Tigers top Lancers to grab division lead

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Nathan Poler puts up a layup against Elba defender Colton Dillon during the Tigers key victory over the host Lancers this evening.

Taking over sole possession of first place, Lyndonville defeated host Elba 52-41 this evening in a key late season Genesee Region League contest.

In grabbing outright possession of the G-R Division II lead, Lyndonville improves to 10-1 in the league and 15-1 overall while Elba slips into the runner-up spot at 9-2 (14-3 overall).

Zach Johnson scored 18, Nathan Dillenbeck 14 and Nathan Poler 10 to lead the offense for Lyndonville as Matt Hess added 6 and Nathan Hydock 4.

Elba’s Colton Dillon puts up a layup as Matt Hess defends for Lyndonville.

Jon Boyce, who fouled out with four and a half minutes to go, and Colton Dillon both scored 16 for Elba as Greyson Huntington added 5 and Evan Hare and Zach Marsceill 2 each.

Lyndonville jumped out to a 16-10 first period lead as Johnson had a three and a layup and Hydock a pair of layups. Dillon scored 6 to keep Elba close.

The Tigers doubled their advantage to 12, 32-20, at the half as Dillenbeck hit three threes and Johnson had three layups in the second period.

Lyndonville, whose winning effort was bolstered by a stingy defense and yoeman work on the boards, opened up as much as a 14 point, 39-25, advantage midway through the third period on two buckets by Hydock and one by Hess.

Elba answered with an 8-2 run, including 6 by Boyce, to cut the deficit to eight, 41-33. Boyce had 11 in the period for the Lancers.

The Tigers though regained an 11 point, 46-35, lead at the three-quarter mark on four free throws by Johnson and a rebound bucket by Poler, who had 6 points in the stanza.

Two baskets by Dillon pulled Elba to within seven, 46-39, early in the final period but the Lancers could get no closer.

Lyndonville emerged with an 11 point victory despite not making a field goal in the final period by outpointing Elba 6-2 over the final three minutes on three free throws by Johnson, two by Poler and one by Dillenbeck.

Lyndonville’s Zach Johnson drives to the basket past Elba defender Evan Hare.