Photo by Cheryl Wertman – This veteran trio of Charlie Brigham, Charlie Bruning and Blake Halstead will lead Roy-Hart into the upcoming basketball season.

A trio of returning starters leads the way as Roy-Hart preps for the upcoming boys basketball season.

That veteran trio includes seniors Charlie Bruning and Charlie Brigham along with junior Blake Halstead. Brigham, who earned Niagara-Orleans All-League Honorable Mention, scored 227 points (10.3 average) and grabbed off 155 rebounds last season.

The Rams are also looking to seniors Lance Krieger, Quinten Koch and juniors Reid Albee, Austin Garrow and Canyon Wood.

Roy-Hart’s graduation losses included the Rams top two scorers, first team N-O All-League honoree Jacob Bruning and second team selection Noah Kindron.

“We lost some firepower but this team is the most balanced one I’ve had,” said Coach Joe Pawlak. “We look to be very competitive. If everything comes together I think we can be a very good team.”

The Rams will open the season with four non league games before beginning N-O competition at Albion on December 13.

Schedule
November: 30 – at MST Seneca, 6:30 p.m.
December: 4 – at CCA, 6:30 p.m.; 7 – at Southwesterm 7:30 p.m.; 11 – East Aurora, 7 p.m.; 13 – at Albion, 7 p.m.; 21 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 27 and 28 at Batavia Tournament
January: 4 – at Cleve Hill, 6:30 p.m.; 8- at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; 11 – Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 15 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 18 – Barker, 7 p.m.; 25 – Albion, 7 p.m.; 29 – at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
February: 2 – vs. Starpoint at NCCC, 6:30 p.m.; 5 – Medina, 7 p.m.; 7 – at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 12 – Wilson 7, 14 – at Barker, 7 p.m.

Staying perfect at 9-0, the Niagara County Community College women’s basketball team romped to a 93-32 victory over SUNY Broome this evening.

Kenetria Redfern (Cheektowaga) had 30 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals to lead the way for NCCC as Paige Emborsky (Newfane) added 14 points; Cori Dickson (Cardinal O’Hara) 12 points and 5 assists; Aubrey Halloran 11 points and 5 rebounds; Shilah Parker (Cardinal O’Hara) 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals; Caitlynn Snook (Albion) 2 points and 4 rebounds and Ellie Todd (Roy-Hart) 2 points.

Plagued by foul trouble, Kendall dropped a 67-56 decision to visiting Pavilion this evening in a season opening non league boys basketball game.

Kendall, which had two players foul out and four others finish with four fouls, trailed by only three, 54-51, after three quarters but could not gain the lead down the stretch.

Pavilion used a 13-5 fourth period scoring edge, much of it from the free throw line, to lock up the win.

Colby Tillotson scored a game high 24 points and Ryley Elliott added 20 to lead the way for Pavilion.

Nate Warters scored 15, John Rath 12 and Mason Kuhn 10 for Kendall.

Kendall led 17-14 after one period but Pavilion used a 24-16 second period scoring edge to rally into a 38-33 lead at the half.

Kendall did stay within three, 54-51, at the three-quarter mark after late threes by Warters and Derek Edick but the Eagles could not pull even again.

Kendall next visits Notre Dame on December 5 in the Genesee Region League opener.

Barker vs. Alexander ppd.
The Barker at Alexander non league game was postponed as Alexander’s after school activities were cancelled due to the bad weather.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Honesty Little puts up a shot against Alden defenders Shelby Kersten (33) and Grace Pastuszynski (23) during the Purple Eagles season opening win over the visiting Lady Builldogs this evening.

Surviving three ice cold shooting quarters, Albion downed visiting Alden 20-16 this evening in a non league season opening girls basketball game.

Albion jumped out to an 11-3 first quarter lead but managed a total of just 9 more points the rest of the way on three field goals and three free throws.

Albion’s Brylie Hapeman looks to pass around Alden defenders Emerson Bartsch (20) and Allie Petschke (1).

Brylie Hapeman, Sarah Gregori and Lexi Wolck each scored 5 points for Albion as Paige Derisley and Honesty Little both added 2 and Tess Pettit 1.

Shelby Kersten led Alden with 5 points.

A layup and a three by Hapeman along with layups by Gregori, Wolck and Little sparked Albion out to the 11-3 first quarter lead.

However, the lid went on the basket the rest of the way for the Purple Eagles.

Second period field goals by Gregori and Derisley were enough to keep Albion up 15-8 at the half.

A layup by Wolck three minutes into the third quarter proved to be the Purple Eagles only field goal of the period but it was enough to keep Albion up 19-14 at the three-quarter mark.

Alden did cut the deficit to 20-16 early in the final stanza but could not score again as the Purple Eagles held on for the narrow win despite going 0 for 19 from the field in the final stanza.

Albion next visits Elba at 7 p.m. Friday in another non league contest.

Albion’s Paige Derisley drives around Alden’s Haley Tyburski.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Holley-Kendall wrestling squad include, in front, Frank Flynn, Hunter McLean and Dawson Custer. In back are Jayden Pieniaszek, David Farruggia, Eli Stanton, Cade Aina, Erik Balys and Tristyn Moyer.

Bolstered by a good nucleus of over a dozen returning regulars, the Holley-Kendall wrestling squad is prepping to open the season on Saturday as the Hawks host their annual Team Tournament beginning at 10 a.m.

The tournament field will include Lyndonville, Canisius, North Rose-Wolcott, Campbell-Savona and Eastridge along with the host Hawks.

Seniors Cade Aina, Erik Balys. Hunter McLean, Frank Flynn and Eli Stanton head the Hawks veteran contingent which also includes juniors Nate Schoonmaker, Dawson Custer, Tristyn Moyer and Jayden Pieniaszek along with sophomores David Farruggia and Jakob Silpock, freshman Dylan Clemons and eighth grader Jeff Moynihan.

Moyer went 34-10, Aina 34-13, Balys 27-9, Pieniaszek 26-6, McLean 26-13 and Custer 18-8 last year.

“We’ve got a great group of returners the problem is that several of them are bunched up together in the same weight class,” said Coach John Grillo. “If we can spread our veterans out and fill all of the weight classes we could have a good solid team. Wrestling is a tough sport as you have to fill 15 different weight classes. And that is the key for us to be able to fill all the weight classes. ”

Schedule
December: 1 – Holley-Kendall Team Tournament, 10 a.m.; 8 – at Lyndonville Tournament; 11 – at Alexander, 6 p.m.; 13 – Akron, 6 p.m.; 15 – at South Seneca Duals, 9 a.m.; 18 – McQuaid, 6 p.m. at Kendall, 21 – Roy-Hart/Barker, 6 p.m.; 27 – Holley-Kendall Varsity Duals, 10 a.m.
January: 5 – at Caledonia-Mumford Duals, 9 a.m.; 8 – at Byron-Bergen, 6 p.m.; 15 – Lyndonville and St. Mary’s, 5:30 p.m.; 17 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 13 – at Brighton, 6 p.m.; 26 – at Medina Tournament, 9 a.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Lyndonville wrestling team include, in front, Brennon Munn, Chase Stinson and Dillon Burt-Hodgins. In back are Rodney Davis, Mario Fidanza, Hayden Arlington and Avery Wilcox.

A pair of local tournaments will open the season for the Lyndonville varsity wrestling team which has new co-coaches in Joe Suhr and Jim Zeliff.

The Tigers will compete in the Holley Tournament this Saturday and then host the inaugural Fred Large Memorial Lyndonville Tournment on December 8.  The tourney honors the memory of the long-time Lyndonville coach who got the Tigers program going.

Anchoring the Lyndonville lineup is a underclassmen dominated group of veterans including senior Chase Stinson, junior Mario Fidanza and sophomores Rodney Davis, Hayden Arlington, Avery Wilcox, Brennon Munn and Dillon Burt-Hodgins.

“We’ve got a lot of talent,” said Suhr. “I think we’ll surprise some people.”

Schedule
December: 1 – at Holley Tournament; 8 – Lyndonville Tournament; 11 – Byron-Bergen, 6 p.m.; 20 – CSAT, 6 p.m.; 29 – at Akron Tournament.
January: 2 – at Roy-Hart/Barker, 6 p.m.; 3 – Akron, 6 p.m.; 5 – at Cal-Mum Tournament; 8 – Alexander, 6 p.m.; 11 and 12 – at Lockport Tournament; 1-15 – at Holley, 5 p.m.; 1-23 at Pavilion, 6 p.m.; 26 – at Medina Tournament.

Runner-up Legion posted a 46-24 win over Vets Club Monday to pull to within 8 points of Medina Euchre League leader Sacred Heart which dropped a 40-30 decision to JR Wilson.

Sacred Heart is now 345-285 on the season followed by Legion 337-293, JR Wilson 314-316 and Vets Club 264-366.

League competition continues on December 3 with Sacred Heart at JR Wilson and Vets Club at Legion.

Contributed Photo – Nicole Blackburn

Holley’s Nicole Blackburn is on the precipice of her best year of college basketball. In spite of being in constant pain, the 5’10” red shirt senior has gotten the opportunity to experience something no other Mary Baldwin University senior has in 7 years. Winning.

Blackburn’s senior season was cut short last year when she tore her left meniscus just 2 weeks into the official NCAA Basketball season. She thought it might be over as this was the same knee she had her ACL reconstruction done on her freshman season. By the end of December she was back on the court for two contests, but the pain was too much and she was forced to sit out the balance of the games.

The Fighting Squirrels went on to win just 2 games last season to go with the 2 games they won her junior year.

Fast forward to this past Sunday. Now the fighting Squirrels captain Blackburn accepted the “2018 Pride. Spirit. Honor. Tournament” Championship trophy as Mary Baldwin (6-1) swept the tournament and defeated the host team Penn State Harrisburg Lions (4-2) 80-64.

“I’m so excited to be playing a meaningful role on a team that is deep with talent.” she said after the game. Nicole finished the contest with 13 points, 6 rebounds and a steal. “Ultimately I feel this team could be looking at a chance to play in the Div. III NCAA Tournament.” she added.

But it’s not just the team looking to make history. Blackburn is on pace to finish her career in the top all-time in rebounding for her school. An accomplishment she hopes one day will land her in Holley’s “Wall of Fame.”

Blackburn and the Fighting Squirrels start Conference play November 30th at Salem University.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s large veteran contingent includes, in front, Myles Brewer, Ryan Grandy, Cody Wilson and Mahki Rivera. In back are Ugene Harrison, Chase Carleton, Mitchell Knaak, Addison Christ, Jessy Cruz and Ben Restivo. Missing from the photo is Donamic Farley.

Anchored by the return of nearly a dozen regulars, Albion is taking aim at ending a 15 year long league wrestling championship drought as the Purple Eagles begin the quest for a Niagara-Orleans title at Akron on Wednesday (6 p.m.)

“We have high expectations,” said Coach Pat Uveino of his large 44 member squad. “We’ve got a lot of key returners and a lot of good young guys so we’re looking to build from what we had last year.”

Albion, which last claimed the N-O crown during the 2003-04 season, went 3-2 in N-O dual meet competition finishing behind champion Newfane (5-0) and runner-up Akron (4-1).

A quartet of All-League meet place finishers including Ben Restivo (2nd place), Jessy Cruz (3rd), Donamic Farley (3rd) and Ugene Harrison (3rd), all seniors, head Albion’s veteran contingent  which also includes seniors Myles Brewer, Ryan Grandy, Mitchell Knaak and Addison Christ along with juniors Cody Wilson, Mahki Rivera and Chase Carleton.

Restivo, who went 35-8, also placed third at the Class Tournament and fourth at the sectionals. Farley went 31-12, Wilson 28-10 and Cruz 24-16. The each placed fourth at the class tournament.

The Purple Eagles graduation losses include N-O champion Preston Flugel along with third place finishers Hunter Albright and Tim Wells.

Schedule:
November: – 28: at Akron, 6 p.m.
December: 1 – at Byron-Bergen Tournament, 9 a.m.; 5 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 8 – at St. Mary’s Tournament, 9 a.m.; 12 – at Medina, 6 p.m.; 14 – at Alexander, 6 p.m; 19 – Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.; 21 – Byron-Bergen, 6 p.m.; 29 – at Akron Tournament, 8:45 a.m.
January: 5 – at Alexander Tournament, 9 a.m.; 9 – Newfane, 6 p.m.; 12 – N-O All-League Tournament, 19 – at Lancaster Tourament, 9 a.m.; 26 – at Medina Tournament, 9 a.m.