Monday Roundup: Lions swimming suffers 1st defeat of season to Alfred-Almond in tough swim, downed 58-41; C-R boys rebound from Cleveland, evade late 22-point 4th from GV/Belfast to clinch 60-52 win
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
ALMOND — With a brilliant start in the water striking all chords, the toughest challenge of the season for the Lions of Wellsville had arrived on Monday in their latest road trip to Alfred-Almond.
Right out of the gate, the host Eagles made some noise with back-to-back victories against the Lions. But after they were able to take a key 200 individual medley relay win to come back within reach, Alfred-Almond went back to work by scoring the next six wins in a row to pull away for good, handing Wellsville their first defeat of the campaign with a 58-41 victory.
“We met a much bigger team tonight and suffered the team’s first loss,” Lions coach Steve Hand said. “The boys didn’t swim their best times tonight, and our first relay got out-touched at the end of the race and it just never quite turned around. There were plenty of good swims and Tyler (Rahr) just missed his high score on the board. It will be good to get a long stretch of practice, and not prepare for a meet.”
Wellsville (5-1) garnered just three first place finishes over the course of the meet — two of them individually from Ben Jordan in both halves of the meet, as he garnered his first in the 200 individual medley (2:15.63) and added his second later on, in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.47). The Lions would score one final victory at the very end of the meet in the 400 freestyle relay (4:01.88).
Alfred-Almond was led by Andrew Diestler and Owen Lawrence, as both Eagles swimmers recorded two first place finishes. Along with two relay victories, Quinn Palmer, Isabel Jusianiec and Patrick Power had an individual victory to chip in each.
The Lions now head into the holiday break, as they mark their return to the water back home on January 2 with a 5:30 p.m. meet with the Olean Huskies.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cuba-Rushford 60, Genesee Valley/Belfast 52
BELFAST — Nearly 48 hours removed from that once-in-a-lifetime experience in Cleveland, it was time for the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford to come back home and get back down to business. With their battle against undefeated Bolivar-Richburg now in the rearview mirror, the outlook ahead after the weekend wasn’t going to get any easier.
Genesee Valley/Belfast — winners of four of their first five games to open their campaign, was up next on the docket.
In Belfast on Monday, it saw the Rebels take control of the pace of play with the lead in hand after each of the first three quarters of play. Although they remained in firm command, Genesee Valley/Belfast would put the gas pedal straight down to the floor to ignite an incredible fourth quarter comeback to close the gap behind their opposition.
But in the end, Cuba-Rushford was able to stave off every late push Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to provide to maintain their spot in the driver’s seat, as they rebounded from their 39-28 defeat to the hands of the Wolverines and morphed it into a big 60-52 victory of their own.
“The first half, we struggled a bit with some assignments,” said GV/Belfast co-coach Lintz Bliven. “But in the second half, we played with the intensity across those two quarters that we should have been playing across all four quarters. But we were a bit flat, and the kids knew it. Despite that, I am really proud of the way they finished the game tonight, especially in the fourth quarter. They never gave up as we gave them a late run in the end, but we just fell a little short.”
The battle across the first quarter was well within reach of both Cuba-Rushford and Genesee Valley/Belfast, with the Rebels (4-2) claiming an early one-point edge and extending upon in it later on in the second quarter with an 18-point frame, allowing them to take a 28-21 lead going into the break.
In the third quarter, a massive run was conducted by the visitors in blue and maroon, as they extended their advantage once more with a 19-9 run of Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-2) to capture as big of a lead as 17 points when the frame reached its conclusion.
But despite it, the hosts responded with their biggest frame of the night to pull back within reach of Cuba-Rushford down the stretch, outscoring the Rebels by a 22-13 count to apply all the pressure they could to follow behind their coattails.
But in the end, the Rebels were able to ward off that one final push from Genesee Valley/Belfast to claim the victory that awaited in the end.
Pacing the Cuba-Rushford offense was Braeden Wight, as he posted a team-high 17 points. Finn Ricketts chipped in with 14 points of his own, while Peyton Joy had nine points.
For the hosts in white, Ian McKenzie drained five of the team’s 10 triples from downtown, en route to a game-high 22 points. Kadin Logue chipped in with 10 points, while Jacob Borden and Owen Heaney had six points each. Up next on the schedule, Genesee Valley/Belfast will head out for a trip to Fillmore when they return after the holidays, on January 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Cuba-Rushford will head back home to Gary Wight Court on Wednesday, hosting Friendship/Scio at 7:30 p.m.
Cuba-Rushford 10 18 19 13 – 60
Genesee Valley/Belfast 9 12 9 22 – 52
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Braeden Wight 4 6-8 17, Kaden Bell 0 2-4 2, Luke Brooks 2 0-0 4, Eli Sleggs 2 0-0 6, Finn Ricketts 7 0-0 14, Adam Roe 4 0-0 8, Peyton Joy 4 1-3 9. Totals: 23 9-15 60.
GV/BELFAST: Kyle McCumiskey 0 3-6 3, Kadin Logue 4 0-1 10, Lannden Tilton 2 0-1 5, Ian McKenzie 8 1-2 22, Owen Heaney 2 0-0 6, Jacob Borden 3 0-1 6. Totals: 19 4-11 52.
3-point goals: C-R 5 (Wight 3, Sleggs 2), GVB 10 (McKenzie 5, Logue 2, Heaney 2, Tilton).
Total Fouls: C-R 8, GVB 15. Fouled out: None.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Friendship/Scio 43, Cuba-Rushford 29
CUBA — In a game that saw a quiet first half ring out between both Friendship/Scio and Cuba-Rushford on Monday, it all boiled down how big of a second half response one could formulate when the second half made its arrival in the Wighthouse.
With a one-point lead in hand over the Lady Rebels, Friendship/Scio went on to provide that big response. With the help of all four of their leading scorers, including Morghyn Ross and her big second half, they were able to provide a 21-point third quarter to bolster their lead insurmountably to secure a sixth win in their first seven games — a 43-29 victory to remain hot entering the holiday break.
“We are small, but we’re a scrappy bunch. Every team we’ve played, we’ve done a nice job off the boards,” said Friendship/Scio coach Ashleigh Lewis. “Morghyn was on the (Brynn) Lavery girl, and she only had five points from the floor aside from her shots at the line. She shut her down, and it helped us create a third quarter swing. We came out and took care of business on defense. It was some great team ball, we moved it around and it was a great way to get us into Christmas.”
Friendship/Scio (5-1) was able to outlast the Lady Rebels in an early first quarter battle to start the frame, using a mixture of shots from the field and a 4-for-6 outing at the charity stripe to produce an 11-7 lead. The action would simmer down later on in a second quarter that the hosts in white and blue were able to take advantage of behind Lily Tompkins, as she scored six of the seven points they bucketed to cut their deficit to one at the break.
With Cuba-Rushford (2-5) knocking ever so loudly at the door going into the half, the time for a response in the second half would come for Friendship/Scio. Four different scorers including Ross, as well as a strong three-point game from Emily Lamberson, aided in charging a humongous 21-11 run of the Lady Rebels to officially surge ahead and out of reach to claim victory.
Lamberson and Ross combined to record 27 of the team’s 43 total points, with Lamberson knocking down four threes on her way towards a game-high 14 points, while Ross finished with 13 to go with eight steals. Nevaeh Ross and Sophie Bolzan rounded off the scoring with eight points each, with the two scorers combining to record 20 rebounds off the glass.
Adding more special teams help was Hunter Hint, who had eight more boards.
The Lady Rebels were led by Lily Tompkins and her 10 team-leading points. Brynn Lavery chipped in with nine points. Cuba-Rushford is back on the hardwood this Friday night for their last game of the calendar year, as they travel to Franklinville for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
Friendship/Scio will return to action after the break, looking to keep their hot streak alive, as they prepare for a 6 p.m. road trip to Alfred-Almond on January 2.
Friendship/Scio 11 4 21 7 – 43
Cuba-Rushford 7 7 11 4 – 29
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Emily Lamberson 4 2-4 14, Nevaeh Ross 4 0-0 8, Sophie Bolzan 4 0-0 8, Morghyn Ross 4 5-6 13. Totals: 16 7-10 43.
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Aubrey Williams 1 0-0 3, Shae Maples 1 0-0 2, Lily Tompkins 4 2-4 10, Brynn Lavery 2 4-6 9, Mireya Rutkowski 1 0-0 2, Lilly Farwell 0 1-3 1, Raegan Poore 1 0-0 2. Totals: 10 7-13 29.
3-point goals: F/S 4 (Lamberson), C-R 2 (Williams, Lavery).
Total Fouls: F/S 13, C-R 11. Fouled out: None.
Canisteo-Greenwood 54, Alfred-Almond 7
ALMOND — With a phenomenal 33-point performance against Olean now in her back pocket, Bailey Mullen picked up right where she left off over the weekend on Monday in the latest road trip for the Lady Chargers to Alfred-Almond, as she posted a game-high 22 points to pace the attack towards a 54-7 victory over the Lady Eagles to propel back above .500 on the season.
Along with another dominant outing from Mullen, who also had nine rebounds to help lead the Canisteo-Greenwood (4-3) offense once more, the Lady Chargers also saw McKenna Ferris’ best game of the season unravel across the night along with it, as she posted 16 season-high points to go with 16 rebounds, completing a double-double.
Rounding off the Lady Chargers scoring was Sidney Drouin, who posted seven points to couple with 15 more rebounds off the glass.
Alfred-Almond was paced by a two-point basket each from Maeve Turner, Alexis Kuhn and Lillie Perkins. Kaylianna Clark had the team’s last point from the free throw line.
The Lady Chargers will head out on the road for their final game before Christmas break, as they pay a visit to Campbell-Savona for a 7:15 p.m. contest on Friday.
Canisteo-Greenwood 18 14 11 11 – 54
Alfred-Almond 0 3 4 0 – 7
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD: Bailey Mullen 8 3-4 22, Lexi Winslow 0 3-6 3, McKenna Ferris 6 2-6 16, Harlie McCaffery 2 0-0 4, Sidney Drouin 3 1-4 7, Jaden May 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 9-20 54.
ALFRED-ALMOND: Noel Emerson 0 0-2 0, Kaylianna Clark 0 1-2 1, Taylor Flaitz 0 0-2 0, Maeve Turner 1 0-0 2, Alexis Kuhn 1 0-0 2, Lillie Perkins 1 0-0 2, Olivia Flaitz 0 0-2 0. Totals: 3 1-8 7.
3-point goals: C-G 5 (Mullen 3, Ferris 2).
Total Fouls: C-G 11, A-A 13. Fouled out: None.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Allegany-Limestone 3, Wellsville 0
ALLEGANY — Fronted by a 15-kill performance from Joshua Nolder and an incredible 25-dig effort from Jesse Decker to keep the ball from hitting the floor, the Allegany-Limestone Gators were able to remain undefeated in their last game before Christmas break, as they battled visiting Wellsville tough to deliver a 25-16, 25-19, 25-15 straight-set win on Monday in The Swamp.
Despite the defeat across all three sets, the Lions (4-2) were propelled on offense by Xavier Scott, who posted seven team-leading kills to go with five assists. Brody Heaney followed closely behind with six more kills of his own to coincide with a pair of denials at the front of the net.
Wellsville will put a wrap on 2023 with a 6 p.m. visit to Portville, Friday night.
Fillmore 3, Friendship/Scio 0
FILLMORE — Right from the first serve on the night, the Eagles of Fillmore assumed control of their home floor on Monday against Friendship/Scio. Behind a strong offensive outing from Nathan Tanner and some big assists from three different Eagles, they were able to score a straight-set, 25-11, 25-12, 25-6 win.
Tanner helped lead the Fillmore (4-2) offense with his seven kills, pairing them with a couple of aces. Zach Fraser chipped in with seven service points to go with his one ace. As for Reid Cockle, Anderson Wiltsey and Skylar Freeman, all three Eagles combined to hand out 54 assists on the floor, with Wiltsey’s 22 assists guiding the way, as he paired them with 14 service points, four aces and a kill.
Cockle had 12 assists to pair with 11 team-high kills and three aces, while Freeman had one more kill to chip in.
Statistics for Friendship/Scio (1-5) were not made available to report upon publication.
Both teams are now off until after the Christmas and New Year winter break ahead, as they each return to action on January 2 with a pair of 6 p.m. contests on the slate, with Fillmore hitting the road to visit Wellsville and Friendship/Scio heading back home to host Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 3, Cuba-Rushford 1
BELMONT — Three out of the four sets of action were determined by no more than six points, the first two forming into the closest battles of the match on Monday. Cuba-Rushford was pushed to the edge after Genesee Valley/Belfast claimed a 2-0 lead entering a third set that saw a strong rebound by the Rebels to trim the lead in half.
But the hosts in black would not allow their visiting opposition to form any momentum off it, as they rebounded and came away victorious with a four-set win over the Rebels by a 25-22, 25-21, 15-25, 25-19 count.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-5) witnessed Brayden Cooper take charge of the attack, garnering seven kills to go with five blocks and four aces. Adding more help along the way was Jackson Stout, who had four more kills to pair with three blocks and two aces, while Sean Mahon handed out four helpers to couple with his two kills.
On the opposite side of the floor, Cuba-Rushford (2-4) was paced by Gunnar Jahnke and his five team-high kills, pairing them with four digs on defense. Coen Kellogg chipped in five more digs to go with four assists, while Anderson Siegel led the offense with nine aces, four kills and four digs.
Both teams will now wait for the calendar to flip to the new year, as they return to action on January 2 in a pair of 6 p.m. first serves, with Genesee Valley/Belfast travelling to visit Friendship/Scio, while Cuba-Rushford heads back home to the Wighthouse to welcome in Arkport-Canaseraga.
Arkport-Canaseraga 3, Bolivar-Richburg 0
ARKPORT — In their final match before the holiday break, the Arkport-Canaseraga Wolves continued to keep pace with last year’s County Finalist Allegany-Limestone with their fifth win in their first six games on Monday, starting fast and never looking back against visiting Bolivar-Richburg to record the straight-set sweep by a 25-12, 25-20, 25-14 count in Arkport.
The Wolverines (0-6) were headlined by a five-kill night from Dustin Murray, adding in two aces and two blocks along the way. At the front of the net, Owen Unfus chipped in nine helpers to go with two aces.
As for the host Wolves, Noah Drouin paced the attack with five kills, four aces and two blocks. Curtis Hartman had four more kills, while Aydan Button recorded four aces. Arkport-Canaseraga now awaits a road trip to Friendship/Scio after the break, on January 2 at 6 p.m.
Bolivar-Richburg will close out their 2023 slate of games with a 6 p.m. visit from Portville.
