By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — Through a fast start in the night’s opening set, the Lions of Wellsville were in bounce back mode after opening the season with a 3-1 defeat to the hands of Arkport/Canaseraga over the road back on Friday. Back home on Tuesday, they would advance forward and do just that, as they flipped the script and recorded a 3-1 win of their own over Friendship/Scio, 25-11, 25-18, 22-25, 25-9.
Xavier Scott led the Lions (1-1) to big heights on offense with a strong performance on the front line, garnering seven kills to pair with seven aces and a pair of blocks. Brody Heaney chipped in with his team-leading eight kills to go with two aces, while Lucius Griggs followed with four kills and two aces to aid Wellsville’s effort, which saw six of the set’s first seven points go their way to set the pace.
Friendship/Scio (0-2) was fronted by Lawson Ector on the attack, collecting a team-high 12 kills. Eli Wade chipped in with nine service points and four assists to hand out. The team will return to action back home in Scio on Thursday with a 6 p.m. visit from Bolivar-Richburg.
Coming up on Friday, Wellsville will hit the road for a 6 p.m. visit down the road to Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Cuba-Rushford 3, Bolivar-Richburg 1
RICHBURG — A 25-18 decision was traded between both Cuba-Rushford and Bolivar-Richburg across the first two sets of play, with the Wolverines providing a game-tying response in the second set.
But the momentum they had built marching forward was erased by the Rebels completely in the remaining two sets left to play, Tuesday night. When it was all said and done, some big help at the service line by both Coen Kellogg and Anderson Siegel furthered Cuba-Rushford’s victorious cause to capture the four-set victory on the road by a 25-18, 18-25, 25-10, 25-19 count.
Siegel organized a strong night of service from the back line to help fuel Cuba-Rushford’s (2-0) offense, as he posted a team-high seven aces to go with three digs and a kill. Kellogg would follow suit with five big assists up front to pair alongside four additional aces for the visitors, who used a massive 25-10 third-set win to keep the momentum in their favor until the end.
Dustin Murray propelled the Bolivar-Richburg (0-2) offense with six kills, pairing them with three blocks and two assists. Owen Unfus was at the front of the net handing out helpers, scoring 10 assists to go with two kills and two more aces of his own. The Wolverines are back on the floor Thursday night with a 6 p.m. visit to Friendship/Scio.
The Rebels are back home Friday night to welcome in the Eagles of Fillmore for a 6 p.m. first serve.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Friendship/Scio 42, Bolivar-Richburg 36
FRIENDSHIP — A near triple-double performance from Nevaeh Ross ignited victory for Friendship/Scio back home on Tuesday, as they garnered just enough room in the second half to sprint away from visiting Bolivar-Richburg’s grasp behind the senior’s 13-point, 13-rebound, seven-steal and five-block night from all angles on the floor in their 42-36 edge over the Lady Wolverines in Friendship.
Rebounds were big for Friendship/Scio (2-1), and when they were collected, it gave off a huge burst of momentum. Along with the 13 rebounds for Ross, Grace Drumm was another cog in the rebounding machine for the hosts in white and black, posting 11 more herself to keep the Lady Wolverines off-balance on the attack.
The defense would allow even bigger things for the offense in turn to develop as time progressed, allowing them to lay claim on the lead after the opening eight minutes of play and into the break. Friendship/Scio came back and fired another big punch in the third quarter with their biggest offensive outing of the game, outscoring Bolivar-Richburg (1-2) by a 15-9 count.
Bolivar-Richburg would then take aim and a potential comeback big late in the fourth quarter with their largest stand of offense, all while holding Friendship/Scio to their smallest in the same swing. They would trim the lead down to eight at the end, but it would not be enough to overcome in the end.
Finishing behind Ross for the hosts was Emily Lamberson, who recorded nine points. Drumm would sink a pair of triples, for six points. Morghyn Ross would add some special teams help, garnering six steals.
On the flip side for Bolivar-Richburg, Raegan Giardini led all scorers with nine points. Jaelyn Kinnicutt and Carmen Crowley each had eight points to pitch in. The two foes will meet up once again, this time in Scio for their annual Christmas Tournament next Friday night at 6 p.m.
As for the Lady Wolverines, they will look to regroup with another road trip in store on Thursday, visiting the Lady Eagles of Fillmore in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Bolivar-Richburg 7 8 9 10 – 34
Friendship/Scio 13 8 15 6 – 42
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Nadia Baldwin 1 0-2 2, Jaelyn Kinnicutt 4 0-0 8, Raegan Giardini 4 0-0 9, Sydney Faulkner 2 1-2 5, Rylee Whiting 1 0-2 2, Carmen Crowley 4 0-0 8. Totals: 16 1-6 34.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Grace Drumm 2 0-0 6, Emily Lamberson 3 1-2 9, Nevaeh Ross 7 2-3 16, Avery Lamberson 2 0-4 4, Sophie Bolzan 1 0-0 2, Morghyn Ross 2 0-0 5, Serenity Gadley 0 0-2 0. Totals: 17 3-11 42.
3-point goals: B-R 1 (Giardini), F/S 5 (Drumm 2, E. Lamberson 2, M. Ross).
Total Fouls: B-R 18, F/S 11. Fouled out: Whiting (B-R).
Cuba-Rushford 31, Andover/Whitesville 26
ANDOVER — In any close fight to the finish, the game could very well hang in the balance of those small, minute details. For instance, the free throw line. With both Cuba-Rushford and host Andover/Whitesville duking it out until the very last second, something had to most certainly give way for one team.
With a five-point lead and Andover/Whitesville hot on their trail, the Lady Rebels had to start and end it somewhere. Brynn Lavery provided a sound, yet giant response.
In the midst of her game-captaining performance for the visitors in gray and blue, Lavery would go on and score all six of the team’s points in the fourth quarter — all of which was paid in part by an immaculate 6-for-6 outing at the charity stripe, as she finished with 17 points to airlift Cuba-Rushford straight to the top and towards victory that awaited in the end, claiming the 31-26 win over Andover/Whitesville, in Andover.
With a pair of triples helping Cuba-Rushford (1-2) set up shop on offense in the first eight minutes of play, Andover/Whitesville was able to provide a near-identical response to the Lady Rebels, scoring one more point to record a 7-6 lead going into a second quarter where the visitors would flip the script again behind their three-point game.
From beyond the arc, the Lady Rebels found their touch with the help of Lavery and Aubrey Williams, as the two sharpshooters combined to record three more of the team’s triples — two from Lavery herself, to complete an 11-point frame that allowed them to reclaim the 17-13 lead over Andover/Whitesville (1-2) going into the break.
In the second half, it was either team’s game, as Graci Lewis-Ellison hit a three to allow the hosts to remain within reach of Cuba-Rushford in the third quarter. With the momentum beginning to shift every which way between the two clubs, it would be put to rest by Lavery once and for all from the charity stripe, as she posted a perfect six-shot outing to finish off a tough and close Lady Rebels victory over the hosts in white and purple.
Finishing behind Lavery’s game-leading performance was Williams, who finished with seven points. Lily Tompkins had five more points to add in.
Andover/Whitesville was led by Olivia Waters, who fueled the inside game with 11 team-high points. Graci Lewis-Ellison recorded six points, while Grace Fry had five. The team will spring back into action Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. visit to Hammondsport.
Cuba-Rushford is back on the road Friday night, as they head below the border to Shinglehouse, Pa. to visit the Oswayo Valley Lady Green Wave in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
Cuba-Rushford 6 11 8 6 – 31
Andover/Whitesville 7 6 7 6 – 26
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Aubrey Williams 3 0-0 7, Cloey Larabee 1 0-0 3, Lily Tompkins 2 1-1 5, Brynn Lavery 4 6-6 17, Lilly Farwell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 11 7-7 31.
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Jizel Kyoseva 1 0-0 2, Graci Lewis-Ellison 2 0-0 6, Grace Fry 2 1-6 5, Makaila Brewster 0 2-2 2, Lilly Harrington 0 0-2 0, Olivia Waters 4 3-6 11. Totals: 9 6-16 26.
3-point goals: C-R 5 (Lavery 3, Williams, Larabee), A/W 2 (Lewis-Ellison).
Total Fouls: C-R 14, A/W 11. Fouled out: None.
Dansville 52, Canisteo-Greenwood 20
CANISTEO — A 20-point opening eight minutes of play helped make a ton of noise for the Lady Mustangs of Dansville, as six different scorers all recorded at least a bucket in the midst of their game-starting introduction against host Canisteo-Greenwood, using it to jet-fuel their 52-20 triumph over the Lady Chargers on Tuesday in the Canisteo Valley.
The Lady Mustangs buckled down on both ends of the floor for much of the battle that ensued against Canisteo-Greenwood (1-1), posting a humongous 20-6 first quarter run that set the bar on offense, while the defense pinned the Lady Chargers against their pressure, limiting them to just a trio of shots from the field.
Among the leading letterwinners to carve the path towards victory for Dansville was Kali Meyer, who led an all-balanced Lady Mustangs attack with a game-high 13 points.
For the Lady Chargers, Bailey Mullen recorded 11 team-high points, pairing them with six rebounds and four steals. On special teams, Harlie McCaffery provided a presence off the backboard, grabbing six rebounds.
Canisteo-Greenwood will look to bounce back on Thursday with a 6 p.m. visit from Alfred-Almond.
Dansville 20 15 12 5 – 52
Canisteo-Greenwood 6 5 5 4 – 20
DANSVILLE: Emma Butters 3 1-1 7, Aynsley Belcher 5 1-3 11, Briana Blair 1 0-0 2, Taylor Hamsher 3 0-0 7, Cheslie Tyler 2 0-0 6, Kali Meyer 4 3-3 13, Emma Allen 2 2-4 6. Totals: 20 5-11 52.
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD: Bailey Mullen 5 0-0 11, Kadyn Pillaro 1 0-0 2, Harlie McCaffery 1 0-0 2, Sidney Drouin 1 0-0 2, Paris May 1 0-0 3. Totals: 8 0-2 20.
3-point goals: Dansville 5 (Tyler 2, Meyer 2, Hamsher), C-G 2 (B. Mullen, May).
Total Fouls: Dansville 10, C-G 16. Fouled out: None.
