Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brian Fry goes up for a layup against Buffalo Academy of Science defender Sean Johnson during the Mustangs season opening win over the visiting Wolverines this evening.

It took a late scoring burst to lock up the win as Medina downed edged visiting Buffalo Academy of Science 69-61 in a non league boys basketball opener this evening.

Leading by a narrow one point, 58-57, margin with 2:35 remaining, Medina put together a key 8-0 run to help clinch the win.

Nate Sherman had two layups and Izaiah Rhim a layup and a rebound bucket during that stretch which upped the Mustangs lead to 66-57.

A three by Wayne Vote did help the Wolverines cut the deficit to 66-61 but Jarin Rhim answered right back with a timely three-point play off a turnover for a 69-61 lead with eight seconds to go to put a lock on the victory.

Nate Sherman puts up a shot for Medina as Juyar Jones tries for the block for the Wolverines.

Izaiah Rhim finished with 21, Sherman 18, Tyler Chinn 11, Brian Fry 10, Jarin Rhim 7 and Vincent Montague 2 for the Mustangs.

The Wolverines, which went the entire game with an iron man five, had Ibanhim Osmani with 21, Sean Johnson 20 and Vote 18.

Down 15-12 after the opening period, Medina rallied into a 20-15 lead by opening the second stanza with an 8-0 run on two layups by Fry, one by Izaiah Rhim and a jumper by Chinn.

However, the Wolversines answered with a 12-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes by Vote, and went on to hold a 27-23 lead at the half.

Medina though regained the lead for good by outscoring Science 21-10 in the third period.

Izaiah Rhim and Sherman both had 8 points and Jarin Rhim 4 during that stretch as the Mustangs took a 44-37 lead at the three-quarter mark.

The Wolverines though stayed close cutting the deficit to just one, 58-57, with 2:35 remaining after back-to-back threes by Osmani.

However, Medina turned back the challenge closing with an 11-4 run to claim the victory.

Izaiah Rhim and Sherman again both scored 8 to lead Medina down the stretch.

The Mustangs next visit Kenmore East on Monday in another non league game.

MST Seneca 71, Roy-Hart 40
Roaring out to a 32-13 half-time advantage, host MST Seneca went on to defeat Roy-Hart 71-40 in a non league game.

Charlie Brigham scored 10 and Reed Albee 7 for Roy-Hart.

Two Roy-Hart seniors, quarterback Charlie Brigham and lineman Ian Whitford have earned Honorable Mention on the C North Division All-Star football squad.

Wilson has placed four players on the first team including senior quarterback Steve Frerichs, junior tight end Declan Faery, senior wide receiver Marcel Wilson and junior linebacker Drew Westmoreland. Frerichs was named the division’s Co-Player of the Year.

The Lakemen also have four second team selections in senior offensive lineman Aaron Horvath, sophomore offensive lineman Ben Mahar, sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Dispenza and junior defensive back Brayden Dunlap.

Wilson’s quintet of senior Andrew Hadsell, juniors Mitch Mahar, Robert Atlas, Marc Dolyk and Brayden Thompson all received Honorable Mention.

Akron has three first team honorees in senior quarterback Brandon Orr along with senior defensive linemen Timothy Longwell and Millard Young.

The Tigers second team selections include sophomore running back Andy Mietz, senior offensive lineman Carter Jensen, senior linebacker David Kalinowski and junior linebacker Nick Wood.

Akron also had junior Brian Covell and sophomore Mitch Dugan receive Honorable Mention.

Newfane has placed three players on the first team of the B3 Division All-Star squad including junior running back Jayden Heers, senior wide receiver Reese Casinelli and senior defensive lineman Jonah Wisniewski.

The Panthers also have three second team honorees including senior quarterback Shayne Harrington, senior offensive lineman Ty Casinelli and junior wide receiver Josh Everett.

Newfane’s trio of senior Zach Aniolowski and juniors Chance Caccamise and Garrett Srock all earned Honorable Mention.

Rallying from an 11 point half-time deficit, Albion came battling back to outscore host Tonawanda 39-25 in the second half to claim a narrow 64-61 victory this evening in the Purple Eagles non league boys basketball season opener.

Trailing 36-25 at the half, Albion got back into the game by outscoring Tonawanda 19-11 in the third period.  Deyonci Farley scored 7, Bryce Pritchard 6 and Xavier Cornick 4 to lead that surge which rallied the Purple Eagles to within three, 47-44, at the three-quarter mark.

Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles then outpointed the Warriors 20-14 in the decisive final period to claim the three point win.

Farley, who scored 8 in the stanza, tallied on a layup off a pass  from Xavier Cornick to put Albion on top to stay at 62-61. Free throws by Cornick and Kevin Hillman then capped off the Purple Eagles big comeback.

“It was a nice comeback win. They really showed a lot of composure down the stretch,” said Albion Coach Dave Kozar. “I’m really proud of them. They showed the kind of passion it takes to win in a game like that. Last year we had trouble finishing in some close games like that so they’ve grown a bit since last year.”

Farley finished with a game high 30 points as Pritchard added 11, Michael DiCureia 8, Cornick 7, Vincent Zona 5 and Hillman 3.

Trevin Boling led the Warriors with 23.

Albion next hosts Lyndonville in another non league game at 7 p.m. on December 5.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading the Roy-Hart swim teams into the up coming season will be these team captains. In front are Jenna Heiser, Jordyn Bobzien and Kayla Hagen. In back are Jacob Fritton and Michael Miller.

Last season the Roy-Hart girls swim team ended a long 24 year title drought by sharing the Niagara-Orleans League championship with Akron at 9-1.

Now Roy-Hart is looking to a solid veteran nucleus to lead a strong run to retain that title.

Junior Kayla Hagen, who won both the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke at the All-League meet, and freshman Amanda Hill, who doubled in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly, head that veteran contingent which also includes junior Madison Ohol (second in the 200 and 500 Freestyle) and senior Holly DiMayo (second in the 100 Breaststroke).

Hagen, Hill and senior Jenna Heiser were also all members of the winning 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle Relay teams. DiMayo was also on the 200 Medley Relay and Ohol completed the 400 Free Relay quartet.

Hagen, Heiser and junior Jordyn Bobzien are serving as team captains.

“We’ve got good talent,” said Coach Dottie Barr whose charges claimed the N-O crown for the first time since the 1993-94 season. “I’m looking for an exciting season.”

The Roy-Hart lineup’s upperclassmen returnees also includes seniors Alexandra Fox, Emilia Peracciny, Madison Pratt and Colleen Ulrich along with juniors  Shayna Bulmer, Sophia DiCense, Kennedy Lang, Anna Rickard, Sarah Sornberger and Sandra Sparks.

The Roy-Hart boys squad, which is looking to improve upon last year’s 3-7 N-O campaign, is led by co-captains, senior Jacob Fritton and junior Michael Miller.

The Channel Cats upper classmen also includes seniors Cameron VanBuren and Adrian Walker along with juniors Aaron Bacon, Andrew Corser, Ozzy Moore, Jacob Palmer, Joshua Rastelli, William Rickard, Brendan Saia and Matthew Scott.

Rickard placed second in the 100 Freestyle and third in the 50 Freestyle at the All-League meet.

Roy-Hart will open the N-O season at Barker on December 11 after tuning up with a pair of non league meets against Genesee Region League opponents.

Schedule
November: 30 – at HAC, 5:30 p.m.
December: 7 – Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – at Albion, 4:15 p.m.; 18 – Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 20 – Medina, 4:30 p.m.
January: 3 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 5 – Barker, 10 a.m.; 8 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.; 10 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – at Medina, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 23 – Boys All-League meet at Akron, 5:30 p.m.; 25 – Girls All-League meet at Newfane, 5:30 p.m.
February: 1 – Girls N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Barker swim teams include, in front, Chloe Goodlander, Paige Sandolfini and Shelby Ewald. In back are William Goodlander, Natalie Bruning, Ryan Santarsiero and Alex Jenks.

Looking to fill some holes caused by key graduation losses, the Barker boys swim team is prepping to defend its Niagara-Orleans League title.

The Raiders, which shared the N-O crown with Albion last year at 9-1, have lost Collin Webb, who won both the 50 and 100 Freestyle events at the All-League meet, and Andrew Jenks, who doubled in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly, to graduation.

Barker’s veteran group includes senior Dominic Clementi, junior Alex Jenks, sophomore William Goodlander and freshman Ryan Santarsiere.

The Barker girls squad, which went 3-7, also lost a couple of key swimmers to graduation in Sara Gendrue, who won the 100 Breaststroke and placed second in the 200 Individual medley and Natalie Menz, who took second in the 50 Freestyle.

The Lady Raiders returning veterans include seniors Paige Sandolfini, Shelby Ewald and Chloe Goodlander and sophomore Natalie Bruning.

Barker will open the N-O season at home on December 11 against Roy-Hart after tuning up with a pair of non league meets against Genesee Region League foes.

Schedule
November: 30 – at Alexander, 5:30 p.m.
December: 7 – Attica, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – Roy-Hart ,4:30 p.m.; 13 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – at Albion, 4:30 p.m.; 20 – Akron ,4:45 pm.
January: 3 – Medina, 4:30 p.m.; 5 – at Roy-Hart, 10 a.m.; 8 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 10 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – at Medina, 4:30 p.m.; 23 – Boys All-League meet at Akron, 5:30 p.m.; 25 – Girls All-League meet at Newfane, 5:30 p.m.
February: 1 – Girls N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina swim teams include, in front, Tessa Pecoraro, Brooklyn Brown, Becca Lunden, Hannah Heil and Ashton Laird. In back are Chris Goyette, Ray Paull, Dawson Brown and Hunter Heil.

Rival Albion will provide the opposition when the Medina swim teams begin Niagara-Orleans League competition at home on December 11.

The Seahorses will begin tuning up for the N-O campaign by visiting Byron-Bergen in a non league meet on Friday.

Senior Ray Paull, who placed second in the 100 Breaststroke and junior Hunter Heil who was third in the 100 Butterfly at the All-League meet, lead the way for the boys squad when went 6-4 in N-O competition last season.

The Seahorses underclassmen dominated lineup also includes senior Dawson Brown; juniors Chris Goyette and Lincoln Pace; sophomores Jaden Pencille, August Petrafesa and Andrew Weber; freshmen Ben Griffin, Xander Payne, Isaac Pace, Jaxon Phillips and Cole Seefeldt and eight graders Austin Tomkins and Gabe Mark.

Freshman Mike Marker is also swimming as a team of one for Lyndonville.

Junior Hannah Heil, who won the 50 Freestyle and placed second in the 100 Free at the All-League meet, heads the girls equally underclassmen dominated squad.

The Seahorses team, which went 3-7 last year, also includes seniors Ashton Laird, Margaret Griffin and Becca Lunden; juniors Olivia Carter, Grace Cook, Margaret Klotzbach, and Tessa Pecoraro; sophomores Dakota Alexander, Brooklyn Brown, Grace Cogovan, Corinne Hill, Hannah Kenward, Carina Kingsbury, Emma Roush, Emma Schwarzott, Madison Stewart, Sydney Watts and Amanda Woodruff; freshman Kaylee Lacey and eighth grader Madelynn Satkowski.

Schedule
November: 30 – at Byron-Bergen, 5:30 p.m.
December: 7 – Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – Albion, 4 p.m.; 14 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 20 – at Roy-Hart ,4:30 p.m.
January: 3 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 5 – at Albion, 10 a.m.; 8 – Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 10 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – Barker, 4:30 p.m; 23 – Boys All-League meet at Akron, 5:30 p.m.; 25 – Girls All-League meet at Newfane, 5:30 p.m.
February: 1 – Girls N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Olivia Radford drives against Kendall defender Lizzie Sutphen during the Lady Hawks overtime tournament win over the host Lady Eagles this evening.

Lyndonville and Holley both scored narrow wins in the opening round of the Kendall girls basketball tournament this evening.

Lyndonville edged past Barker 34-30 in the opener and then Holley snapped a multi year long winless streak by besting rival Kendall 31-25 in overtime.

The victories also made successful debuts for new coaches Kate Draper at Lyndonville and Sal DeLuca at Holley.

Barker will now face Kendall in the consolation game at 2 p.m. Saturday followed by Holley vs. Lyndonville in the championship contest.

Lyndonville’s Alecia Hinkson tries a reverse layup against Barker defender Sydnie Luckman.

Lyndonville 34, Barker 30
Breaking away from a 26-26 deadlock, Lyndonville outscored Barker 8-4 from the foul line over the last three and a half minutes to claim the narrow win.

Alecia Hinkson made 4 free throws, Savannah Poler 2 and Grace Hayes and Kaylee Nesbitt 1 each for Lyndonville during that stretch while Serena Harris had all 4 of Barker’s free throws to keep the Lady Raiders in the contest.

Hinkson scored 9 of her game high 15 points in the decisive final period. Poler finished with 8, Anna Lewis 4, Nesbitt and Ella Lewis 3 and Hayes 1.

Harris led Barker with 12 points as Gabby Baker and Sydnie Luckman both added 8 and Kylie Annable 2.

Leading 12-9 at the half, Lyndonville extended its advantage to 7, 18-11, early in the third period after two baskets by Hinkson and one by Poler.

Barker though answered with an 8-0 run, including a three and a two by Baker and a layup by Luckman, to take the lead for the first time at 19-18. Another basket by Luckman kept the Lady Raiders up by one, 21-20, at the three-quarter mark.

A three and a two by Hinkson helped Lyndonville regain a 25-21 lead at the outset of the final period.

Barker though answered with a three by Harris and a free throw by Baker to retie the contest at 26-26 with 3:26 to go.

Holley’s Madison Marsh and Kendall’s Kaitlyn Gregory battle for a rebound.

The rest of the scoring all came from the free throw line as Lyndonville’s 8-4 advantage earned the Lady Tigers the win.

Holley 31, Kendall 25 OT
A three at the outset of the four minute overtime period by Olivia Radford put Holley on top to stay. Two free throws by Radford followed by one each by Julia Smith and Halee Passarell then locked up the Lady Hawks big win over rival Kendall.

Radford finished with a game high 15 points as Madison Marsh added 6, Smith 5, Passarell 3 and Sarah Klatt 2.

Brittney Marks, Jenna Regan and Elizabeth Snyder each had 6 for Kendall as Katie Pearson added 4, Alezya Brown 2 and Kaitlyn Gregory 1.

Pearson sent the contest into overtime when her two clutch free throws with 13 seconds to go knotted the contest at 24-24.

Holley also got off to a fast start taking a 9-0 lead at the end of the first period as Radford had a three and a two and Klatt and Smith baskets.

Kendall though rebounded with a 9-2 second period scoring edge, including baskets by Marks, Pearson and Snyder, to cut the deficit to 11-9 at the half.

Keeping the momentum, Kendall then outscored Holley 9-3 in the third period to rally into a 18-14 lead at the three-quarter mark. Marks, Brown, Regan and Snyder all chipped in with baskets during that stretch.

Holley though answered back with s 7-0 run to open the final period, capped off by a layup by Passarell to regain the lead at 21-18.

The lead then changed hands two more times before Pearson’s two free throws retied the contest at 24-24 forcing the overtime period in which the Lady Hawks outscored the Lady Eagles 7-1 to claim the win.

Barker’s Gabby Baker puts up a shot as Alecia Hinkson, Jenahlee Reimer and Savannah Poler defend for Lyndonville. Serena Harris moves in on the play for the Lady Raiders.

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Akron downed visiting Albion 49-36 and defending champion Newfane bested visiting Medina 75-12 this evening in Niagara-Orleans League wrestling openers.

Ben Restivo, Jessy Cruz, Amilcar Morales, Zach Albright and Cameron Bell all registered pins for Albion as did Colby Petrie and Riley Black for Medina.

In the other opener, Wilson defeated host Roy-Hart/Barker 42-36. Josh Haley, Colby Hancock, Zach Hill and Mikey Burrows all had pins for R-H/Barker which also got decision wins from Jamyson Crafts, AJ Schafer and Karson Grover.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the defending co-champion Albion boys swim team include, in front, Isaac Coppini, Josh Manning, Matt Kovaleski, Ryan Krenning and Harrison Brown. In back are Thomas Furmanski, Devin Olles, Sam Sanchez, Zach Kilner, Chase Froman, Ben Hickman, Cameron Ecker and Jacob Coolbaugh.

Last season, Albion ended a 12 year title drought by sharing the Niagara-Orleans League boys swim championship with Barker at 9-1. Now, with over a dozen veterans returning from that squad, the Purple Eagles are looking to make a strong run at retaining the title.

Albion’s veteran contingent includes seniors Harrison Brown, Matt Kovaleski, and Devin Olles; juniors Josh Manning, Ryan Krenning, Isaac Coppini, Thomas Furmanski, Sam Sanchez, Chase Froman  and Cameron Ecker along with sophomores Ben Hickman, Zach Kilner and Jacob Coolbaugh.

Leading the Albion girls swim team will be veterans Amelia Sanchez, Laiken Ricker, Michaela Pantano and Avery Gaines. 

Kovaleski won the 100 Breaststroke at the All-League meet while Sanchez placed second in the 100 Butterfly as did Furmanski in the 100 Backstroke. Kovaleski, Sanchez and Brown were also all on the winning 400 Freestyle Relay team.

The Albion girls squad, which is looking to rebound from an 0-10 N-O season, is led by the veteran quartet of juniors Michaela Pantano and Laiken Ricker along with sophomores Avery Gaines and Amelia Sanchez. Pantano placed second in the 100 Butterfly at the All-League meet.

After tuning up with a pair of non league meets against Genesee Region League foes Albion will begin N-O competition at Medina on December 11.

Schedule
November: 30 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 5:30 p.m.
December: 7 – Alexander, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – at Medina, 4 p.m.; 13 – Roy-Hart, 4:15 p.m.; 18 – Barker, 4:30 pm.; 21 – Newfane,5 p.m.
January: 3 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 5 – Medina, 10 a.m.; 8 – at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.; 10 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 23 – Boys All-League meet at Akron, 5:30 p.m.; 25 – Girls All-League meet at Newfane, 5:30 p.m.
February: 1 – Girls N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.