N-O girls edge past G-R

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 March 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Taylor Fry (Roy-Hart) puts up a shot for the Niagara-Orleans League over Genesee Region League defender Jenna Pedro (Elba) during the N-O’s narrow three point win this evening at Medina.

Surviving a sea-saw battle down the stretch, the Niagara-Orleans League emerged with a narrow 58-55 victory over the Genesee Region League in the 16th annual senior girls basketball game between the two leagues this evening at Medina.

Maggie Kowalik (Akron) took game high scoring honors for the N-O with 15 as Jordan Frasier (CSAT) added 9, Brooke Horning (Newfane) and Megan DiLaura (Wilson) 8, Mia Jones (CSAT) 6, Mandi Covis (Albion) 5, Bailey Koithan (Newfane) 4 and Kendra Hill (Roy-Hart) 3. The N-O roster also included Taylor Fry (Roy-Hart), Maicie Baker (Barker), Cailin Regan (Akron), Melissa Grosshans (Barker) and Mercedes Rees (Wilson).

Sam Morgante (Byron-Bergen), Haley Brown (Elba) and Hannah Dunlap (Oakfeld-Alabama) each scored 9 to lead the G-R. Alyssa Bogue (Elba) and Lindsay Lovett (Byron-Bergen) both added 7, Tania Arellano (Kendall) 5, Sydney Breton (Alexander) 3, Taylor Kingsbury (Kendall) and Rebekah Hoffee (Lyndonville) 2 and Madeline Drake (Attica) and Jenna Pedro (Elba) 1. The G-R lineup also included Jade Underwood (Holley) and Rylee Moser (Pembroke).

Mandi Covis (Albion) drives around G-R defender Rebekah Hoffee (Lyndonville).

The N-O jumped out to an early 10-0 lead on buckets by Kowalik, Horning, Frasier, Jones and DiLaura as the G-R went the first 13 minutes without making a field goal.

The N-O maintained a 23-16 lead at the half on late tallies by Koithan, DiLaura and Hill.

However, the G-R came battling back by opening the second half with a 12-3 run to grab the lead for the first time at 28-26. A three by Brown and a basket by Morgante capped that uprising.

The lead then changed hands four more times in the last five minutes.

The G-R’s last lead came at 48-47 after a basket by Lovett.

Taylor Kingsbury (Kendall) takes a shot for the G-R as Akron teammates Maggie Kowalik (33) and Cailin Regan (21) defend for the N-O.

The N-O though answered with a key 9-4 run on five free throws by Kowalik, a rebound bucket by Horning and a layup by DiLaura to regain the lead for good at 56-52.

Brown did hit a three with just three seconds to go to pull the G-R within one at 56-55 but would get no closer as the N-O closed out the win with a layup by Horning at the buzzer.

Kowalik scored 9 in the second half for the N-O as Frasier netted 7, Horning 6 and Covis 5.

The victory gives the N-O an 11-5 lead in the series.

Jade Underwood (Holley) looks to shoot for the G-R as Megan DiLaura (Wilson) defends for the N-O.