Monday Roundup: GV/Belfast girls eclipse 10-win mark, go past Friendship/Scio behind Hamer’s 24 points; Fillmore girls roll by Warsaw for 10th win, GV/Belfast boys score rebound at Campbell-Savona
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
FRIENDSHIP — Across the first quarter between Genesee Valley/Belfast and Friendship/Scio, the rim was not fond of any shots falling down. Just past the halfway mark, both teams had combined for six points. But after a brief timeout on the floor, the wheels begin to turn for one team.
Genesee Valley/Belfast started to capitalize.
Behind multiple turnovers forced against Friendship/Scio, the visitors in black were able to rise to the occasion by creating a first quarter run that ultimately proved to be the difference maker when it was all said and done. With a stellar offensive performance from Mary Hamer piloting the offense, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to climb to the 10-win plateau in head coach Raegan Ryan’s first season with the program with a 48-35 road win in Friendship.
Points were challenging to come by in the opening sequences between both squads. But when the opportunities arose, Genesee Valley/Belfast (10-3) was there to make the most of them with six of the first eight points of the game. Friendship/Scio was able to chip away with a nifty 2-on-1 rush down the court with Nevaeh Ross shifting a pass to Grace Drumm off to her left for the finish to close the gap, but that came before a quick response behind a turnover forced by the Genesee Valley/Belfast defense to branch it back out to a four-point lead with less than a minute left.
With the turnover suddenly building momentum for the offense to close the first quarter with, it would reach a boiling point with Abby Sullivan providing more damage for the visitors in black, as she digs in and delivers the team’s last five points of the quarter — the first score on a long triple that swirled around the inside part of the rim before navigating its way down through the twine to aid in what was a 13-4 first quarter lead.
The advantage for Genesee Valley/Belfast would remain intact all throughout the contest, with Mary Hamer assuming control of the floor on both ends, forcing turnovers on defense that she would cash in back down the other direction to build a lead that reached as high as 11 points — one of the baskets from downtown at the top of the key with three minutes remaining.
Friendship/Scio would continue to chip away at their deficit the remainder of the game, but Genesee Valley/Belfast’s position in the driver’s seat would remain unchanged, as they firmly held their advantage to claim the victory that awaited at the end of the game.
“First quarter, we missed so many bunnies right in the beginning and the rest of the game after that was pretty even,” said Friendship/Scio coach Ashleigh Lewis. “The opportunities weren’t there for us, and they had their chances and put them away. Mary was going to get her points one way or another, and she capitalized off a few of our turnovers. She pretty much helped set the tone for their offense. Aside from that, we got two of our girls back for the first time in over a week, so I was really happy to see us starting to get healthy again.”
Hamer would lead all scorers on the hardwood with a game-high 24 points for Genesee Valley/Belfast. Following up was Sullivan, who finished with nine points. Sophie Zillgitt had six points to add.
Friendship/Scio witnessed Nevaeh Ross take the lead on offense behind her team-leading 17 points, pairing them with eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Emily Lamberson chipped in with eight points, while Grace Drumm recorded six points.
Both teams will have Cuba-Rushford up next on their schedules in the upcoming days, with Genesee Valley/Belfast getting first crack in a quick turnaround back over the road tonight with a 7:30 p.m. visit to the Wighthouse, while Friendship/Scio awaits their arrival to Friendship on Wednesday for Senior Night in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off of their own.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 13 10 12 13 – 48
Friendship/Scio 4 8 11 12 – 35
GV/BELFAST: Abby Sullivan 3 1-4 9, Sophie Zillgitt 3 0-0 6, Whitney Young 1 0-2 2, Mary Hamer 10 1-6 24, Ava Aaronson 0 2-4 2, Jenna Hill 2 1-4 5. Totals: 19 5-20 48.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Grace Drumm 3 0-1 6, Emily Lamberson 4 0-1 8, Nevaeh Ross 8 0-1 17, Sophie Bolzan 1 0-0 2, Morghyn Ross 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 0-3 35.
3-point goals: GVB 3 (Sullivan 2, Hamer), F/S 1 (N. Ross).
Total Fouls: GVB 13, F/S 18. Fouled out: M. Ross (F/S).
Fillmore 53, Warsaw 22
WARSAW — The Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies weren’t the only team to eclipse that 10-win plateau on the season, Monday night. Not far away from home up north in Warsaw, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore took care of business against the host Lady Tigers with a first quarter surge that morphed into a 53-22 road win.
Three different Lady Eagles (10-1) all soared into double-digit territory to pave the way for the offense and their first quarter inception against Warsaw, as they used an early 18-6 run to the fullest of advantages to lay the foundation down towards victory.
Among the scorers was Amelia Rose, who was outstanding behind her game-high 16 points — nine of them off three triples from the outer perimeter to pace her well-rounded attack.
Following behind was Hope Russell and her 12-point performance, and Mattie McCumiskey had 10 points.
Fillmore is back in action over the road once again tonight, as they pay a visit to the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Fillmore 18 8 14 13 – 53
Warsaw 6 3 6 7 – 22
FILLMORE: Hope Russell 5 1-2 12, Grace Russell 1 0-0 2, Amelia Rose 5 3-3 16, Kylee Ellsworth 1 0-0 2, Mattie McCumiskey 4 2-4 10, Preslee Miller 2 2-2 6, Emalyn Mucher 2 0-0 5. Totals: 20 8-11 53.
WARSAW: Audrey Britton 2 0-0 4, Veronica Streamer 1 0-0 2, Kylie Britton 1 0-0 2, Sophia Phillips 5 4-7 14. Totals: 9 4-7 22.
3-point goals: Fillmore 5 (Rose 3, H. Russell, Mucher).
Total Fouls: Fillmore 9, Warsaw 6. Fouled out: None.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 71, Campbell-Savona 32
CAMPBELL — Led by Ian McKenzie and a well-balanced offensive outburst behind him, Genesee Valley/Belfast found their way back into the win column on Monday.
After ending the week with a tough defeat at the hands of Honeoye, they ensured the next week would begin on a high note, as they posted at least 15 points in all four quarters to set up what was a 71-32 win over host Campbell-Savona.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (6-7) set up shop right from the start to grab a lead they never looked back on, posting a 16-6 run across the first quarter. The offense was propelled by McKenzie from inside and out, scoring a game-high 19 points — nine of those points from outside the school in the parking lot.
Following behind was a pair of 10-point nights from both Matt Cater and Kenton Shultz, while Thayne Cobb and Jacob Borden each had eight points to chip in.
Up next, the road trip continues for Genesee Valley/Belfast with a 7:30 p.m. visit to Cuba-Rushford on Thursday.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 16 17 23 15 – 71
Campbell-Savona 6 8 8 10 – 32
GV/BELFAST: Kyle McCumiskey 2 0-0 4, Matt Cater 5 0-0 10, Ian McKenzie 7 2-4 19, Thayne Cobb 4 0-0 8, Owen Heaney 2 1-2 5, Jacob Borden 4 0-0 8, Kenton Shultz 5 0-0 10, Tyler Wedge 0 1-2 1, Fisher Herdman 2 0-0 4, Ryan Daciw 0 2-2 2. Totals: 31 6-9 71.
CAMPBELL-SAVONA: Ethan Soles 1 0-1 2, Jackson Kibler 6 1-3 16, Dakota Ogden 2 2-6 6, Chance Miller 3 1-1 7, Jackson Payne 0 1-2 1. Totals: 12 5-14 32.
3-point goals: GVB 3 (McKenzie), C-S 3 (Kibler).
Total Fouls: GVB 13, C-S 7. Fouled out: None.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Fillmore 3, Friendship/Scio 0
SCIO — Right from the start, Friendship/Scio presented a tough challenge and hung right alongside the Eagles of Fillmore on Monday night. But it was a challenge that the visitors were able to answer, as Fillmore spoiled Senior Night festivities in Scio with a straight-set, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 victory.
The Eagles (8-5) saw Reid Cockle assume control of the offense at the front of the net, as he posted a team-high seven kills. From the back line, Skylar Freeman furthered the team’s cause with a pair of aces.
Nate Griffiths would pace the Friendship/Scio (1-10) offense with seven kills. Eli Wade helped set up the offense from the middle of the floor, handing out nine assists to go with four aces.
Both teams are back on the floor Wednesday night in a pair of 6 p.m. contests, as Fillmore heads back home to host the Wellsville Lions, while Friendship/Scio travels down the road to Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 3, Cuba-Rushford 1
CUBA — The action inside the Wighthouse at Cuba-Rushford intensified more and more as time went on Monday night, as both Genesee Valley/Belfast and the host Rebels each traded a set leading into a third set that could help sway the momentum of the game.
It would come all the way down to the very maximum one set would allow in regulation play, with extra serves hanging in the balance. In the end, the visitors in black would gather up the last two points to finish off a clutch third set win, allowing them to carry the momentum with them to close out the night strong, as Genesee Valley/Belfast successfully punctuated a four-set win over Cuba-Rushford by a 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 25-13 count.
Leading the way for Genesee Valley/Belfast (7-8) was Sean Mahon with a strong performance on offense, collecting a team-high eight kills to go with a pair of aces. Following up was Brayden Cooper and his six kills, four blocks and two aces, while Damien Rinker chipped in with five more kills and a quartet of aces from the back line.
On the opposite side, Anderson Siegel captained a Rebels (3-10) offense behind eight team-leading kills, eight digs on defense and a trio of aces. Ethan Cole helped set the attack up for success with 10 big helpers, pairing them with three digs, two kills and an ace.
Both teams are back on the floor Wednesday night in 6 p.m. first serves, with Genesee Valley/Belfast heading back home to the Jungle to welcome in Friendship/Scio, while Cuba-Rushford hits the road for a visit to Arkport-Canaseraga.
