York ousts Lyndonville in Class C3 semi

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Zach Johnson goes up for a shot against York defender Matthew McFarland during the Tigers sectional loss to the Golden Knights this evening at Batavia High School.

Leading from wire to wire, No. 3 seed York bested No. 2 Lyndonville 67-50 in the Section V Class C3 semifinals this evening before a packed house at Batavia High School.

Matthew McFarland scored a game high 24 points and James Kennedy had 20 to spearhead the attack for York which will now face top seeded Caledonia-Mumford in the C3 title on test on Friday.

Zach Johnson scored 12, Nathan Hydock 10, Russell Stephens 9, Nathan Dillenbeck 7, Matt Hess 6, Nathan Poler 4 and Casey Winiecki 2 for Lyndonville which finishes the season at 18-4.

Capitalizing on six early Lyndonville turnovers, York jumped out to a 10 point, 15-5, lead at the outset as McFarland hit two threes and Josh Davis one.

Lyndonville though trimmed the deficit a bit to six, 15-9, at the end of the opening period on a layup by Dillenbeck and a jumper by Winiecki.

Nathan Dillenbeck puts up a shot for Lyndonville as York’s Matthew McFarland tries to block.

The Tigers then closed to within three, 17-14, at the outset of the second period on a rebound bucket by Johnson and a three by Stephens. However, the Tigers would get no closer.

York answered with a key 9-0 run including a three, a rebound bucket and a layup by Riley Stella, to pull back out to a 12 point, 26-14 advantage.

Lyndonville did close the period with a 7-2 run including another three by Stephens and two layups by Hydock but the seven point, 28-21, margin at the half would be as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way.

York broke the contest wide open in the third period outscoring Lyndonville 27-14 to race away to a commanding 20 point, 55-35, advantage at the three-quarter mark.

McFarland had 14, including two threes and a pair of three-point plays, and Kennedy 10, including two threes, to spearhead that surge by the Golden Knights.

“We met our match,” said Lyndonville Coach Lee Dillenbeck. “They have the speed, the athleticism and they can score.”

Lyndonville did battle back at the outset of the final period cutting the deficit to 14, 58-44, after a 9-3 run which included a three by Hydock, a pair of layups by Johnson and a jumper by Hess.

York though again answered back this time with a jumper by McFarland and a three by Kennedy to regain a 17 point, 63-46, advantage with just 3:45 to go.

Four free throws by Poler and two by Johnson did pull Lyndonville to within 13, 63-50, with 2:40 remaining but the Tigers could not score again.

“Our kids played hard and I’m proud of them,” said Dilleneck. “We had a very good season.”

It marked the first time Lyndonville had advanced to the semifinals since 2006 when the Tigers ironically defeated York 58-53.

Lyndonville’s Nathan Poler puts up a shot over York defender Riley Stella.

Lyndonville’s Matt Hess puts up a shot over York defenders James Kennedy and Lucas Maggio.

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