Roy-Hart will visit Fredonia Saturday looking to end long sectional title drought

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 March 2021 at 12:53 pm

Cheryl Wertman/Contributed Photos – Roy-Hart’s Rhett Goodwin, left, and his Ram teammates will visit Fredonia at noon Saturday for the Section VI Class B3 championship game. Roy-Hart will be seeking its first sectional title since Bill Spencer, right, and his Ram teammates defeated Starpoint 51-46 for the 1969 Section VI Class A title.

Like Medina, Roy-Hart is also looking to end a very long sectional basketball title drought this weekend.

While Medina will be looking to end a 50 year long drought when the Mustangs host Lackawanna in the Class B2 final at 7 this evening, Roy-Hart will be looking to snap an ever longer, 52 year long drought when the Rams visit Fredonia in the Class B3 title contest at noon on Saturday.

Ironically, that last title for both Roy-Hart and Medina came with a victory over then Niagara-Orleans League rival Starpoint.

Roy-Hart captured the 1969 Section VI Class A championship with a narrow 51-46 victory over Starpoint as Bill Spencer scored 16, Tom Heath 13 and John Corser 11 to lead the Rams.

Interestingly, that Roy-Hart win started a run of four straight years in which N-O teams claimed a sectional title.

The following year Starpoint nipped Medina 58-54 for the Class BBB crown.

Medina though avenged that loss the following season in 1971 by defeating Starpoint 84-73 for the Class BBB championship which is the Mustangs only Section VI title to date.

Albion completed that N-O run by nipping Salamanca 67-66 in overtime for the 1972 Class BBBB title.

On Saturday, Roy-Hart will be looking to keep the momentum from Thursday’s  come-from-behind 65-56 home court semifinal win over Cleveland Hill as the No. 6 seeded Rams visit No. 5 Fredonia.

Rhett Godowin scored 22, Tom Ragonese 15 and Aiden Petrie 14 in that semi win as the Rams rallied from a nine point, 34-25, halftime deficit to outscore Cleve Hill 40-22 in the second half to claim the win.

Fredonia romped past No. 8 Wilson 70-34 in the other semifinal.

The N-O League will also be represented in the Section VI girls Class B2 title game at noon on Saturday as top seeded N-O champion Wilson will host No. 3 Southwesterm.