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Northville scores 17 in fourth quarter to end Elba's state championship hopes in semifinal

By Howard B. Owens
sydney reilly elba basketball state semifinal

After trailing for most of the game, a fourth-quarter surge pushed Northville over Elba on Saturday in Troy to end the Lancers’ season in the state semifinal game.

Northville won 42-34 after scoring 17 points to just five for Elba in the fourth quarter. At the end of three quarters, Elba led 29-25.

Hailey Monroe, a leading scorer for Northville, was only 2-18  from the field for the first 28 minutes of the game. She drained her final five shots of the game to propel her team to victory.

Maddie Hall scored 10 points for Elba, Lydia Ross, nine, and Sydney Reilly, seven.

Monroe finished with 24 points.

Photos by Debra Reilly

elba basketball state semifinal
elba basketball state semifinal
elba basketball state semifinal
 elba basketball state semifinal
Adi Norton received the Sportsmanship Player of the Game award.
elba basketball state semifinal
Sydney Reilly with the finalist plaque award to the Elba team.

Elba advances to Final Four in Girls Basketball

By Howard B. Owens
elba girls basketball

Elba beat Panama on Saturday in the Girls Basketball Class D Far West Regional Championship to advance to the state Final Four.

The final score, 58 to 47.

Lydia Ross led the way with 26 points for Elba.

Sydney Reilly scored 16 points for the Lancers. Mariah Ognibene scored eight points.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball

Byron-Bergen loses to Lyons in Class C crossover game

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen basketball

A season marked by major accomplishments, including the school's first-ever sectional championship in Boys' Basketball, ended for Byron-Bergen on Wednesday with a 61-45 loss to Lyons in the Class C crossover game.

In addition to the sectional championship, Brayden Chambry set a new school record for scoring, and Roxanne Noeth became the first woman coach in Section V Boys' Basketball history to win a sectional title.

On Wednesday, Chambry scored 13 points, and Colin Martin scored 12.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball

Byron-Bergen celebrates historic accomplishment of Roxanne Noeth

By Press Release
roxanne noeth
Byron-Bergen Boys Basketball Coach Roxanne Noeth with Assistant Coach Elliott Flint at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester on Saturday after the Bees won a sectional championship.
Submitted Photo.

Press release:

On Saturday, March 2,  Roxanne Noeth made Section V Athletics history by becoming the first woman to coach a boys varsity basketball team to a sectional championship in the 103-year history of the organization. The win marks the first sectional championship in Byron-Bergen boys basketball history. The only other Byron-Bergen basketball sectional championship was in 1984 when 9th grade Noeth was called up from JV to help the girls varsity basketball team to victory.

As a member of the championship 1984 team, Noeth carved out a place for herself in Byron- Bergen athletics’ history, setting the single-game scoring record in 1987, which was tied in 2022 by varsity boys’ basketball player Corden Zimmerman and broken by boys’ captain Braedyn Chambry this season. Noeth still holds the girls’ basketball single-game scoring record and was inducted into the Byron-Bergen Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

After graduation, Noeth attended St. John Fisher, where she played Division III basketball and softball. She is also a member of the St. John Fisher Athletics Hall of Fame. She coached collegiate women’s basketball at RIT before stepping away to raise her children. She returned to Byron-Bergen basketball in 2009 when she began volunteering for her children’s basketball teams. In 2017, she was hired officially as head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team.

“It was never on my radar to be a boys basketball coach specifically,” said Noeth, “but the opportunity arose, and I’ve always had great support from the administration and community.”

Noeth was hired by Athletic Director Rich Hannan and Superintendent Pat McGee, the High School Principal at the time.

“I couldn't be prouder of Coach Noeth and the job she has done with this program,” said Hannan. “I have watched her build the team for many years now. She is extremely knowledgeable and puts her heart and soul into giving her athletes the best opportunity possible to achieve their greatest potential. She leaves no stone unturned and is always prepared. Her passion rubs off on her team, and you can see it in her players.”

Outside of the Byron-Bergen community, Noeth noticed some raised eyebrows. Despite the abundance of men coaching girls’ teams, Noeth was often the only woman in the room for boys’ basketball. According to Noeth, the first three years as head coach were tough, but she soon made a name for herself and the team within the division. In 2023, she became the first woman to be named Section V, Class C3 Coach of the Year for Boys Basketball, a title she kept for the 2024 season in C2.

“Coach Noeth is an excellent role model for her players and all our future coaches,” said McGee. “The Sectionals win was huge for our community, but I also feel the enormous impact it has made on the future of Section V coaching.”

“Seeing Coach Noeth raise the Sectional trophy was a reminder of what is possible,” said Byron-Bergen Assistant Principal Katie Grattan. “The future coaches of Section V are watching.”

When asked about her legacy, Noeth states, “The impact of my coaching a boys’ team, the impact it is having on young girls and women, it’s definitely a positive side effect, but it’s not why I coach. I love this team. I love this sport. I’m just a coach.”

Previously: Byron-Bergen wins history-making Section V title

Byron-Bergen beats Notre Dame in Class C consolidation game

By Staff Writer
byron bergen notre dame basketball

Byron-Bergen beat Notre Dame 67-60 on Monday to stay alive in the postseason as Section V consolidates its Class C champions.

The game matched up Class C2 vs. Class C3.  The Bees will next play Class C1 champion Lyons in West Bloomfield at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.  The winner of that game will represent Section V in Class C against the Class C champion of Section VI in the Far West Regional Championship game, with the winner moving on to a state championship semifinal game.

For the Bees, Colin Martin scored 22 points, and Braedyn Chambry scored 17.  Broady Baubie scored 16, and Brendan Pimm scored 11.

For the Irish, Jaden Sherwood scored 23, Jay Antinore scored 16 points, and Chase Antinore scored 10.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen notre dame basketball
byron bergen notre dame basketball
byron bergen notre dame basketball
byron bergen notre dame basketball
byron bergen notre dame basketball
byron bergen notre dame basketball

Byron-Bergen wins history-making Section V title

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen alexander section v title game

Saturday's win at Blue Cross Arena by Byron-Bergen over Alexander was more than the Bees claiming the Class C2 title.

It was also history.

It was the school's first Section V championship in boys' basketball.  The last basketball title for the Bees came 40 years ago for the girls, and Roxanne Noeth, this year's boys coach, was a star on that girls team, so Noeth has the distinction of being the only person with a piece of both of Byron-Bergen's basketball titles.

And as far as any school official knows, any Section V official knows, and by consensus of all the media covering the game -- Noeth is also the first woman in Section V history to coach a boys' team to a championship title.

One Section V official said there have been other women coaches in Boys Basketball but he doesn't believe any of them ever won a championship.

Being the first woman coach to win a boys' title is "cool," Noeth said.

"But I'm just excited for my alma mater, Byron-Bergen, because I know a lot of great players have played here and they've never achieved this level of success. I just think it's really super cool."

About wining the first boys title, she added, "It's pretty incredible. Like, no doubt, pretty incredible. I don't know. Like I said, I graduated from there. I know a lot of great players that have played there, including Ricky Palermo sitting there and his brother Jimmy. It's just, it's just amazing. Like, it's surreal."

Palermo was excited to see his former team win its first championship, and led by his friend, Roxanne.

"This is just amazing," Palermo said. "There are a lot of years that we came within one point to getting this far, and now we made it. It's just incredible to be part of this. They worked hard all year, and it paid off. Roxanne does a great job."

A big part of the credit for the championship should also go to Braedyn Chambry, who dominated not just on Saturday, but throughout the season, and in the process, becoming the school's career scoring leader.

He was excited to be part of the historic moment.

"Just winning sectionals alone is really awesome because we're going to be remembered forever at the school as the first team ever to do it, but also, we have the first girl coach ever to do it. It means so much, especially with our team. We've been a family since third grade, working together as a family to get here. It means so much more to win with people you love."

Many of the players on the Bees are also the same athletes who carried Byron-Bergen to a shot at a state championship in soccer this fall, including Chambry.

Noeth said that success taught her players that they could persevere. 

"They've got that winning attitude," Noeth said. "They knew that if they got down throughout their soccer season, that there's just no quit in them. They were always gonna go as hard as they could. They were gonna play for each other. And they were just gonna do all the things if they had to, whatever it took to make sure they came out on top. So really proud of them in that respect."

Chambry said there is s a core group of athletes in Byron-Bergen who have been together since they were children, and they know they can count on each other.

"No matter what we do, we're doing it together, in sports or out of sports, our little group, we love each other, we take care of each other," Chambry said. "We work hard with each other. We sweat with each other, and we want to win together. It's all that matters to us."

Alexander Head Coach Jalen Smith
The other storyline of the game was the return of Jalen Smith to Blue Cross Arena. Smith led the Batavia Blue Devils in 2013 to a Section V title by scoring 25 points at Blue Cross, then was part of the team with Justin Washington and Jeff Redband, who was a first-year varsity player, that won a Far West Regional game on a Redband buzzer beater in the same venue, giving the Blue Devils a shot at a state title. Batavia lost to Watervliet, led by two D1 recruits at guard, in the state semifinal in Glens Falls, 60-53.

This year, Smith made his high school head coach debut with the Alexander Trojans, taking over a program that had been 6-14 last season and leading it to a 19-5 record and sectional title shot this season.

"It was something we honestly talked about in the summer and the hope that we can maybe get here," Smith said. "It was really just unbelievable to see this group get to Blue Cross. I've been talking to them all week about my experiences here. The wins and the losses that come with it, how hard you really have to play to win one of these games. I think they really answered the call. And I just think we came up short a little bit in some areas."

Smith said he was well aware of the Trojans' past struggles when he agreed to take the job, but he knew the talent on the team and thought he could win with the players already on the roster.

"When we took over this program, I knew what came with it," Smith said. "I knew some of the players from the summer and spring ball. And actually, we had these expectations early. We bring energy. We really try to bring the best out to each player. And we knew we had size. We knew we had athleticism and scoring, so we knew we really had a chance with this group."

Smith played for one of Section V's most legendary coaches, and as a JV coach was for a time part of Buddy Brasky's program at BHS as a coach, and he said Brasky has been a huge influence on him.

"Everything you see that I do is basically Buddy Brasky from the defense to my mannerisms, that passion," Smith said. "It's funny because I get the quote that I'm like a younger Brasky. I take everything from him. That's someone I've always looked up to and someone who I will continue to learn from."

Noeth praised Smith's success in turning around the Alexander program and said she knew going into the game, the two teams were mirror versions of each other.

"We both have a dominant big man," Noeth said. "We have good guard play. I knew their guards were a little more scoring-oriented than ours, but we just had to play one possession. We just got to beat them on one possession, and then we're all right. So, I mean, even when we give up a lead, and we go down, (the team) just never loses faith. And that's what you want."

Smith said he coaches Chambly in summer league and thought he had a good game plan to slow him down, but he's hard to beat.

"I we knew what he was going to bring," Smith said. "We had a good answer for him. It's just he won the matchup today. So, I give him credit."

Chambry scored 24 points for the Bees. Colin Martin scored 14 points. Brody Baubie and Brendan Pimm each scored six points.

For the Trojans, Kingston Woods scored 22 points, and Trenton Woods scored 12.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game
byron bergen alexander section v title game

Pembroke falls to top seed Lyons 71-54 in Class C1 final

By Staff Writer
Tyson Totten double teamed in the paint.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Tyson Totten double-teamed in the paint.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene

Pembroke couldn't overcome #1 seed Lyons in the Class C1 final at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday, falling 71-54.

Jayden Bridge led the Dragons in scoring with 15 points. Tyson Totten scored 14, Avery Ferreira scored 10, and Sam Pfeiffer scored nine.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Jayden Bridge blocked looking to shoot.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Jayden Bridge blocked, looking to shoot.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Avery Ferreira going up court.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Avery Ferreira going up court.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Pembroke cheerleaders showing sideline support.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Pembroke cheerleaders showing sideline support.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Sean Pustulka going to the net.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Sean Pustulka going to the net.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Pembroke players consult with each other post game.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Pembroke players console each other after the game.
Photo by Steve Ognibene

Elba falls to Avoca-Prattsburg in Class D final

By Staff Writer
elba boys basketball

Coming in as the #7 seed, the Elba Lancers lost to #1 seed Avoca-Prattsburg in the Class D championship game at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday.

The final score was 50-37.

Angelo Penna scored 15 points for the Lancers. Ashton Bezon scored eight. Both Penna and Bezon were named to the all-tournament team.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

elba boys basketball
elba boys basketball
elba boys basketball

Elba captures Class D title in Girls Basketball

By Staff Writer
elba girls basketball

Elba captured another Girls Basketball title on Saturday, beating the #1 seed C.G. Finney 56-54.

The Lancers, the #2 seed in Class D, overcame a 10-point half-time deficient, outscoring Finney 16-12 in the third quarter and 20-12 in the fourth to secure the two-point margin of victory. 

Sydney Reily, who was named tournament MVP, scored 23 points. Lydia Ross scored 11 points and Mariah Ognibene and Brea Smith each scored seven. Ross and Smith were both named to the all-tournament team.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball

GCC Board of Trustees honor a legend on and off the court, Dr. James Sunser

By Press Release
dr.jamessunser.jpg
Photo of Dr. James Sunser with GCC Trustee Ms. Jacalyn Whiting, courtesy of Genesee Community College.

Press Release:

On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Genesee Community College Board of Trustees took the opportunity during halftime of their Men's final home basketball game of the season to celebrate the career of someone who has been a true legend both on and off the court. 

Dr. James Sunser is concluding his final academic year as President of Genesee Community College, and this was the first of a few events planned to honor his service.

Throughout Dr. Sunser's career, he was known to step onto the basketball court with students. His willingness to engage in friendly matches, share his love for the game, and connect with students beyond the traditional walls of academia has set him apart as a leader. 

Dr. Sunser's approachability and enthusiasm, whether in a Board Meeting Room or on the Basketball Court, created an atmosphere where students feel not only supported but genuinely connected.

That evening, those present not only honored his role on the court, but his role in shaping the course of this institution. In his 13-year career at the college, Dr. Sunser has been a leader who has tirelessly worked toward the betterment of the college and the success of its students.

During Dr. Sunser's tenure, his efforts spearheaded major capital campaigns for the Student Success Center and the Richard C. Call Arena. Innovative academic and student spaces were also developed such as a state-of-the-art criminal justice lab, vet tech lab, solar electric lab, and student eSports space. 

In addition, his leadership within the GCC Foundation led to extensive renovations of College Village to provide students with enhanced living space, social space, and technological improvements.

Dr. Sunser accepted a basketball signed by each Trustee as a token of their appreciation to symbolize their heartfelt gratitude for his outstanding contributions and commitment to students.

Elba upsets #2 seed in Class D to advance to championship game

By Staff Writer
Elba basketball

The #7 seed, Elba, in Class D knocked off Andover-Whitesville, the #2 seed, 40-36 on Wednesday to advance in the sectional tournament.

The Lancers will contend for the Class D championship at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday.  Game time is 4 p.m. against #1 seed Avoca-Prattsburg, who beat Hammondsport in their semifinal 90-60.

For Elba, Angelo Penna scored 12 points. Nickolas Scott scored 11 and Ashton Bezon scored 10.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Elba basketball
Elba basketball

Elba beats Avoca Prattsburg 55-47 in Class D girls semifinal

By Staff Writer
Elba basketball

The Elba Lancers, the #3 seed in Class D Girls Basketball, beat the #2 seed in a semifinal game on Wednesday, 55-47

Next up, #1 seed C.G. Finney on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Finger Lakes Community College. Finney scored 71 points against Genesee Valley-Belfast in its semifinal game.

For the Lancers, Sydney Reilly scored 18 points, Brea Smith scored 14, and Ava Buczek scored 13.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Elba basketball
Elba basketball
Elba basketball

Pembroke will play for C2 championship after win over East Rochester

By Howard B. Owens

Pembroke beat East Rochester on Tuesday, 54-36, to advance to the Class C1 championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena.

Tyson Totten scored 22 points for the Dragons. Avery Ferreira scored 17 points.

"One of the staples of our program has always been defense, and when you play games this late in the season against quality teams, sometimes that is what you have to hang your hat on, and that is precisely what we did tonight," said Coach Matt Shay. "I was very pleased with our effort tonight and how we battled on that end."

The #3 seed Dragons take on #1 seed Lyons on Saturday.

 
 

Trojans to take stage at Blue Cross Arena for Class C2 final on Saturday

By Howard B. Owens
alexander basketball

The Alexander Trojans, seeded #2 in Class C2 is heading to Blue Cross Arena on Saturday to via for a sectional championship after beating Bolivar-Richburg on Tuesday 52-49.

The Trojans will face #1 seed Byron-Bergen.

Game time is noon.

Dylan Pohl scored 26 points for Alexander. Trent Woods scored 16.

Photos by Brennan Bezon.

alexander basketball
alexander basketball
alexander basketball
alexander basketball

Chambry sinks final shot free throw to send Byron-Bergen to C2 finals

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen basketball

Byron-Bergen's Class C2 semifinal game came down to the last shot, with the ball in the hands of the Bees top scorer, Brayden Chambry.

Of course, he sunk the free throw.

Final score: Byron-Bergen, the #1 seed, 61-60, over #4 seed York.

Chambry scored 30 points. Brody Baubie scored 13, Brendan Pimm, 10, and Colin Martin, eight.

Next up: #2 seed Alexander, at noon on Saturday at the Blue Cross Arena for the Class C2 championship.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball

Byron-Bergen gets big quarterfinal win in Class C2

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen basketball

The Byron-Bergen Bees advanced on Saturday in the Section V Class C2 tournament with a 69-37 quarterfinal win over Eugenio Maria de Houstos.

Braedyn Chambry scored 26 points for the Bees. Brendan Pimm scored 15, and Brody Baubie and Colin Martin scored nine each.

Byron-Bergen is the #1 seed in Class C2 and will face the #4 seed, York, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Cal-Mum.

Also in Boys Basketball:

  • Also in Class C2, Alexander beat Cuba-Rushford 71-44.  Alexander is the #2 seed, led by first-year coach Jalen Smith. Alexander plays a semifinal game against Bolivar-Richburg at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Letchworth.
  • In Class C1, Pembroke beat Warsaw 69-52. Tyson Totten scored 40 points and had 10 rebounds. Pembroke Plays East Rochester in the semifinal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Pittsford Sutherland.
  • In Class C3, Notre Dame beat C.G. Finney 87-73. Notre Dame's semifinal is against Filmore at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Letchworth.
  • In Class D, Elba beat Jasper-Troupsburg 53-44.  Elba plays Andover-Whitesville on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Wayland-Cohocton.
  • In Class B2, Le Roy beat Attica, 64-49. Merritt Holly, 26 points and 17 rebounds, Matthew Hockey, 18 points, and Jake Higgins, 11 points. Le Roy, at #5, plays #1 seed Avon at 6 p.m. on Monday at Haverling.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball
byron bergen basketball

Elba beats Notre Dame to advance in Class D tournament

By Howard B. Owens
elba notre dame basketball

Elba beat Notre Dame on Friday in the Class D Girls Basketball Quarterfinal, 55-47. 

Sydney Reilly and Lydia Ross both scored 20 points for the Lancers. 

Emma Sisson scored 20 points for Notre Dame, and she had 12 rebounds. Lucia Fiorentino contributed 12 points and 5 rebounds. Sofia Falleti had 7 points and 14 rebounds. 

"We had a tremendous season with many accomplishments," said Notre Dame Coach Vinny Falleti. "With two seniors and underclassmen, this team came together and worked so hard this season. Even though it wasn’t the ending we had hoped for, I am so proud of this team. Irish Proud!”

Elba plays in the Class D semifinal on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Mount Morris against Avoca-Pratssburgh.

Photos by Debra Reilly

elba notre dame basketball
elba notre dame basketball
elba notre dame basketball

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