N-O girls basketball season to tip off Friday

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Sydnie Luckman, left, Roy-Hart’s Shelby Wolf and Albion’s Honesty Little, will help lead their teams into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season which is scheduled to tip off Friday.

Defending champion Wilson will visit Roy-Hart to highlight this coming Friday evening’s slate of season opening Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball games.

The other openers will have Newfane at Albion and Medina at Barker as Akron draws the bye.

Ironically for Albion the opener will come exactly one year to the day since the Purple Eagles played their last regular season game.

Wilson, which went 12-0 last season to claim the N-O title for the ninth time in the last 10 years, lost three first team N-O All-League honorees – Skylar Munnikhuysen, Izzy Dinse and Anna Frerichs – to graduation. The Lakewomen are led by the senior duo of Meg Musall and Isabella Lemke who both received N-O All-League Honorable Mention.

Roy-Hart, which is looking to improve upon last year’s 4-8 record, is led by senior Shelby Wolf, a second team N-O All-Leauge selection, and senior Rileigh McCabe who earned All-League Honorable Mention, Wolf scored 218 points and grabbed off 193 rebounds and McCabe had 160 pouts and 160 rebounds.

The Rams veteran laden lineup also includes seniors Miah Glena, Mya Quinn, Renee Lehman and Carnela Huntington along with juniors Kara Choate, Ava Owens, Ryan Hiller and Claire Halstead.

“We’re just excited to be back,” said Coach Grace Swick.

Senior Honesty Little, who earned second team All-League honors last year, heads Albion’s veteran group which also includes juniors Aly Knaak, Sydney Mulka and Aurora Serafin and sophomore Ryan Olles. Knaak and Olles both earned All-League Honorable Mention. The Purple Eagles are also bolstered by the return of junior Abby Scanlan who didn’t play last year.

“We’re just thankful to be able to play,” said Coach Lucian Price.

Albion’s graduation losses included All-League squad honorees Paige Derisley and Kendall Derisley.

Senior Rachel Chunco, who earned second team All-League honors ,along with Honorable Mention selections Hannah Hambruch and Marah Sheehan, both seniors, anchor the lineup for Newfane which finished in the runner-up spot last year at 9-3..

Senior Sydnie Luckman, a first team All-League honoree, heads the lineup for Barker which went 4-8 last season. The Lady Raiders also have seniors Natalie Bruning, Sarah Outten, Chloe Lee,. Nya Johnson, Courtney Hillman and Kate Babcock.

Medina’s returnees include seniors Anya Bloom, Kylie Hinman, Faith Ann Vanderwalker, Anna Cruz-Robb and Paige Atkins along with juniors Lily Carpenter, Nina Howard, Aleigh Mitchell and Amaya Cleveland.

“The girls are working hard and we just looking to make the most of the opportunity,” said Coach Eric Valley.

Akron, which went 6-6 last year, is led by senior Jessee Jonathan, a first team All-League honoree. The Lady Tigers also return senior Jayni Sundown and junior Ella Hill who both received Honorable Mention.