N-O boys extend reign over G-R

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Bryce Moeller (13) puts the ball up against Nate Nadolinski of Oakfield-Alabama (23) during the Niagara-Orleans’s League victory over the Genesee Region League this evening at Albion.

Coming from behind with a huge second half scoring burst, the Niagara-Orleans League make it seven straight victories over the Genesee Region League by winning the 15th annual Exceptional senior basketball game between the two leagues 96-77 this evening at Albion High.

Trailing 48-40 early in the second half, the N-O put together a key 17-5 scoring burst to rally into the lead for good at 57-53.

Two baskets by Barker’s Jacob Haight, along with one each by Albion’s Connor Barleben and CSAT’s Alex Santos, ignited that uprising. Roy-Hart’s Alex Stoddard followed up with six straight points on two layups and a rebound bucket and Haight capped off the flurry with another layup.

Barker’s Mitchell Luckman then took charge of keeping the N-O on top as he erupted for 12 points including two threes, a layup and four free throws boosting the lead to 76-65.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Garett Love (44) tries to get a rebound from Newfane’s Josh Kneeland (20).

The G-R did close to within four at 79-75 but could get no closer as two buckets by Haight and a three and a jumper by Medina’s Cedric Griffith helped lock up the victory for the N-O which takes an 11-4 lead in the series.

Luckman finished with a game high 18 points as Stoddard and Newfane’s Josh Kneeland both netted 12, Haight 11 and Griffith 10.

The N-O attack also included Santos with 8, Barleben 6, Da’Ron Woods (Roy-Hart) 5, Bryce Moeller (Barker) 4, Ryan Fannin (Albion) 4, Darrell Wesley (CSAT) 2, Kevin Daunce (Wilson) 2 and Hayden Gooding (Barker) 2.

Wheatland-Chili’s Howard McClendon had 15 and Byron-Bergen’s Dajuandrick Gardner 14 to lead the G-R as Zach Kozma (Attica) added 9,Collin Lewis (Pembroke), Hunter Spotta (Oakfield-Alabama) and Austin Cansdale (Pembroke) 8 each, Garett Love (Kendall) 6 and Alex Sutphen (Kendall) 4.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Jacob Haight goes in for a slam dunk.

Spiotta, Kozma and Cansdale each had two threes and Lewis one to help spark the G-R out to a 43-40 half-time advantage.

Kneeland had 8 and Woods and Haight 5 each for the N-O in the first half.

The G-R upped the lead to 48-40 at the outset of the second half on a pair of buckets by Gardner but the N-O answered with the decisive 17-5 scoring surge sparked by Haight, Luckman and Stoddard, to regain the lead for good.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Alex Sutphen scores on a layup.