Wilson girls surge past Medina to win B2 title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson’s Jen Darlak puts up a shot against Medina defender Je’ne Brown during the Lakewomen’s win over the Mustangs this evening in the Section VI Class B2 championship game this evening at Buffalo State College.

A big first half scoring surge powered No. 3 seed Wilson to a 60-33 victory over No. 5 Medina in an all Niagara-Orleans League Section VI Class B2 championship game this evening at Buffalo State College.

Medina did take an 8-5 lead midway through the first period as Maddie Winters hit a three and Molley Gross scored on a layup.  However, the Mustangs would not score from the field again until just two seconds remained in the first half.

Wilson answered right back with a decisive 19-1 turnover aided scoring surge over the next eight minutes to take control, an uprising keyed by the Lakewomen’s tight, aggressive man-to-man defense.

Medina’s Maddie Winters puts up a shot over Wilson defender Shea Munnikhuyen.

Wilson moved on top to stay at 14-9 by closing the first period with a 9-1, including 7 by Rachel Senek who had a total of 10 points in the quarter.

Keeping the momentum, Wilson then opened the second period with a turnover aided 10-0 run to quickly extend the lead to 15 at 24-9.

Three straight baskets off turnovers by Kayla Neumann ignited that uprising which also included a jumper by Emily Kelly and a layup by Senek off another turnover.

“I was real pleased with our defense, that really was key,” said Wilson Coach Brian Baker. “And I was pleased with the way we rebounded that helped get our transition game going.”

Wilson held a 13 point, 26-13 lead at the half and maintained a commanding 17 point, 41-24, advantage at the three-quarter mark.

Senek tallied 9 and Jen Darlak 5 in the third period which saw the Lakewomen lead by as many as 19 at 38-19.

Senek finished with a game high 24 points, including 12 of 18 from the free throw line.  Neumann added 15, Kelly 7, Darlak 5, Shea Munnikhuyen 4, Anna Frerichs 3 and Sarah Lewis 2.

Gross scored 10 to lead Medina as Williams and Je’ne Brown both had 9, Camri King 3 and Maddie Winters 2.

Wilson now faces B1 champion Fredonia for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state playoffs on Wednesday at Buffalo State.  It will be an interesting rematch for Wilson which has lost to Fredonia in the Class B2 semifinals each of the last two years.. Fredonia upended top seeded Depew 54-49 for the B1 title.

Wilson, which has now captured a sectional title five of the last eight years, will take a 20-3 record into the state qualifier.

Medina, which was making its first appearance in the sectional finals since 1998, winds up at 17-6.

Wilson’s Rachel Senek peeks through the outstretched arms of Medina defenders Molley Gross (23), Emily Kams (5) and Je’ne Brown (1) to put up a shot.