Short handed N-O girls squad nips G-R

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 March 2018 at 8:40 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Paige Emborsky (Newfane) drives in for a layup for the Niagara-Orleans League past Genesee Region League defenders Miranda Lembcke (Lyndonville) and Olivia Kohorst (Pembroke). The action took place during this evening’s annual Exceptional Seniors game at Albion won by the N-O 59-58.

Playing with only seven players, the Niagara-Orleans League trimmed the Genesee Region League 59-58 this evening in the 19th annual girls Exceptional Senior game at Albion.

Paige Emborsky (Newfane) poured in a game high 24 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter, to spearhead the N-O offense. Ellie Todd (Roy-Hart) added 13, Neely Abrams (Akron) and Caitlynn Snook (Albion) 8 each, Alexa Littman (Newfane) 4 and Hailey Brown (Barker) 2.

Margaret Sutherland (Notre Dame) scored 18 and Makayla Hilchey (Oakfield-Alabama) 10 to lead the way for the G-R as Natalie Thornton (Notre Dame) chipped in with 8, Dana VanValkenburg (Byron-Bergen), 7, Alyssa Seiheimer (Wheatland-Chili) 6, Kyle Schlagenhauf (O-A) 3, Catlin Walton (Alexander) 2, Lexi Breton (Alexander) 2 and Miranda Lembcke (Lyndonville) 2.

Miranda Lembcke drives against N-O defender Natalie DiCureia (Albion).

Up 14-12 after one quarter, the N-O extended its advantage a bit to 27-21 at the half  after a late burst of three straight threes by Emborsky, Todd and Abrams.

A layup by Snook and another three by Emborsky upped the N-O lead to 11, 36-25, midway through the third period but the G-R came battling back.

The G-R answered back with a 10-0 run on three straight baskets by Sutherland followed by two by Thornton to close to within one, 36-35 at the three-quarter mark.

Keeping them momentum, the G-R then grabbed a 39-36 lead at the outset of the final period after buckets by VanValkenburg and Seilheimer.

The N-O quickly went back up 41-39 after a three by Emborsky and a layup by Brown.

The teams then traded buckets until the G-R pulled even for what proved to be the last time at 52-52 on a basket by Lembcke with two minutes remaining.

The N-O finally regained the lead for good at 59-52 with a minute to go after a key 7-0 run on a layup and a three by Emborsky, her sixth of the evening, followed by a layup off a steal by Todd.

The G-R though did make the finish exciting as Sutherland hit two quick threes in the final 30 seconds to close back to within one but could not get another shot off.

Rounding out the N-O squad was Natalie DiCureia (Albion) while the G-R lineup also included Lakin Woodward (O-A) and Olivia Kohorst (Pembroke).

The win gives the N-O a 12-7 lead in the series.

Caitlynn Snook (Albion) puts up a shot as Lakin Woodward (Oakfield-Alabama) defends for the G-R.