At State Qualifiers, B-R’s Allen, MacDonell advance to New York State stage after placing in Top 2, Sibble to earn chance to advance Monday; Wellsville’s Outman finishes 3rd
Stories by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com, see wellsvillesports for photos from these games including B-R’s 1000-point performance and Wellsville Senior Night.
BROCKPORT — The stage was set at SUNY Brockport on Saturday. Right before football’s big dance the following night, a slew of Allegany County wrestlers received an opportunity to punch their tickets to wrestling’s biggest stage in the Empire State.
The Albany Capital Center awaited.
In last year’s State Championships, the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg witnessed history for the very first time, as Trent Sibble ended his legendary career on the mat with the school’s first ever State title at 285 pounds. One year later, a field of five Wolverines were in the hunt to earn themselves the right to compete amongst the best of the best.
When it was all said and done, two Wolverines earned their right to go for all the glory — Caden Allen and Tavyn MacDonell, as the two Wolverines placed inside the Top 2 to punch their tickets to Albany in just over a week’s time, continuing to keep their seasons alive on the mat.
Allen took care of business across the 215 pound bracket for the Wolverines, as he navigated all the way to the very end of the Championship match, where he shutout Palmyra-Macedon’s Jared Haers with a 4-0 decision to capture first place. As for MacDonell at 170 pounds, he fell to Palmyra-Macedon’s Braidon Woodward in a 10-2 major decision to record a third place finish, but was in line to continue his path to the State Capital by participating in a True Second match.
In it, MacDonell took care of business in just 2:49 against Wellsville’s Xander Outman, as he recorded a 16-1 technical fall victory to claim his spot for the State Championships. Outman placed third in the 170 pound bracket before dropping down into the True Second match, defeating Byron-Bergen’s J.C. Starowitz in a 5-1 decision.
Bolivar-Richburg could have the possibility of taking a third wrestler to Albany with them after Monday night after Teegan Sibble placed second in her Finals bout at 101 pounds against Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton’s Wyatt Sartori in the midst of a tough 4-3 decision. Sibble will wrestle again in Perry in a True Second match of her own, as she takes on Honeoye Falls-Lima’s John Winseman for that opportunity to advance.
Winseman defeated Caledonia-Mumford’s Jakob Bishop by pinfall in just 22 seconds to place third.
The New York State Championships at the Albany Capital Center will be the two-day event that helps close out the entire wrestling season, as the action officially gets underway on February 23.
Saturday Basketball: Class A power Penfield sets tone behind hot start against Lady Lions in 56-30 win; Fri/Scio rebounds in home-at-home with win over Lima Christian, C-R downed by Franklinville
WELLSVILLE — A Saturday afternoon in the Lion’s Den witnessed the Wellsville Lady Lions being met head on with a superpower that has ruled in Class A for quite some time in Section V — the Penfield Lady Patriots.
The challenge was presented, and right from the start, the tone was set immediately in a first quarter that was predominantly controlled by the Lady Patriots, as they nearly held the Lady Lions at a complete standstill to capitalize on a massive run that propelled them towards a 56-30 road victory.
Penfield wasted no time striking while the iron was hot against the Lady Lions (11-7), assembling a game-defining jaunt right out of the gate that saw them control both ends of the floor with a 23-2 run — 20 of those points coming in consecutive fashion to put a wide open break into the ice. In all, six different Lady Patriots chipped in on the efforts, with a nine-point frame from Angelena Lipani leading the way.
The Lady Lions saw Natalie Adams take the lead on offense with a team-high 10 points. Following up in the midst of a balanced attack was Makenna Dunbar, who was close behind with nine points. Alexa Stuck had four points to add in.
In the JV contest, Penfield defeated Wellsville by a 47-12 count, with Lydia Kaye’s six points leading the Lady Lions.
The regular season for Wellsville will reach its conclusion Tuesday night back on their home floor, hosting the Bath-Haverling Lady Rams in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Penfield 23 13 7 13 – 56
Wellsville 2 7 12 9 – 30
PENFIELD: Hannah LoBrutto 1 1-1 3, Angelena Lipani 4 0-0 9, Ashley Kalvitis 5 1-2 11, Emma Alexander 5 0-0 10, Lydia Hickey 1 0-0 3, Anna Coyle 3 0-0 6, Cassidy Cone 2 0-0 4, Olivia Lanning 1 1-2 3, Audriana Funk 0 1-2 1, Nadia Green 1 0-0 2, Mary Bernat 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25 4-7 56.
WELLSVILLE: Caelyn Stevens 1 0-0 2, Natalie Adams 4 0-0 10, Emily Stuck 0 1-2 1, Averee Palmatier 1 0-2 2, Makenna Dunbar 2 5-5 9, Jaden Dunbar 0 2-2 2, Alexa Stuck 2 0-0 4. Totals: 10 8-11 30.
3-point goals: Penfield 2 (Kalvitis, Hickey), Wellsville 2 (Adams).
Total Fouls: Penfield 13, Wellsville 11. Fouled out: None.
Friendship/Scio 60, Lima Christian 54
SCIO — It was safe to say that after their first battle in the midst of a home-at-home series, Friendship/Scio sought out redemption back home against Lima Christian on Saturday.
With just one game left in their regular season, Friendship/Scio took aim at finishing it up on the strongest of notes. With the Lady Saints, the battle was not an easy one by any means, as the momentum shifted in every direction possible all throughout. But in the end, it came down to providing the strongest finish.
When it was all said and done, Friendship/Scio provided such a conclusion to the story after trailing by a single point entering the final eight minutes of play, posting a heroic 20-point stanza to jump out in front of Lima Christian and claim what was eventually a 60-54 victory on their home floor in Scio.
“We finally put together a complete game,” said Friendship/Scio coach Ashleigh Lewis. “We didn’t have to dig ourselves a hole early on to get out of it. We kept our composure and finished it out strong. It was nice to see, especially with Sectionals coming up. It was Sophie’s (Bolzan) Senior Night and she had her best game of the season to send her off on a positive note. This game was a big one to have, and I hope that this keeps going.”
It was as tightly knit of a first half as possible between the two foes, with Lima Christian and Friendship/Scio (10-7) exchanging pleasantries at a constant pace. The degree of separation was no more than five points on the scoreboard, with the hosts laying claim to a 16-12 lead at the end of the frame.
In the second, the advantage was extended upon with an 8-4 doubling-up of the Lady Saints, bolstering it back out near double digit territory to close out the half.
But in the third quarter, the tables were turned by the visitors in blue with their largest stand of offense in the game, posting a humongous 25-point outburst to turn an eight-point deficit into a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the last eight minutes, the two foes remained side-by-side with one another through the opening sequences, creating a 43-43 tie along the way. But after a brief recess on the floor, the momentum shifted to Friendship/Scio the remainder of the game, as they scored 13 of the next 15 points to solidify the victory when time reached its expiration.
The Ross siblings aided Friendship/Scio’s strong performance on the attack against the Lady Saints, as both Nevaeh and Morghyn combined to record 34 of the team’s 60 total points, with Morghyn leading the way with her game-high 18 points, and Nevaeh following behind with 16 points to pair with 16 rebounds to complete a double-double, and eight blocks.
Adding more help along the way was Sophie Bolzan and Emily Lamberson, each netting nine points, with Bolzan grabbing eight additional boards.
On Monday, Friendship/Scio will close out their regular season with a 6 p.m. visit to Bolivar-Richburg.
Lima Christian 12 4 25 13 – 54
Friendship/Scio 16 8 16 20 – 60
LIMA CHRISTIAN: Brielle Hammond 1 2-2 5, Alyssa Marsh 5 2-4 13, Sophy Britton 1 0-0 3, Lily Swan 2 0-0 4, Rachel Negbegble 2 2-2 6, Abby Britton 6 0-0 12, Lily Herring 3 4-8 11. Totals: 20 10-16 54.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Emily Lamberson 3 2-2 9, Nevaeh Ross 6 1-2 16, Hunter Hint 0 0-2 0, Avery Lamberson 3 0-0 6, Sophie Bolzan 3 3-6 9, Morghyn Ross 8 2-3 18, Kaidence Sadler 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 8-15 60.
3-point goals: LC 4 (Hammond, Marsh, S. Britton, Herring), F/S 4 (N. Ross 3, E. Lamberson).
Total Fouls: LC 13, F/S 12. Fouled out: A. Britton (LC).
Franklinville 49, Cuba-Rushford 10
CUBA — From start to finish, the Lady Panthers of Franklinville took complete advantage of the floor underneath them Saturday afternoon, as they outscored host Cuba-Rushford across all four quarters to build a lead that was never relinquished, as they recorded their season series with the Lady Rebels over the road with a 49-10 victory.
Through the first half, the Lady Panthers set the tone right away with a 17-5 lead that they branched out insurmountably come the start of the third quarter, when a 12-point eruption from Sofia Bentley helped propel the team over the top and towards victory that awaited in the end after accounting for a 19-5 run.
The Lady Rebels (5-12) were led by Brynn Lavery and her team-leading seven points.
Cuba-Rushford is back on their home floor Monday night with a 6 p.m. visit from Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Franklinville 9 8 19 13 – 49
Cuba-Rushford 2 3 5 0 – 10
FRANKLINVILLE: Luciana Marchese 1 0-0 2, Hailey Rzucek 1 0-2 2, Sofia Bentley 9 5-6 20, Alayna Spittler 0 1-2 1, Grace Cornell 3 0-0 9, Olivia Frank 2 2-4 6, Makenzie Chase 4 1-2 9. Totals: 20 9-16 49.
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Aubrey Williams 0 0-2 0, Kendall Tompkins 0 0-2 0, Brynn Lavery 3 0-0 7, Lilly Farwell 1 0-0 2, Raegan Poore 0 1-2 1. Totals: 4 1-6 10.
3-point goals: Franklinville 6 (Bentley 3, Cornell 3), C-R 1 (Lavery).
Total Fouls: Franklinville 14, C-R 16. Fouled out: Maples (C-R).
Andover/Whitesville 67, Houghton Academy 40
WHITESVILLE — Following their rubber match loss in the hands of Genesee Valley/Belfast back on Wednesday, Andover/Whitesville head coach Jimmy Joyce noted that their Senior Night battle against Houghton Academy was one that they absolutely needed to have in their back pockets.
With the possibility of clinching Class D’s number one seed still up for grabs in the midst of a three-team battle at the top of the standings, the race to the finish line was indeed on.
Fortunately for Andover/Whitesville, the bounce back came alive in front of their home crowd in Whitesville beginning with a strong start that was powered by Vinny Joyce. That was followed by a balanced offensive effort from the second quarter onward, as they were able to garner advantages in all four quarters, including a big third quarter stand against the Panthers that helped set the tone, en route to a 67-40 win on Friday.
“That was definitely our most complete game we’ve played in recent memory. It’s something that we needed as we get closer to Sectionals. We got contributions from everybody tonight in one way or another,” said Joyce. “Vinny started strong with the first seven points and finished with a big night. Colton (Calladine) attacked the basket really well along with his normal assignment of (James) Adenuga. Brody had a great game too, even if it doesn’t show as far as points. He helped lead the offense with how he distributed the ball. There’s a lot to like, and against a team that Jeff (Prentice) prepares every time out. They have improved every single time we’ve played them the last several years.”
Andover/Whitesville (10-9) built the game’s first lead off behind the guidance of Joyce, who ignited the offense with nine of the team’s 13 points while the defense kept Houghton Academy held to just two field goals — a pair of three-pointers, to finish the frame with a 13-6 lead in hand. The hosts would continue to gradually add more momentum as time went on, including a 20-point third quarter frame that saw multiple contributions propel the jaunt.
That would give them all the wiggle room they needed to floor it home towards victory.
Colton Calladine would lead all scorers on the hardwood with his game-high 22 points for Andover/Whitesville, while Joyce followed with 19 of his own. Gage Putnam had 12 points.
As for the Panthers (6-11), James Adenuga led the scoring with his 15 team-high points. Jack Prentice had 13 points, while Josh Davidson had 11. Houghton Academy takes the floor again on Monday back home, hosting Cuba-Rushford in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
Prior to the contest, Andover/Whitesville honored their lone senior in Derek Perkins, who also was the recipient of a $500 scholarship from the local IAABO committee.
Up next on Tuesday for Andover/Whitesville is a trip back over the hill and into Andover for a 7:30 p.m. clash with Bolivar-Richburg.
Houghton Academy 6 10 13 11 – 40
Andover/Whitesville 13 16 20 18 – 67
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: Jack Prentice 2 8-8 13, Josh Davidson 4 0-0 11, James Adenuga 5 2-4 15, Jack Qi 0 1-2 1. Totals: 11 11-14 40.
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Ethan Warriner 1 0-0 2, Vinny Joyce 8 0-0 19, Brody Vance 2 1-3 5, Colton Calladine 9 2-4 22, Gage Putnam 3 5-9 12, Jon Valleries 3 0-0 7. Totals: 26 8-16 67.
3-point goals: HA 7 (Davidson 3, Adenuga 3, Prentice), A/W 7 (Joyce 3, Calladine 2, Putnam, Valleries).
Total Fouls: HA 13, A/W 12. Fouled out: None.
Bolivar-Richburg 58, Genesee Valley/Belfast 28
BELFAST — In what is their third game in three straight nights, the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg went forth and delivered a perfect 72 hours of basketball to close out the week on Friday, as they hit the road for a visit to Genesee Valley/Belfast and came away with a powerful first half they used to set the tone in their 58-28 victory — their sixth in the last eight games, in Belfast.
The Wolverines (14-5) witnessed everything fall into place right away in the opening half of play, as they held Genesee Valley/Belfast to just 10 points. That would include a strong run across the opening eight minutes that ultimately served as the difference maker right out of the gate, producing a 12-4 lead that they never looked back on.
Three different Bolivar-Richburg scorers all eclipsed double figures to propel the offense towards success, with Aydin Sisson fronting the efforts with his 14-point performance. Behind him were Landon Barkley and Waide Karnuth, both scoring 10 points. Reiss Gaines had seven points.
For Genesee Valley/Belfast, Kenton Shultz posted 14 of the team’s 28 points to lead the offense. Kadin Logue had seven points. The team is now off until the start of Sectionals, as they now enter the Class C3 Field with a record of 10-10 overall.
Bolivar-Richburg will hit the road once again Tuesday night to Andover with a 7:30 p.m. visit to Andover/Whitesville to close out their regular season.
Bolivar-Richburg 12 14 16 16 – 58
Genesee Valley/Belfast 4 6 11 7 – 28
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Aydin Sisson 5 2-2 14, Landon Barkley 3 2-2 10, Brayden Zilker 2 0-0 6, David Abdo 2 0-0 4, Waide Karnuth 5 0-0 10, Trevor Pforter 1 0-0 2, Caden Giardini 1 0-0 3, Reiss Gaines 3 1-1 7, Kingston Loucks 0 2-4 2. Totals: 22 7-9 58.
GV/BELFAST: Kadin Logue 3 1-1 7, Matt Cater 0 1-4 1, Ian McKenzie 1 2-4 4, Kenton Shultz 6 2-2 14, Fisher Herdman 1 0-0 2. Totals: 11 6-11 28.
3-point goals: B-R 7 (Sisson 2, Barkley 2, Zilker 2, Giardini).
Total Fouls: B-R 8, GVB 10. Fouled out: None.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Fillmore 74, Bolivar-Richburg 23
BOLIVAR — After a tough defeat to the hands of the Wellsville Lady Lions a mere 24 hours ago, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore provided a rebound back into the win column over the road again on Friday, using every bit of the first half to their advantage at Bolivar-Richburg to claim a 74-23 victory over the host Lady Wolverines.
Four different scorers aided the offense in a tremendous night from the field for the Lady Eagles (16-2). Among them was Emalyn Mucher, who had her finest performance of the season with a game-high 21 points. Hope Russell was next in line with her contributions, as she posted 18 points of her own, while Mattie McCumiskey and Grace Russell chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The offense for the visitors in gray and green energized the first half of play in a hurry, beginning in the first quarter where they outlasted the Lady Wolverines (4-12) in a back-and-forth trading of baskets to finish the frame with nine consecutive points to construct the first burst of momentum. In the second, it all came to a boiling point when Fillmore ran off and finished the first two stanzas on a 25-4 run of the hosts in white and red to permanently cement their lead.
Leading the scoring for Bolivar-Richburg was Caitlyn Steiner, as she posted a team-high eight points. Raegan Giardini and Carmen Crowley each chipped in with four points. The Lady Wolverines will hop back onto their hardwood Monday night, hosting Friendship/Scio at 7:30 p.m.
The regular-season ending road swing for Fillmore will re-commence on Tuesday, as they prepare for a 7:30 p.m. visit to Cuba-Rushford.
Fillmore 15 25 17 17 – 74
Bolivar-Richburg 5 4 10 4 – 23
FILLMORE: Hope Russell 7 2-2 18, Grace Russell 3 2-2 10, Rachel Hatch 3 0-0 9, Kylee Ellsworth 1 0-0 2, Mattie McCumiskey 4 3-6 11, Emalyn Mucher 8 2-7 21, Preslee Miller 1 1-2 3. Totals: 27 10-19 74.
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Nadia Baldwin 1 0-0 3, Jaelyn Kinnicutt 1 0-0 2, Raegan Giardini 1 1-1 4, Sydney Faulkner 1 0-0 2, Carmen Crowley 2 0-0 4, Caitlyn Steiner 4 0-0 8. Totals: 10 1-1 23.
3-point goals: Fillmore 10 (Hatch 3, Mucher 3, H. Russell 2, G. Russell 2), B-R 2 (Baldwin, Giardini).
Total Fouls: Fillmore 11, B-R 18. Fouled out: None.
Wednesday Roundup: GV/Belfast constructs 4th quarter run to claim rubber match of 3-game set with And/Whi; Corning’s 2nd half ascension aids win over Wellsville; B-R, Fillmore boys tally road wins
WHITESVILLE — It all came down to Wednesday night. With Genesee Valley/Belfast and Andover/Whitesville each garnering a victory each side, it was now time for the rubber match in Whitesville.
In what was their third and final battle of this season, the momentum clicker was switched on and off in a constant motion across the majority of the first half of play between both squads, with a pair of last-second buckets — one from each squad, helping determine which way the balance of power would tilt.
Through it all, Genesee Valley/Belfast had the upper hand in their possession, but it was not easy by any means with Andover/Whitesville trailing right behind them every step of the way. But after three quarters of competitive close quarters basketball, the final eight minutes would help tell the remainder of the story.
Genesee Valley/Belfast would be the ones to put the victorious cherry on top.
The visitors in black were able to ride all the waves of momentum to victory, as they capitalized on both ends of the floor across the board to record a run that allowed them to expand their advantage out of reach while holding Andover/Whitesville to their lowest stand of offense in the same swing.
As a result, Genesee Valley/Belfast went on to claim the rubber match’s victory — their fifth overall in the last seven games, by a 57-37 final count over Andover/Whitesville.
“That was another tough battle between us and GV/Belfast tonight,” said Andover/Whitesville coach Jimmy Joyce. “We knew it would be since we played them twice already and both of those games were extremely competitive. We asked a lot of Vinny (Joyce) and Ethan (Warriner) down low against (Jacob) Borden and I thought they more than held their own, but offensively, we couldn’t get anything to fall. We chipped away at their lead several times, but we just couldn’t quite close the gap. Credit to Lintz (Bliven) and his crew. They are playing some real good basketball right now. For ourselves, we will take as much as we can from this game and move on to an even bigger game on Senior Night this weekend.”
The switch-flickering would stem right away in the opening eight minutes between both teams, with Genesee Valley/Belfast (10-9) flipping it first with their explosive start that allowed them to net eight straight points — a run that was aided by a triple each from Ian McKenzie and Kadin Logue, after an early exchange of baskets inside to break the ice.
But then, the switch was flipped towards the direction of Andover/Whitesville (9-9), as they went off on a near-identical jaunt themselves by scoring the next seven points in a row after some aid was received at the charity stripe, with Brody Vance and Colton Calladine leading the charge to trim their deficit down to four.
Right at the buzzer, the momentum would remain with the hosts in white off a ridiculous and preposterous last second shot off the hand of Colton Calladine just inside the far right wing, letting a shot fly from just behind the backboard and into the net as time expired to keep their degree of separation at four points going into the second quarter.
The constant transition of power would eventually land right back at Genesee Valley/Belfast’s doorstep near the midway mark of the frame, when they accounted for yet another run of Andover/Whitesville to extend their advantage to as large as 13 points, bucketing 11 of the frame’s first 13 points — all stemming behind a strong defense that allowed them to force the ball back in their favor from the hosts.
Behind a late triple from Gage Putnam in the final minute of the break, Andover/Whitesville continued to claw back and climb back within reach, but Genesee Valley/Belfast had a last second card to play themselves with Kadin Logue finishing the half with a massive three-point play to keep what was a 10-point advantage intact with five seconds left.
In the second half, both teams remained right with one another in the third quarter, which allowed Genesee Valley/Belfast to remain in front with a 42-32 lead going into the last eight minutes — a quarter where they were able to find their offensive edge, as they wrapped up the game on a 15-5 run of Andover/Whitesville to finish off another hard-fought victory with the series-clincher.
Leading the Genesee Valley/Belfast attack was Kenton Shultz, who provided a presence from all angles of the floor in his game-high 17-point performance. Right behind him was Jacob Borden down low, as he chipped in 16 points of his own, while Ian McKenzie had 14 points.
Andover/Whitesville witnessed Brody Vance pilot the offense with his 11 team-high points. Colton Calladine and Vinny Joyce each had eight points, while Gage Putnam had six points off a pair of triples.
Both teams will hit the hardwood again Friday night in a pair of 7:30 p.m. contests, as Genesee Valley/Belfast heads back home to take on Bolivar-Richburg in Belfast, while Andover/Whitesville stays put in Whitesville to welcome in the Houghton Academy Panthers for a visit.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 16 16 10 15 – 57
Andover/Whitesville 12 10 10 5 – 37
GV/BELFAST: Kyle McCumiskey 1 1-4 4, Kadin Logue 1 0-2 3, Matt Cater 0 1-2 1, Ian McKenzie 5 1-2 14, Jacob Borden 8 0-2 16, Kenton Shultz 5 5-5 17, Ryan Daciw 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 8-17 57.
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Jake Mattison 1 0-3 2, Ethan Warriner 1 0-0 2, Vinny Joyce 3 1-2 8, Brody Vance 4 1-4 11, Colton Calladine 3 1-2 8, Gage Putnam 2 0-0 6. Totals: 14 3-11 37.
3-point goals: GVB 7 (McKenzie 3, Shultz 2, McCumiskey, Logue), A/W 6 (Vance 2, Putnam 2, Joyce, Calladine).
Total Fouls: GVB 11, A/W 15. Fouled out: None.
Corning 66, Wellsville 51
CORNING — To open the season, the Lions of Wellsville were presented with a challenge in the shape of a Section IV powerhouse — the Corning Hawks. They were met right away with the presence of eighth grade phenom Nolyn Proudfoot, who dominated the floor inside the Lion’s Den back at the beginning of December.
Looking ahead to their second and final battle off to the east in Corning on Wednesday, the Lions were looking to flip the script completely with a massive response to hold the Hawks steady from beyond the arc.
For the most part, they would do just that, as they kept the pressure on to force them inside to remain within striking distance going into the break. But soon after, Corning would solve the puzzle and as a result, they broke loose behind an incredible third quarter outburst that saw them branch their lead out in insurmountable fashion to proclaim victory to sweep the series with Wellsville by a 66-51 count.
Leading off the battle, the Hawks assumed control behind the guidance of Nolyn Proudfoot’s hot start, as he accounted for eight big points out of the team’s 16 in total, while the Lions (7-12) saw a wealth of scorers all pitch in to keep the offense within distance.
In the second quarter, Wellsville then took their talents to the free throw line, where a 5-of-6 outing at the stripe was garnered by JJ Howard helped maintain their distance behind Corning going to the break, down by four.
With a 26-22 lead on the Lions that started to close fast, Corning would then spread the wealth across the hardwood themselves across a third quarter that ultimately set them apart for good, bolstering their advantage with a 23-point frame that was aided by seven different Hawks from the field.
Out of the 10 made field goals that were made in the frame, eight of them were all unearthed from within the arc to ignite their strong inside presence.
To finish off the victory, the Hawks would turn their attention back outside to the parking lot, where they finished with three big fourth quarter triples to keep their double-digit advantage well intact, despite some late chipping away by the Lions in an attempt to close the gap.
Despite the defeat, Wellsville’s offense was propelled by JJ Howard and his team-leading 15 points, while Ty Vogel followed up with 13 points of his own. Alex Green had nine more points to chip in.
The Lions will close out their regular season Friday night in the Maple City, as they pay a visit to their archrival Hornell Red Raiders in a 7 p.m. contest.
Wellsville 11 11 14 15 – 51
Corning 16 10 23 17 – 66
WELLSVILLE: Aiden Cowburn 1 0-0 2, Karson Grover 2 0-0 4, Cooper Brockway 2 0-0 5, JJ Howard 4 7-9 15, Ty Vogel 4 3-8 13, Jace Densmore 1 0-0 3, Alex Green 4 1-1 9. Totals: 18 11-18 51.
CORNING: Larsen Burch 2 1-4 5, Jeremy Spears 3 1-1 7, Gavyn Hogue 6 2-2 16, Caleb Anderson 2 0-1 4, Kyler Stevenson 3 0-0 8, Mekai Daniels 2 0-0 5, Logan Moore 1 0-0 2, Tiegen Gill 3 0-0 9, Nolyn Proudfoot 5 0-0 10. Totals: 26 4-8 66.
3-point goals: Wellsville 4 (Vogel 2, Brockway, Densmore), Corning 7 (Gill 3, Hogue 2, Stevenson 2, Daniels).
Total Fouls: Wellsville 10, Corning 13. Fouled out: None.
Bolivar-Richburg 66, Houghton Academy 41
HOUGHTON — Through the opening quarter, baskets on each side were temporarily difficult to come by. But when the opening sequence of time passed, so did the fog, clearing the path for one team to set the tone on Wednesday.
The Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg brought the thunder to the table at the very end of the first half and then created a thunderstorm in the next behind a big outing from Kingston Loucks, who was one of five different scorers to eclipse the 10-point plateau to propel the offense to the top of the victorious peak with a 66-41 victory over host Houghton Academy.
“Early on, we had a lot of opportunities to get five guys to 10 points, but we couldn’t buy a bucket,” said Wolverines coach Justin Thomas. “Houghton spread the ball around a lot and used up much of the shot clock to their advantage. We were cold and they kept the possession for as much as they could to make it a very frustrating first half. But in the second half, things started to click with Kingston getting hot and we started to work the ball in even more to run away with it.”
Both Bolivar-Richburg (12-5) and Houghton Academy went back and forth across the opening quarter with a fair exchange of offensive pleasantries that allowed the Wolverines to pull ahead with a narrow four-point lead. But despite some early difficulty, the visitors in black and red were able to fight their way through it and deliver a big 16-8 punch to build a forceful amount of momentum heading into the break.
With it, the Wolverines came out swinging in the third quarter to set the tone with Kingston Loucks and his 13 second half points captaining the game-changing efforts to keep them fastened in the driver’s seat permanently with a gigantic 20-7 run, flooring it towards victory for good.
Leading the scoring for the Wolverines was Aydin Sisson and Landon Barkley, as the dynamic duo each recorded a team-high 14 points. Following behind Loucks and his 13 points was Waide Karnuth, who pitched in 11 points. David Abdo had 10 points.
For the Panthers (6-10), James Adenuga led the scoring with his game-high 18 points. Jack Prentice chipped in with 14 points of his own, while Josh Davidson had the last eight points for the hosts in white and blue, who will now hit the road for a visit to Andover/Whitesville on Friday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Whitesville.
Bolivar-Richburg will head back home in quick turnaround fashion, as they host the Hinsdale Bobcats on Senior Night tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Bolivar-Richburg 14 16 20 16 – 66
Houghton Academy 10 8 7 16 – 41
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Aydin Sisson 7 0-0 14, Landon Barkley 5 3-3 14, David Abdo 5 0-0 10, Waide Karnuth 5 1-3 11, Trevor Pforter 0 1-2 1, Caden Giardini 1 0-0 3, Reiss Gaines 0 0-2 0, Kingston Loucks 5 0-0 13. Totals: 28 5-10 66.
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: Jack Prentice 5 3-7 14, Josh Davidson 3 0-0 8, James Adenuga 6 2-2 18, Xianmeng Chen 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 6-11 41.
3-point goals: B-R 5 (Loucks 3, Barkley, Giardini), HA 7 (Adenuga 4, Davidson 2, Prentice).
Total Fouls: B-R 11, HA 7. Fouled out: None.
Fillmore 88, Friendship/Scio 23
FRIENDSHIP — The Eagles of Fillmore spread the wealth all around the court in their latest road trip Wednesday night, with almost every Eagle getting their hands on the ball and finding the twine hanging from the rim, as they started the game red hot and kept their foot down on the gas the remainder of the way in their 88-23 win over host Friendship/Scio, in Friendship.
Fillmore (17-2) assembled a first quarter spearhead to break the ice with, as the dynamic duo of Zach Sisson and Jonah Bialek propelled the attack towards a massive 29-point inception — 22 of the points combined between the two sharpshooters, setting the tone against Friendship/Scio with a 29-6 lead that at no time was surrendered.
Sisson would lead all scorers on the floor with a game-high 24 points, while Bialek added in 12 points of his own. Following behind them was Cam Mucher and his 11 points, while Isaiah Sisson had eight points to add in.
Friendship/Scio (4-15) was paced by Connor Blouvet and his team-leading eight points. Jerome Harmon had six points. The team will return to action back in Friendship, Tuesday night with a 6 p.m. visit from Hinsdale.
The Eagles will wrap up their spectacular regular season with one last trip over the road next Wednesday night, visiting the Cuba-Rushford Rebels in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Fillmore 29 24 19 16 – 88
Friendship/Scio 6 8 4 5 – 23
FILLMORE: Cam Mucher 4 3-3 11, Marcus Wolfer 2 0-0 5, Isaiah Sisson 4 0-0 8, Layton Sanasith 3 0-0 7, Brandon Buck 3 0-0 6, Zach Sisson 10 2-2 24, Jonah Bialek 6 0-0 12, Brayden Hennard 1 0-0 2, Jameson Rhett 2 0-0 4, Gavin Barnhart 1 0-0 3, JD Bialek 3 0-0 6. Totals: 39 5-5 88.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Aiden Golden 1 1-2 4, Jerome Harmon 3 0-2 6, Connor Blouvet 2 2-6 8, Charlie Taylor 1 0-0 2, Matt Donohue 1 0-0 3. Totals: 8 3-10 23.
3-point goals: Fillmore 4 (Z. Sisson 2, Wolfer, Barnhart), F/S 3 (Blouvet 2, Donohue).
Total Fouls: Fillmore 10, F/S 8. Fouled out: None.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
County Semifinals: No. 1 Allegany-Limestone 3, No. 5 Genesee Valley/Belfast 0
ALLEGANY — With No. 2 Arkport-Canaseraga waiting in the wings to determine this year’s Allegany County Champion, the final vacancy remaining would see No. 5 Genesee Valley/Belfast and top-seeded Allegany-Limestone duke it out in the Swamp on Wednesday.
With two strong sets in the wagon for the Gators, they would push Genesee Valley/Belfast to the brink. Under immense pressure, the visitors would consume every bit of it and put up the fight of their lives by forcing extra sets in what was the third and final set of the night. But in the end, the undefeated top seeds would punch their return tickets back to the Finals with a 25-12, 25-7, 28-26 straight-set win.
The Gators were aided by a strong offensive performance from Josh Nolder, recording a team-high 13 kills. Kevin Edwards-Hardy chipped in with eight more kills while the team’s setter in the middle of the floor, CJ Ellison, handed out 21 helpers to set the offense up.
Statistics for Genesee Valley/Belfast were not made available to report upon publication, as they wrap up their 2023-24 campaign with a record of 9-9 overall.
Next Thursday night, the Allegany County League crown will be decided between Arkport-Canaseraga and Allegany-Limestone in a 6 p.m. first serve in the Swamp.
Tuesday Roundup: Ark-Can outlasts Wellsville in tough straight-set sweep to advance to County Finals; GV/Belfast wards off And/Whi, Fillmore rolls past Fri/Scio in ladies hoops action
ARKPORT — The Lions of Wellsville did everything possible to stay right alongside No. 2 Arkport-Canaseraga all throughout the night.
After a seven-point win for the Wolves to open the match, the action between the two squads intensified more and more as time went on, with what were the last two sets of action being decided by no more than two points.
But in the end, the two sets were claimed by the same team that built the momentum in the opening set to help set the tone, as Arkport-Canaseraga managed to stay out in front with all three victories after a tough fight with the No. 3 Lions, as they ended their season while advancing to the Allegany County Championship match with a 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 home win in Arkport, Tuesday night.
Leading the way for the Wolves was Noah Drouin, who recorded a game-high 15 kills to pair with four aces and a pair of blocks. Aydan Button chipped in with five more kills to go with two aces and a denial, while setter Salim Ford had 11 assists to hand out in the center of the floor.
Wellsville witnessed Xavier Scott take the lead on offense behind his 12 kills, one ace and one block. Following behind was Brody Heaney, who had two blocks, one kill and one ace, while the team’s setter in Nolan Kozlowski had nine assists to aid the attack, pairing them with a duo of aces and a kill.
The Lions have reached the end of their 2023-24 campaign, as they finish up with a record of 11-5 overall.
As for Arkport-Canaseraga, they now move into the Championship round where they will face either No. 5 Genesee Valley/Belfast or top-seeded Allegany-Limestone for the right to become this year’s County champion. Date and time for the final match of the season has not been announced upon publication.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 42, Andover/Whitesville 38
ANDOVER — On back-to-back nights, the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies went straight down to the wire, this time back over the road in a visit to Andover/Whitesville on Tuesday.
It was as close quarters of a battle as advertised when the time ticked away to the waning moments of their battle, with the visitors in black clinging to a narrow lead and Andover/Whitesville looking to strike with a game-tying basket. But their attempt would just miss the rim and into the possession of Genesee Valley/Belfast, where the foul game soon commenced to close the game out on what was their 42-38 victory in Andover.
After going down by a point after a defensive first quarter, Genesee Valley/Belfast (14-4) was able to capture the go-ahead lead in the second quarter over Andover/Whitesville behind the ascension of Mary Hamer, who posted seven of the team’s 13 points in the frame, while the defense limited the hosts to just one shot from the field in the process, forcing them to the charity stripe with a 7-for-10 outing at the line.
In the third quarter, Hamer’s takeover would hit all strides in the midst of a close back-and-forth exchange with Andover/Whitesville (3-15), as she posted all 10 of the team’s points to maintain their lead going into the fourth quarter, despite the pressure beginning to ramp up right behind them.
All that was left for Genesee Valley/Belfast was to continue hanging on, and after a late chance to tie the game came with under two minutes remaining, the defense would ultimately shine through and deliver to force the foul game into effect for Andover/Whitesville, as they used some key assistance at the charity stripe to lock up the four-point win in narrow fashion.
Hamer would go on to finish the night with a game-high 24 points for Genesee Valley/Belfast. Abby Sullivan and Sophie Zillgitt each had six points to chip in.
For Andover/Whitesville, Olivia Waters paved the way towards a 17-point performance at the front of the pack. Stella Bledsoe chipped in with eight points of her own. The team is now off until next Wednesday night for their final regular season home game in Whitesville, playing host to Fillmore in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will now head back home to Belfast on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. battle with Bolivar-Richburg.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 7 13 10 12 – 42
Andover/Whitesville 8 9 12 9 – 38
GV/BELFAST: Abby Sullivan 2 0-2 6, Sophie Zillgitt 3 0-2 6, Kendra Bigelow 1 1-1 3, Whitney Young 0 1-2 1, Mary Hamer 10 4-10 24, Ava Aaronson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 6-17 42.
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: Stella Bledsoe 1 6-10 8, Graci Lewis-Ellison 2 2-8 7, Makaila Brewster 0 1-2 1, Lilly Harrington 1 0-0 2, Olivia Waters 6 5-6 17, Katrina Lewis 1 1-2 3. Totals: 11 15-28 38.
3-point goals: GVB 2 (Sullivan), A/W 1 (Lewis-Ellison).
Total Fouls: GVB 21, A/W 18. Fouled out: Sullivan (GVB).
Fillmore 70, Friendship/Scio 28
FRIENDSHIP — With a colossal and titanic showdown with the Lady Lions of Wellsville upon the horizon in just a few days time, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore continued to move full steam ahead into their first of five straight games on the road to close out their regular season, Tuesday night.
Their first stop was in Friendship to take on host Friendship/Scio, where their high-flying offense soared to big heights by accounting for at least 19 points in the first three quarters of play, garnering 10 big three-pointers in the same swing to aid in setting the tone to keep their flame ablaze with a 70-28 road win.
Right out of the gate, Fillmore (15-1) set the tone against Friendship/Scio with their largest frame of offense of the game, capitalizing on both ends of the floor to produce a 23-6 run that they never looked back in the rearview mirror on. Aiding the efforts was a strong three-point game that saw them score 10 of them in all along with a team-high 17-point performance from Mattie McCumiskey down low.
Following behind McCumiskey was Hope Russell, who chipped in four three points to put towards her 16-point effort. Amelia Rose added three more within her 10-point night, while Emalyn Mucher finished with eight points, including two triples of her own.
Friendship/Scio (9-6) was led by both Nevaeh Ross and Emily Lamberson, as each scorer posted a team-high eight points.
Both teams are back in action Thursday night over the road, with Fillmore heading to the Lion’s Den to face Wellsville in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off, while Friendship/Scio heads north to take on the Lima Christian Lady Saints in a 6 p.m. contest.
Fillmore 23 20 19 8 – 70
Friendship/Scio 6 10 6 6 – 28
FILLMORE: Hope Russell 6 0-0 16, Grace Russell 4 0-0 9, Rachel Hatch 2 0-0 4, Amelia Rose 3 1-3 10, Kylee Ellsworth 1 0-0 2, Mattie McCumiskey 8 1-2 17, Emalyn Mucher 3 0-0 8, Preslee Miller 2 0-0 4. Totals: 29 2-5 70.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Grace Drumm 2 0-0 5, Emily Lamberson 3 0-0 8, Nevaeh Ross 3 2-3 8, Hunter Hint 1 0-0 2, Avery Lamberson 1 0-0 2, Morghyn Ross 0 3-4 3. Totals: 10 5-7 28.
3-point goals: Fillmore 10 (H. Russell 4, Rose 3, Mucher 2, G. Russell), F/S 3 (E. Lamberson 2, Drumm).
Total Fouls: Fillmore 9, F/S 5. Fouled out: None.
Steuben County Tourney: Canisteo-Greenwood 64, Addison 19
CANISTEO — The Steuben County Tournament helped provide a spark for the Canisteo-Greenwood Lady Chargers to start the regular season-ending gauntlet on a high note Tuesday night in the Canisteo Valley, using an electric first quarter to bring the hammer down immediately against visiting Addison to set up shop for a 64-19 home win.
Contributions from four different Lady Chargers (10-8) allowed them to kick the tires on a massive 20-point quarter to start the night, using a strong presence down underneath along with a perfect 6-for-6 outing at the charity stripe to their utmost advantage in their 20-6 run against the Lady Knights, garnering a lead they did not relinquish from that point forward.
Peyton Peters and Bailey Mullen were two big reasons behind the success for the hosts in white and red, as they combined to score 34 of the team’s 64 points, with Peters leading all scorers with a game-high 18 points, pairing them with 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. Mullen finished with 16 points of her own along with seven steals and six assists, while McKenna Ferris grabbed 10 additional rebounds off the glass to further the special teams cause.
Addison was paced by Sadie Strauss and Bregan Jones, both scoring five points.
Canisteo-Greenwood will now travel to Avoca on Thursday for the Semifinal Round of the Steuben County Tournament, where they will face the Jasper-Troupsburg Wildcats in a 5:45 p.m. tip-off.
Addison 6 4 3 6 – 19
Canisteo-Greenwood 20 15 13 16 – 64
ADDISON: Caidyn Jones 1 0-0 2, Fine Arning 1 0-0 2, Julia Benton 1 1-4 3, Sadie Strauss 2 1-2 5, Bregan Jones 2 0-0 5, Aurora Jacobson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 8 2-6 19.
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD: Kora Button 3 0-3 7, Bailey Mullen 7 2-3 16, Mackenna Mullen 2 1-2 6, McKenna Ferris 3 1-1 7, Anna Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Harlie McCaffery 3 0-4 6, Peyton Peters 7 4-4 18. Totals: 27 8-17 64.
3-point goals: Addison 1 (Jones), C-G 2 (Button, M. Mullen).
Total Fouls: Addison 14, C-G 7. Fouled out: None.
Monday Roundup: B-R’s Sisson becomes 2nd 1K-point scorer in 3 seasons in win over Addison in Barkley make-up; Eagles net 14th straight win behind Sisson’s 35 in spoiling of Wellsville’s Senior Night
BOLIVAR — In the history of Bolivar-Richburg basketball, just two Wolverines currently stand alone in the program’s most coveted guild: the 1,000-point club.
Jeff Mountain was the first member to earn his entrance back in the mid-1990’s, and more recently, Landon Danaher was the last to reach the feat as the program’s second all-time member just two seasons ago.
Now in the present day, the program did not have to gaze very far into the distance for the next member waiting in the wings and his opportunity to punch that golden ticket into the Wolverines history books. In fact, it’s Danaher’s former teammate — Aydin Sisson.
With the determination, the drive, the diligence, the hard work and everything else in between, Sisson has risen to the occasion as not only one of Bolivar-Richburg’s leaders, but perhaps one of the best in Allegany County to take the floor this season. All the Wolverines senior would need to cement his legacy was a magic number.
11.
Sisson’s chance to do it came right after the weekend on Monday, when the Wolverines welcomed in the Addison Knights in a game that was originally going to take place at Alfred State College as part of a five-game docket for the 8th installment of the Dan Barkley Showcase. But due to the torrential snowfall and high winds, the battle was ultimately pushed to a later date.
In what is officially the final game of the Barkley Showcase for this season, Bolivar-Richburg wasted no time whatsoever springing their offense to life against the Knights, with four different Wolverines all posting at least 10 points or more to help set the tone. Amongst the scorers was someone who would see a long wait come to an end.
It was Aydin’s time.
The 11 points that Sisson would need all came from within what was a 26-point tone-setting first quarter for the hosts in white and black, helping knock a triple along with two runaway baskets to the rim off a couple of defensive turnovers — the last of which stemming at the very end of the quarter to serve as the team’s 26th point, as he became just the third Wolverine in history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark in their career on his way to being named MVP of the Barkley Showcase battle in the same swing in what was a 75-33 win over Addison.
“It’s such a great achievement. It’s something that we never talked about, and he handled it the way people should,” Wolverines coach Justin Thomas said. “Everyone wants to be the one that gets it, and he never really wanted to know, but he always had an idea of sorts. He was focused all season long at the task at hand, and he is such a great kid and a coach’s dream as far as receptiveness and desire. He puts in the extra work, and from a personal standpoint, I don’t think I missed any of his points since he started playing. To see it all come together for him is something really special.”
Before Sisson was able to eclipse that historic marker, the Wolverines (11-5), along with Addison, would have to battle through some full-court pressing on each end of the floor early on, as both teams held the offenses idle while forcing a handful of turnovers.
The Knights would start the game with a long three from outside, but Bolivar-Richburg immediately shook it off and restarted their engines with a big 9-0 run to jump in front, headlined by some stellar inside work from Waide Karnuth.
After the Knights found a way to halt Bolivar-Richburg in their tracks, the Wolverines re-routed and delivered another scoreless punch into the fray, seeing Sisson and Reiss Gaines each knock down a triple to aid their next run consisting of eight straight points — a 17-6 run in all with nearly two minutes left in the frame.
The Wolverines would go on to put a wrap on their 26-point opening stanza to break the ice in vehement fashion. Along the way, the game was paused with under a minute remaining when Sisson netted that ultimate basket to reach 1,000 career points on the button on his final basket of the frame. He was met a short time later with warm embraces from his parents, Scott and Rhiannon along the center court bleachers to share that special moment together.
Starting the game was an element to the game itself that was identified as the thorn in their side for most of the season. But for Thomas, he says that the inception they provided this time around is something they need to keep glued together with Sectionals beginning to loom in the distance a mere two weeks away.
“The challenge has been to get off to that good start, and we have failed to do that several times this year,” he said. “It was nice to put the beginning together and set the tone for the game. We want that, because slow starts can lead to early exits in Sectionals. As far as the Showcase, Jimmy Joyce got to stop Allegany County’s slide in this with Andover/Whitesville last month, and we pushed it out to two games tonight to get a winning streak going for next year’s tournament.”
Bolivar-Richburg would advance forward with another long run of the Knights across the second quarter to aid in further bolstering their 40-11 halftime lead they never looked back on, as they ended the night with a brilliant start to the week ahead. As for Sisson, he would lead all Wolverines scorers on the hardwood with his game-high 19 points, coupling them with five boards, two assists and two steals.
Furthering the cause was Kingston Loucks, who assembled a monster second half for the Wolverines with his 17 points. Landon Barkley chipped in with 10 points to go with seven rebounds, while Waide Karnuth finished with 10 points and six additional boards. On special teams, Reiss Gaines posted 10 boards off the glass — a team-high, while handing out eight assists and garnering three steals.
Addison was led by Jackson Nichols and his eight team-high points.
With the victory for the Wolverines, it officially closes out the Dan Barkley Showcase for this year, with Steuben County seeing wins from both the Hornell boys and girls squads, along with the Canisteo-Greenwood, Jasper-Troupsburg and Arkport-Canaseraga boys help claim the 5-2 overall edge over Allegany County.
Up next for the Wolverines is a Wednesday night trip to Houghton Academy, beginning at 7:30 p.m. before coming back home the next night to host their annual Senior Night celebration against Hinsdale.
Addison 8 3 8 12 – 33
Bolivar-Richburg 26 14 12 23 – 75
ADDISON: Zane Wheeler 3 0-0 7, Jackson Nichols 3 2-2 8, Frank Heidrick 2 0-0 4, Joshua Held 2 1-2 5, Aidan Knowles 1 0-0 2, Caleb Stuby 3 0-0 7. Totals: 14 3-4 33.
BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Aydin Sisson 8 2-5 19, Landon Barkley 5 2-2 12, Brayden Zilker 1 0-0 3, Waide Karnuth 5 0-0 10, Trevor Pforter 1 0-0 2, Caden Giardini 1 0-0 3, Reiss Gaines 2 0-0 6, James Margeson 1 1-2 3, Kingston Loucks 7 1-4 17. Totals: 31 6-13 75.
3-point goals: Addison 2 (Wheeler, Stuby), B-R 7 (Loucks 2, Gaines 2, Sisson, Zilker, Giardini).
Total Fouls: Addison 13, B-R 10. Fouled out: None.
Fillmore 76, Wellsville 61
WELLSVILLE — The crowd. The drumline. The atmosphere. When you know it’s Senior Night in the Lion’s Den, you know.
For all three of Wellsville’s seniors — Cooper Brockway, Alex Green and Ethan Bailey, they will have played their very last regular season game on the court they have come to know over the years.
Surrounded by friends, family and the fans in attendance, the Lions paid tribute to their three leaders and the overwhelming amount of contributions they have provided since they put on the jersey for the first time.
After memories were shared, there was business to attend to against a team they had not seen since the beginning of the year. A team that has transformed into a red hot juggernaut — the Fillmore Eagles.
Ever since the IAABO Tournament in early December, the Eagles have not skipped a single beat, garnering wins in each of the next 13 games leading up to their final visit into the Lion’s Den. One of the main driving forces: Zach Sisson, who continues to put the most explosive of exclamation points to his senior career, night in and night out.
To say that Monday night was any different, would truly be an understatement.
Right from the start, Fillmore assumed command of the ballgame with an early run that allowed them to claim the upper edge. From the second quarter on, the majority of the offense rested upon the shoulders of Zach Sisson the rest of the way, as the Eagles phenom posted a game-high 35 points — a performance that included six of the team’s 10 threes and a perfect 15-for-15 outing at the charity stripe, elements that allowed his team to play spoiler on Senior Night for the Lions with a 76-61 win over Wellsville.
“Nights like tonight are what we need to get ready for Sectionals. A tough opponent, a packed house, a loud student section, the pep band. It was a lot of fun,” said Eagles coach Randy Crouch. “My guys came out with energy, ready to meet the challenge ahead. I don’t know what else to say about Zach. There aren’t a lot of superlatives left in my vocabulary. Tonight, he was not going to be denied. He carried us for the first 12 minutes until he picked up his second foul. The third quarter came, and he picked up right where he left off. Give credit to Tom (Muska) and his team, they fought us right to the end and made us battle.”
The ruckus for the Eagles (16-2) stemmed right in the opening frame of play, when a quick four-point play that started outside and finished at the free throw line was used as the spearhead in the team’s 11-0 run of the Lions approaching the midway mark.
The visitors in green began to turn the heat up on defense in the back half of time remaining, forcing a handful of turnovers against Wellsville before the Lions were able to shake it off and score six of the next eight points to close the gap to five with a minute left.
But what momentum was built by the hosts in white and orange was syphoned by the Eagles to close out the quarter, as Cam Mucher delivered back-to-back strikes from the parking lot outside to garner the double-digit edge.
In the second quarter, the curtain came up for the Zach Sisson show, as he caught sparks that ultimately transformed into a towering inferno to pace the offense, scoring 14 of Fillmore’s 20 points, including a trio of triples to push the advantage to as much as 20 at one point.
“He had about as nice of an offensive performance as our gym has ever seen tonight. The three triples in the second quarter gave them a lead we never really came back from,” said Lions coach Tom Muska. “We cut the lead to around 10 or 15 and then Sisson really put the game on his shoulders for a stretch. They held that for the rest of the game, and that’s a team that can stretch you defensively with so many great shooters. Unfortunately, we let them get too many attempts from 3 off and it cost us.”
The Lions (7-11) chipped away at the deficit with some hard-fought baskets from JJ Howard and Ty Vogel down low, with Howard netting the half’s last bucket off a steal underneath the rim to close the gap to 14 when halftime settled in.
“Tyler has been fantastic all season for us and followed that up tonight with another nice game all around. JJ was great tonight as well, and together, the two of them have a real burden to play well every night for us to come through,” Muska said of his juniors. “It’s not going to get any easier. We’re going to go play some great basketball teams in some tough environments to close out the season. We need to do whatever we can to prepare ourselves for another run in Sectionals. These kinds of games will help us.”
Across the second half, the Eagles were able to maintain one step ahead of the Lions every step of the way, despite the hosts continuing to chip and claw back. To ensure a permanent seal to the victory, Sisson would proceed to take his talents to the charity stripe, where he nailed a sublime 10-for-10 outing to finish it off.
Following behind Sisson for the Eagles was Cam Mucher, who aided in the team’s rapid start back in the first quarter with a pair of three points to put towards what was a 19-point performance. Layton Sanasith and Jonah Bialek each had nine points to pitch in.
The Lions were propelled by JJ Howard down low, scoring 22 team-high points. Ty Vogel was right behind him with 12 points of his own, while Cooper Brockway and Alex Green finished with eight each. Wellsville will hit the road for their final pair games left on the regular season docket, beginning on Wednesday with a visit to the Corning Hawks at 7:15 p.m.
Prior to the contest, Wellsville honored all three seniors in Brockway, Green and Ethan Bailey for their endless contributions over the years. As for his opportunity to coach them, Muska says that it makes him proud to know that they’ve become an excellent representation of the program.
“You couldn’t ask for better people to have in your program. They are all hard workers who are willing to come early and stay late,” he said. “They are nice kids who you are proud to see represent Wellsville basketball. I hope they continue to wear it on their chest for years to come. I’m proud to be a part of a town that produces young men like them.”
Fillmore will continue their road swing on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. trip to Friendship to take on host Friendship/Scio.
Fillmore 21 20 19 16 – 76
Wellsville 10 17 16 18 – 61
FILLMORE: Cam Mucher 6 4-4 19, Marcus Wolfer 1 0-0 2, Layton Sanasith 4 1-2 9, Zach Sisson 7 15-15 35, Jonah Bialek 4 0-0 9, JD Bialek 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 20-21 76.
WELLSVILLE: Aiden Cowburn 3 0-0 6, Cooper Brockway 2 2-3 8, JJ Howard 8 4-4 21, Ty Vogel 6 0-0 12, Trenton Green 3 0-1 6, Alex Green 2 4-4 8. Totals: 24 10-12 61.
3-point goals: Fillmore 10 (Sisson 6, Mucher 3, Jo. Bialek), Wellsville 3 (Brockway 2, Howard).
Total Fouls: Fillmore 9, Wellsville 16. Fouled out: Howard (WLSV).
Cuba-Rushford 69, Oswayo Valley 56
CUBA — Oswayo Valley gave Cuba-Rushford everything they could handle across the board, Monday night.
The balance of power between both teams went in every direction imaginable all throughout, but when it mattered most, one team was able to deliver in the end. With an eight-point lead going into the last eight minutes and the visiting Green Wave beginning to turn the heat up down the game’s final stretch, the Rebels had to turn their attention towards providing a spark plug.
Enter Braeden Wight and Adam Roe, as the two Rebels came together to record the bulk of the team’s 18 fourth quarter points — six off them off the bench for Roe, to garner the room required to lock up the victory to send their seniors out swinging with a 69-56 win on Senior Night.
“It’s always great to get a win on Senior Night. Oswayo Valley fought us hard and we were able to make some big shots in the fourth to extend our lead,” Rebels coach Pat Wight said. “Adam Roe and Dean Frank were a great spark off the bench in the second half that helped us get going. I’m very proud of the Seniors and it’s been a pleasure to coach them the past 10 years. This group I’ve watched grow with Braeden since they were five. I was happy they could get a win on their night. Thank you to Braeden, Tristan (Clayson), Kaden (Bell) and Luke (Brooks). They are solid ball players and even better people.”
All beyond the first half, it was a neck-and-neck battle between the two foes, with the Rebels (11-7) keeping one step ahead of the Green Wave in each frame, beginning with a first quarter that saw them jump out to a lead as big as six points, courtesy of a 7-0 run near the midway mark of the frame after a handful of back-and-forth baskets.
With a 14-11 lead in hand, the back-and-forth pace carried into the second quarter, where no lead was bigger than four points. That degree of separation was garnered right at the buzzer when Finn Ricketts fought his way to the basket to put away the lay-in off the glass for the score and a 32-28 advantage over the Green Wave going into the break.
In the second half, Cuba-Rushford fed off the momentum and started the third quarter hot where they took a four-point lead and branched it out into double figures right before the Green Wave ended the frame with a buzzer-beater of their own.
But despite the temporary momentum silencer, the hosts in white and maroon shook off and strung together a strong 18-point finish headlined by both Wight and Roe to put a cap on the victory to send the seniors out swinging.
Wight would go on to lead all scorers with his game-high 19 points for Cuba-Rushford. Kaden Bell and Peyton Joy each collected 10 points, while Finn Ricketts and Adam Roe each had six.
Up next for the Rebels is a week away from action, as they now await the final week of the regular season next Monday night with a 7:30 p.m. trip to Houghton Academy.
Oswayo Valley 11 17 15 13 – 56
Cuba-Rushford 14 18 19 18 – 69
OSWAYO VALLEY: Brayden Wiley 3 0-0 7, Landen Flurschutz 3 2-4 10, Ridge Mesler 1 0-0 3, Joey Maurer 1 0-0 2, Nik Bonney 1 0-0 2, Isaiah Goode 3 0-0 6, Connor Resig 4 3-3 14, Gabe Mundt 5 2-3 12. Totals: 21 7-10 56.
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Braeden Wight 7 1-1 19, Kaden Bell 4 2-3 10, Luke Brooks 2 0-0 4, Zach Deck 2 0-0 5, Eli Sleggs 1 3-6 5, Finn Ricketts 3 0-0 6, Tristan Clayson 2 0-0 4, Adam Roe 2 2-2 6, Peyton Joy 5 0-0 10. Totals: 28 9-12 69.
3-point goals: OV 4 (Flurschutz 2, Wiley, Mesler), C-R 5 (Wight 4, Deck).
Total Fouls: OV 8, C-R 9. Fouled out: None.
Andover/Whitesville 61, Hinsdale 31
HINSDALE — Brody Vance has emerged as one of Andover/Whitesville’s leaders on the frontlines over the course of the season.
On Monday, it was no different, as the freshman struck all chords on the floor, especially from outside where he drained five of the team’s eight three-pointers to help set up shop in going past the host Bobcats of Hinsdale with a 61-31 victory to jump back above .500 in their campaign.
“It was good to get back on the winning side of things,” Andover/Whitesville coach Jimmy Joyce said. “Brody was back to doing what he does and Colt (Calladine) played well for us again as well. We had several JV guys up for their first meaningful piece of Varsity action, and they all contributed. We knew it was going to be a physical game and it certainly was. I’m happy with the way the guys kept their composure throughout the entire game. We’re going to need an even better effort come Wednesday night.”
Andover/Whitesville (9-8) wasted no time kicking the tires in the opening half of play on both ends of the floor, as they battled their way through the fog in the opening quarter against Hinsdale to deliver a strong finish with a 15-8 lead to carry forward.
In the second quarter, that momentum they created was put to full use in turning the tide completely, holding the Bobcats to just four points across a 19-4 run fronted by Vance and Colton Calladine from all angles on the floor.
As a result, a 34-12 lead at the break came into fruition and Andover/Whitesville locked the advantage down permanently to score the victory over the road.
Vance would finish with a game-high 25 points to lead Andover/Whitesville, with four of his five threes coming in the first half of play to help set the tone. Behind him was Calladine, who had 15 points of his own to add in. Ethan Warriner and Gage Putnam each followed with six points each.
For Hinsdale (4-6), Tyler Richards powered the team’s inside game down low with his team-high 15 points. Cody Barton chipped in with 10. The Bobcats will hit the road for a 6:30 p.m. visit to Bolivar-Richburg on Thursday.
Coming up for Andover/Whitesville, they head back home to Whitesville where they will host a 7:30 p.m. visit from Genesee Valley/Belfast on Wednesday.
Andover/Whitesville 15 19 19 8 – 61
Hinsdale 8 4 8 11 – 31
ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE: James Miller-Young 1 0-0 2, Derek Perkins 1 0-0 2, Jake Mattison 0 1-4 1, Ethan Warriner 2 2-4 6, Vinny Joyce 2 0-0 4, Colton Calladine 5 4-8 15, Gage Putnam 2 0-0 6, Brody Vance 7 6-6 25. Totals: 20 13-22 61.
HINSDALE: Brad Bergstrom 0 0-4 0, Henry Schwartz 2 0-0 4, Cody Barton 3 4-6 10, Tyler Richards 7 1-1 15, Robert Childs 1 0-0 2. Totals: 13 5-11 31.
3-point goals: A/W 8 (Vance 5, Putnam 2, Calladine).
Total Fouls: A/W 10, Hinsdale 18. Fouled out: None.
Friendship/Scio 47, Alfred-Almond 35
SCIO — The Senior Night spotlight illuminated ever so brightly in the sky for Friendship/Scio, where they honored their lone senior Tyler Nickerson in his home gym in Scio, Monday night.
To ensure a brilliant send-off to his high school career, Nickerson scored the very last bucket of the game for Friendship/Scio — a long three pointer that found nothing but twine on the way down, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as they went past Alfred-Almond with a 47-35 win.
“It was Senior Night for us tonight in Scio with Tyler, and it was nice to see him nail a three-pointer,” said Friendship/Scio coach Dillon McFall. “Everyone was pretty jacked up about that. The story for us was Alfred-Almond doing a good job packing it in early against us, and we did a good job getting the ball inside and around the basket. We took what they gave us defensively and we managed to make a positive out of it.”
In the early stages of the battle, both teams delivered back-and-forth exchanges that allowed the Eagles to pop out in front early, approaching the midway mark of the quarter. In turn, Friendship/Scio (4-14) shifted the momentum in their favor to close out the stanza with, as they propelled their way towards a 14-7 lead by netting nine of the last 10 points.
With Friendship/Scio looking to build off of it, Alfred-Almond responded with a long three-pointer to close the gap to as little as four points near the halfway point of the second quarter.
But with 4:41 left to go, the hosts in white then took advantage on yet another strong finish to a quarter, as they closed out the first half on an 8-0 run that would allow them to remain in front for good.
Leading the offense for Friendship/Scio was Jerome Harmon and his game-high 14 points, pairing them with five rebounds and five assists. Behind him was Connor Blouvet, who chipped in with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists of his own, while Deacon Brown had eight points.
Alfred-Almond was paced by a team-high 11 points from Jackson Jusianiec. Brogan Donlon had 10 more points to add for the Eagles.
Friendship/Scio will head over the hill and into Friendship for another battle in store, as they prepare to host scorching hot Fillmore in a 7:30 p.m. contest on Wednesday.
Alfred-Almond 7 7 13 8 – 35
Friendship/Scio 14 12 8 13 – 47
ALFRED-ALMOND: Nick Porter 0 1-2 1, Jackson Jusianiec 3 2-6 11, Ryan Washburn 1 4-10 6, Brogan Donlon 4 0-0 10, Noah Hefley 1 0-2 2, Liam Ruthven 1 2-6 5. Totals: 10 10-26 35.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Aiden Golden 3 0-0 7, Jerome Harmon 6 2-6 14, Connor Blouvet 2 4-10 9, Charlie Taylor 1 0-0 2, Jerimiah Brown 1 0-0 2, Cooper Greenman 1 0-0 2, Deacon Brown 4 0-1 8, Tyler Nickerson 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 6-17 47.
3-point goals: A-A 6 (Jusianiec 3, Donlon 2, Ruthven), F/S 3 (Golden, Blouvet, Nickerson).
Total Fouls: A-A 13, F/S 20. Fouled out: J. Brown (F/S).
Jasper-Troupsburg 65, Houghton Academy 50
HOUGHTON — With the number one seed in Class D being shared amongst themselves, back-to-back State Champion Avoca-Prattsburgh and Andover/Whitesville, there was no better time for the Wildcats of Jasper-Troupsburg to begin picking up steam with Sectionals quickly approaching.
In Monday night’s trip to Houghton Academy, they would have to battle their way through a close quarters first half that would see them claim the lead at its end. But when the third quarter came around, the gas pedal hit the floor, as they posted a massive 22-point outing led by James Ainsworth down low and Landon Zver outside, using it to cushion their advantage for good to claim the eventual 65-50 win — their fourth straight, over the Panthers.
Both teams exchanged pleasantries across an opening quarter that allowed the Wildcats to jump out on top after several contributions from all over the floor, including Ainsworth, who posted six of the team’s 13 points inside.
Each team would split the second quarter straight down the middle before Jasper-Troupsburg was able to put the pieces to the puzzle together to score their biggest stand of offense in the game.
With Ainsworth shifting his momentum into the second half, along with a hot hand from Zver to further the team’s cause, the Wildcats would advance forth and extend their advantage over Houghton Academy (6-9) just enough out of reach to seal the victory. Ainsworth would lead the team in scoring with his 18 points, while Zver finished with 17.
For the Panthers, James Adenuga was the conductor of the team’s offensive orchestra, as he found his rhythm across the second half to keep them within reach of Jasper-Troupsburg each step of the way, knocking down all five of his three pointers in the back half of the contest to put towards what was a game-high 32 points — 14 of them stemming in the last eight minutes of play.
Adding more assistance along the way was Jack Prentice and his 14 points, while Josh Davidson chipped in with the last four points.
Houghton Academy will stand pat at home with a 7:30 p.m. visit from Bolivar-Richburg in store for Wednesday night.
Jasper-Troupsburg 13 11 22 19 – 65
Houghton Academy 8 11 15 16 – 50
JASPER-TROUPSBURG: Braylon Lawson 1 0-0 3, James Ainsworth 7 4-4 18, Sawyer Troxel 6 0-0 14, Jackson Hayes 3 0-0 7, Zach Baker 1 0-0 2, Landon Zver 6 1-2 17, Jacoby VanGorden 1 0-0 2, Matt Foster 0 2-2 2. Totals: 25 7-8 65.
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: Jack Prentice 5 1-2 14, Josh Davidson 2 0-1 4, James Adenuga 11 5-9 32. Totals: 18 6-12 50.
3-point goals: J-T 8 (Zver 4, Troxel 2, Lawson, Hayes), HA 8 (Adenuga 5, Prentice 3).
Total Fouls: J-T 13, HA 11. Fouled out: None.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 40, Warsaw 37
WARSAW — When it comes to making adjustments for a new half of basketball, those changes can either make or break you on the floor.
With the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies coming away with a resilient first half under their belts, the host Lady Tigers of Warsaw had to rewrite a new plan of attack in time for the second half.
Upon their re-entry to the hardwood, it was a complete flip of the script, as they turned up the heat on their visiting opposition all across the last 16 minutes of play remaining in Monday night’s clash. But in the end, despite some late shots down the homestretch, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to do just enough and hang on to the victory they held since the start by a 40-37 count to sweep their season series with Warsaw.
“This really was a total team effort and several people chipped in offensively. Jenna had some key buckets late to maintain the lead, and defensively, you put yourself in a great position when you hold teams under 40 points,” said GV/Belfast coach Raegan Ryan. “I thought we came out really strong in the first half, their approach was to limit Abby’s (Sullivan) production and we had several girls step up and make big baskets. Our defensive effort was solid in the first half, and because of it, we had a lead. But credit to Warsaw, they came out after making adjustments and gave us more difficulty scoring. They made some big shots late, but I was proud of our composure when the momentum shifted. I saw a lot of growth for how they took care of business down the stretch.”
A strong defensive presence allowed Genesee Valley/Belfast (13-4) to capitalize on the start they wanted to have against Warsaw, as they held the Lady Tigers to their two lowest frames of offense across the first half, starting with a back-and-forth exchange across a first quarter that saw Jenna Hill rise to the occasion with seven of the team’s 11 points down low.
In the second quarter, more of the same story between both foes, as the visitors in black saw even more contributions come to light while the defense held their end of the bargain to aid in producing a 23-15 halftime lead going into the locker room.
But in the second half, a complete shift in gears was performed by the Lady Tigers, as they held Genesee Valley/Belfast to just six points in the frame to close the gap all the way down to a trio of points.
With the final eight minutes, the Lady Tigers cranked up the pressure on their opposition even more, especially down the last stretch with three humongous triples finding the twine. Despite it, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to keep their lead intact with some big points of their own from both Hill inside and at the stripe, along with a four-point answer from Ava Aaronson to end the game on a high note.
Hill would lead all Genesee Valley/Belfast scorers with her team-high 14 points. Abby Sullivan finished with six points, while Aaronson and Whitney Young both had five points to add in.
Coming up for Genesee Valley/Belfast is a quick turnaround, as they return to Allegany County and head to the east where they meet Andover/Whitesville for battle beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Andover.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 11 12 6 11 – 40
Warsaw 7 8 11 11 – 37
GV/BELFAST: Abby Sullivan 2 1-2 6, Sophie Zillgitt 2 0-0 4, Kendra Bigelow 2 0-0 4, Whitney Young 2 0-2 5, Ava Aaronson 2 1-3 5, Kate Calanni 1 0-0 2, Jenna Hill 5 4-6 14. Totals: 16 6-13 40.
WARSAW: Evelyn LaWall 0 1-2 1, Emily Klump 6 2-2 17, Veronica Streamer 2 0-0 4, Tanzie Keough 2 0-0 6, Sophia Phillips 4 1-2 9. Totals: 14 4-6 37.
3-point goals: GVB 2 (Sullivan, Young), Warsaw 5 (Klump 3, Keough 2).
Total Fouls: GVB 10, Warsaw 13. Fouled out: None.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
County Playoffs: No. 5 Genesee Valley/Belfast 3, No. 4 Fillmore 2
FILLMORE — If you wanted a dose of one of the most compelling and thrilling volleyball matches of the season, The Rock in Fillmore was the place for you on Monday.
With a trip to visit top-seeded Allegany-Limestone hanging in the balance, something had to give between No. 5 Genesee Valley/Belfast the fourth-seeded host Eagles. That something saw a 2-0 lead formulate for the hosts out of the gate after two strong performances pushed Genesee Valley/Belfast to the brink.
But then, the brooms were brought out. In reverse sweeping fashion.
Down by a pair and their season on the line, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to put together a remarkable three-set comeback against Fillmore, using the third and fourth sets to tie the game while surviving in an extra serves chess match to garner the final two points they needed to finish off the incredible victory in five epic sets — a 16-25, 12-25, 25-20, 25-12, 18-16 victory to punch their ticket to the County Semifinal round.
“We had a turnaround play that saw Brayden (Cooper) score one of the best hits I’ve seen this year. It was a backset to a slide hit that was incredible. It was one of the most technically skilled hits I’ve seen in all my years coaching. All the little things like that really led to us getting going,” said GV/Belfast coach Darren Bradt. “There was a lot of outstanding play and we came out and gave five sets pretty hard. Fillmore pushed right back and gratefully, we were able to come away with the win in the extra session.”
Brayden Cooper would author Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (9-8) success story behind his 14 kills and 10 blocks. Jackson Stout chipped in with nine kills and a block at the front of the net, while Sean Mahon handed out 13 helpers to go with five aces and four additional kills on the attack to aid in powering the offensive front.
On the opposite side, the Eagles were led by Reid Cockle and his 27 service points, chipping in seven kills, seven blocks and a trio of aces along the way. Nathan Tanner added in 13 more service points to couple with seven kills and three blocks, while setter Skylar Freeman handed out a whopping 35 assists. The 2023-24 campaign is over for Fillmore, as they wrap up with a record of 8-7 overall.
