane at Albion, Wilson at Akron, Holley-Kendall at Lyndonville, 6 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball – Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, Elba at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Medina at Akron, Newfane at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.
Wrestling – Holley-Kendall at Medina, 6 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball – Medina at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Albion, Barker at Akron, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Wilson at Medina, 5 p.m.; Albion at Roy-Hart, Akron at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; Byron-Bergen at Lyndonville

Saturday
Boys Basketball – Lima Christian at Lyndonville, 1 p.m.; Dansville at Holley, 3:30 p.m.
Swimming– Roy-Hart/Barker at Akron, 10 a.m.
Wrestling – Albion at Eastern States; Lyndonville at Cal-Mum Duals; Holley-Kendall at Pavilion Tourney

N-O Standings
Boys Basketball: Wilson 2-0, Medina 2-0, Akron 1-0, Albion 1-1, Roy-Hart 0-1, Barker 0-2, Newfane 0-2
Girls Basketball: Wilson 2-0, Albion 1-0, Roy-Hart 1-0, Medina 1-1, Akron 0-1, Newfane 0-1, Barker 0-2
Boys Swimming: Newfane 2-0, Akron 1-0, Medina 1-1, Albion 1-2, Roy-Hart/Barker 0-2
Girls Swimming: Roy-Hart/Barker 2-0, Newfane 2-0, Akron 1-0, Medina 0-2, Albion 0-3
Wrestling: Newfane 2-0, Akron 2-0, Roy-Hart/Barker 2-1, Albion 1-2, Wilson 1-2, Medina 0-3