By CHRIS BROOKS, wellsvillesports.com managing editor
FRIENDSHIP — You couldn’t have asked for a better start to open Sectionals with, on Thursday. For No. 7 Friendship/Scio, it was one that provided a massive swing of momentum that they never relinquished from start to finish, opening the night with a scoreless run of No. 10 Romulus and never looking back on what was a 49-18 opening round win in Class D2 action.
“We came out right away with a full-court press and we took care of business,” said Friendship/Scio coach Ashleigh Lewis. “We had good, clean pressure to get after them with. It was a nice win, a great team win and we did all the small things right. We had a rough end to the season, and to bounce back and win a Sectional game that both Friendship or Scio has seen in quite some time, is great. The girls worked hard for it.”
Friendship/Scio (12-9) was absolutely dominant from open to close against the Lady Warriors, setting the tone almost immediately with an outstanding tenure of offense that saw them net all 20 of the first quarter’s points to keep their opposition at a complete standstill. It would give the hosts in white all the room they needed to work with going forward, as they maintained the momentum to put towards a Quarterfinals berth this weekend.
As a collective, Friendship/Scio took complete control of the rebounding department, garnering 46 in all off the glass. Leading was Kadence Donohue, who had 15 of them to pair with 10 points to complete the first of the team’s two double-double performances. The other belonged to Nevaeh Ross, who led all scorers with a game-high 21 points to pair with 10 boards of her own.
Morghyn Ross furthered the team’s cause on offense with 10 points, while Lexi Crossley grabbed eight more boards to help the special teams effort once more.
Friendship/Scio now moves into the Class D2 Quarterfinal round, where they now travel to visit the No. 2 Lady Knights of Northstar on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for a 5 p.m. start.
Romulus 0 3 6 9 – 18
Friendship/Scio 20 9 14 6 – 49
ROMULUS: Hannah Wakula 3 0-2 6, Morgan Kisner 3 1-5 9, Libby Barbay 0 1-2 1, Maria Aguilara 1 0-0 2, Annie Shoots 0 0-2 0. Totals: 7 2-11 18.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Nevaeh Ross 8 4-5 21, Logan Roberts 2 0-0 6, Kadence Donohue 5 0-2 10, Morghyn Ross 4 1-2 10, Kiara Grover 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 5-9 49.
3-point goals: Romulus 2 (Kisner), F/S 4 (Roberts 2, N. Ross, M. Ross).
Total Fouls: Romulus 11, F/S 13. Fouled out: None.
TRICIA DAVENPORT PHOTO GALLERY (more stories below)
No. 6 Elba 79, No. 11 Hinsdale 24
ELBA — After finishing their regular season on the strongest of notes, the No. 6 Elba Lady Lancers made sure all the momentum they had built would remain in their absolute favor on Thursday, as they took care of business against No. 11 Hinsdale with a first quarter statement to power their 79-24 home win to advance into the Quarterfinal round.
Stats and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.
Hinsdale finishes their season with a record of 0-21 overall. The team graduates five seniors at the end of the school year in Jaylee Jimerson, Hannah Sutton, Sarah Tuttle, Felisha Veno and Marissa Adams.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class D1 Play-In: No. 8 Genesee Valley/Belfast 53, No. 9 Naples 45
BELFAST — No. 8 Genesee Valley/Belfast made sure they used every bit of time possible to open the game against the No. 9 Big Green of Naples on Thursday. Within it, a big frame from Jacob Borden helped open up the floor for everyone else to get involved all throughout the night, as an early run in the first quarter held up enough to stave off their opposition in the second half, securing the 53-45 ultimate victory in the Class D1 Play-In.
“We’re getting better every game,” said GV/Belfast coach Lintz Bliven. “The beginning of the game, we told the fellas to go work inside and then take it outside. Jacob’s big first quarter helped open everything else for everyone, including Ian (McKenzie). He was amazing tonight, and he’s going to be the real deal down the road. Kadin (Logue) really grew up a lot with some nice shots, and he played with a ton of poise. The defense was outstanding tonight. We changed up things for the most part to mix it up on them, and they executed it.”
Borden lit the early fuse for Genesee Valley/Belfast (7-14) to get the offense moving, as his 11 first quarter points out of the team’s 23 in all scored across the frame, jump-started production on a double-digit lead over Naples. Borden would wind up being the leading scorer for the hosts in white and black, bucketing a team-high 15 points.
From the second quarter on, Genesee Valley/Belfast would look to their defense to hold onto their 23-13 lead. Although the Big Green responded with a couple of key runs to close out and open each half, the eight-seeds would not allow them to overtake their position in the driver’s seat when the last eight minute period approached, as they were able to finish the night strong to secure a spot in Saturday’s Quarterfinal round.
Finishing behind Borden was Ian McKenzie, who sank four of the team’s five three-pointers, on his way toward a 14-point performance. Kadin Logue bucketed 10 points, while Thai Norasethaporn had six.
Up next is a date with defending Class D State Champion Avoca/Prattsburgh on Saturday, as the two foes battle it out in Avoca at 2 p.m. in the Class D1 Quarterfinal stage.
Naples 13 11 12 9 – 45
Genesee Valley/Belfast 23 7 10 13 – 53
NAPLES: Evan Waldeis 1 1-2 3, Cade Rathbun 5 3-5 16, Traugott Uhlen 2 0-0 6, Ian Kenney 4 0-1 8, Kam Rullo 2 0-2 4, Hayden Liddiard 1 0-3 2, Dylan Bray 3 0-1 6. Totals: 18 4-14 45.
GV/BELFAST: Kadin Logue 4 1-2 10, Owen Heaney 1 0-1 2, Kyle McCumiskey 0 1-4 1, Ian McKenzie 4 2-2 14, Max Wedge 1 0-0 2, Jacob Borden 7 1-4 15, Thai Norasethaporn 1 4-8 6, Ryan Daciw 1 1-4 3. Totals: 19 10-25 53.
3-point goals: Naples 5 (Rathbun 3, Uhlen 2), GVB 5 (McKenzie 4, Logue).
Total Fouls: Naples 22, GVB 12. Fouled out: Bray (NAP).
