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Oakfield-Alabama taking charge of Division I

By Brian Hillabush

 With Pembroke and Oakfield-Alabama as the talks of Division I in the Genesee Region League at the start of the season, Wednesday's early season contest was obviously a key one.

The Hornets have established themselves as the team to beat after thumping the Dragons 76-43 to improve to 5-0.

They keys to the win were as simple as playing an up-tempo style of defense designed to keep Pembroke's Andrew Wright from getting good looks and limiting Andy Gabbey's 3-point attempts.

Mission accomplished.

Wright was held to just 12 points and Gabbey did not connect on a basket in the contest.

After Ken Babcock and Wright had consecutive baskets early in the game, O-A's Brad Riner hit his second 3-pointer to tie the score at 8.

Babcock and Noah Seward exchanged buckets, then Seward added a couple more before Tim Smith scored seven points to give the Hornets a 23-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Riner hit another 3-pointer and then A.J. Kehlenbeck dropped in a basket to make it 30-20 midway through the second quarter.

Pembroke got within six, but Seward had consecutive baskets and Smith hit another 3-pointer to give O-A the 37-24 lead at intermission.

The Hornets quickly made the game a 50-26 blowout in the third quarter with Chris Bucceri, Smith and Riner having big periods.

Smith had 14 points and Seward added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who are 3-0 in the league and 5-0 overall. Riner had 13 points and Chris Bucceri pitched in eight points and seven dimes.

Babcock had 11 points and Steve Moser added 10 points for the Dragons (4-3).

Mancuso Bowling Center Scores 12/16/2008

By Michael Sputore

Tuesday night Morrison's Garage Co-ed 12/16/2008

Bryan Conley     266--224-------673

Dan Cone          221--235--------647

Frank Stumpf   227--247-------638

Mike Barone     216--223--------612

Randy Gorski   212--------------607

Dan Tuerk  239

Gary Brennan Jr.  233

Doug Ostrander  216

Terry Czworka  214

Bill Loucks  214

Ray Morgan  214

Chuck Coach Bobo  213

Dave Barone  212

Kelli Schell  186

 

 

Hs highlights for Tuesday

By Brian Hillabush

The Batavia girls basketball team pulled off an upset Tuesday, surprising visiting Pittsford Sutherland 55-54.

"I hope this gives us (confidence)," Batavia coach Bill Wade said. "I told them after the game that we would be enjoying the game until 3:30 tomorrow, then we start getting ready for Brighton on Friday. I think the confidence started coming after winning the Attica Tournament and then beating Elba in overtime. I hope this takes us to the next level."

Batavia trailed 13-9 after the opening period, but Brittany Wormley scored eight of her 10 points, keeping the Blue Devils in the game.

Michelle Jordan took over the second half and scored seven of her 11 points.

Batavia wound up taking a 55-50 lead with moments left in the game when Kayli O'Keefe hit a 3-pointer to make it a two point game. She was then fouled and hit one of two free throws.

Jaycee Shirk had 16 points and 10 rebounds with Brittany Mazurkiewiecz and Stacey Hein dishing out five assists each.

Sutherland falls to 4-3.

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Nicole Sharick had five of her nine points in overtime to lead Pembroke to a 43-42 win over host Oakfield-Alabama.

Sharick went 3-of-3 from the charity striple down the stretch and had six steals in the game.

The Hornets actually had a two point lead but Danielle Smith scored with two seconds left to force the extra session.

Kelsey Lewis scored 13 points with seven boards for the Dragons (3-2).

Brynn Perfitt had 10 points and four steals and Dani Sage grabbed 24 rebounds for the Hornets (3-2).

 

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Anni Lehtola had 13 points and Nicki Laird added six points with 18 rebounds to lead the Trojans to a 56-32 win over Attica.

Rachel Pettys had nine points, eight boards and four assists for Alexander (4-1).

Margaret LeFleur had nine points to lead Attica.

 

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Byron-Bergen thumped visiting Holley 48-29 behind Mary Cocking's 13 points. Kaylee Ashbury had nine points and Kayleigh Puma chipped in eight points.

Julie Brooks scored 16 points for the Hawks.

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Haley Alexander and Lucy Norton were double winners as the Notre Dame swim team beat Wheatland-Chili 95-79.

Alexander won the 200 IM in 2:30.88 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:19.80. Norton won the 100 butterfly in 1:15.29 and the 100 freestyle in 1:03.11.

Jennifer Wilson won the 100 backstroke in 1:18.21 for the Wildcats.

The Wheatland-Chili boys won 110-67 as Ben HOgan (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Dave Chamot (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and Nick Westrich  (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) were all double winners.

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Jason Harasimowicz and Ivan Madaferri each had a goal and an assist to lead the Notre Dame hockey team to a 3-1 win over Bishop Kearney/Eastridge.

Tyler Kessler also had a goal with Luke Calla and Dylan Versage adding a helper apiece.

 

 

Elba's press helps Lancers win fourth quarter, and game

By Brian Hillabush

A huge third quarter run helped the Notre Dame girls basketball team take a 10-point advantage, which they held on to for a long time.

But there is never any quit in the Elba girls team.

The Lancers pressed their way to a comeback victory in the fourth quarter, stunning the host Fighting Irish 54-51.

Notre Dame had a 10-point advantage with 4 1/2 minutes left when Jill Marshall - an Elba transfer - scored a basket.

But the Lancers chipped away as Cassy Engle and Julie Webster hit consecutive baskets.

After Sarah Schwartzmeyer dropped in a pair of free throws, Notre Dame's lead was cut to 47-43.

It became even tighter when eighth-grader McKenzie Bezon drained a 3-pointer to get the Lancers within a point. Notre Dame traveled on the their next possession and Elba took the lead for good on a Julie Marshall two-pointer.

Webster followed with a put-back basket and a free throw and another foul shot.

Webster scored again, but the Fighting Irish were not about to quit at this point, in front of their home crowd.

Jill Marshall had a steal and a basket, then stole anouther inbounds pass with 12 seconds left on the clock.

She hit both free throws and Elba led 54-51.

Notre Dame's defense caused a turnover with 5.4 seconds remaining, but Nichole Hart chucked up a long 3-pointer that hit the back of the rim and bounced out, giving the Lancers the huge victory over their biggest rival.

Bezon's 3-pointer was one of the biggest baskets of the game, but she had a whole bunch of them. It's safe to say that without her game-high 18 points, Elba does not improve to 3-1.

Webster had 10 points and Schwartzmeyer added nine.

Notre Dame's Jill Marshall outscored her sister Julie 13-4, but her squad falls to 2-1 with the defeat.

Brittany Morelli led the Fighting Irish with 14 points with Liz Geandreau adding 10 points.

Mancuso Bowling Center Scores 12/15/2008

By Michael Sputore

Monday Night Mens Carlson Imaging 12/15/2008

Mike Barone     236--222--216--674

Roger Stone    224--224--------623

Anthony Scheeda      225--------611

Bud Ulander   233

Pete Janiszewski  223

Don Ruck  212

 

Independent Ladies 12/15/2008

Marlene Penders  185--222--172--579

Lorrie Gilbraith    209-196---------567

Barb Herman  214--184

Jeanie Godlove  198

Ann Crocker  181

Wendy Caccamise  180

Melissa Dibble  180

 

Bob Harris Realty 12/15/2008

Jayson Grant Quilliam  257--223--226--706

Robert Stefani             228---------------638

Charles Coach Bobo  223

Mark Grandpa Restivo  213

 

Gill staying at Buffalo

By Brian Hillabush

After not getting the head coaching job at Auburn, University at Buffalo coach Turner Gill has taken his name out of the running for any other coaching positions.

Gill, this afternoon, signed a contract extension with a raise, that will make him one of the highest paid coaches in the Mid-American Conference.

 "On the day I came here to be the head coach I told my team that one day we would be successful here at the University at Buffalo," Gill said in a statement.

 

 

 

"Now, more than ever, I have never been more proud to be the head coach of this program at this great academic institution. This program has proven it can win now and it is built to continue to win in the future. I am grateful to president John Simpson and athletic director Warde Manuel for their continued support and faith in me as a football coach and leader of young men."

Many teams, including Syracuse, have expressed interest in Gill after he lead the Bulls to an 8-5 season and won the school's first MAC Championship. Pembroke graduate Chris Lauzze is the starting center on that team.

University at Buffalo will be playing in the International Bowl on Jan. 3 in Toronto.

Great opportunity for local wrestlers

By Brian Hillabush

I just stumbled upon something that might be of interest to local wrestlers, who are looking to peak before sectionals.

Keith Lowrance, one of the top wrestling coaches in the country, will be hosting a clinic in Brockport on Sunday, Dec. 21.

The cost is $75 per wrestler and appears to be well worth it when you see Lowrance's resume.

  • Granby State Champion
  • Two-time Big Ten Champion
  • Two-time All-American
  • Coached State Champion teams at Granby and Kempsville High Schools
  • Virginia and National Coach of the Year
  • Record 271-33-2
  • Coached 35 State Champions, 102 Place-winners
  • Several High School and College All-Americans
  • Produced the nationally renowned Granby System Videos

Batavia basketball alumni game coming up

By Brian Hillabush

The Batavia boys basketball team will be holding its annual alumni game on Saturday, Dec. 29 at the high school.

The game will begin at 4 p.m. with a player, family and friends social at Ri-Dans Sports Park following the game. 

Anybody interested in playing should contact Mike Glow at 585-813-8819 or by e-mail at michaelglow21@hotmail.com.

Notre Dame swimming videos

By Philip Anselmo

We found this pair of videos posted on YouTube. They were taken at a Notre Dame swim meet at Genesee Community College in Batavia last week.

GR boys standings

By Brian Hillabush

 Yes, the season is very early. But the current Genesee Region League standings are out and the top teams are getting their due.

Oakfield-Alabama already has a big lead in Division I, with a 4-0 record. Pembroke and Attica follow with a 3-2 record.

Notre Dame is 2-0 and lead Division II. Elba is in second at 2-2.

There is a ton of basketball left to be played, but the Hornets and Fighting Irish have impressive leads early on.

Cocking is all-state

By Brian Hillabush

Byron-Bergen senior Mary Cocking ended her high school volleyball career with an All-state selection.

The outside hitter is a fourth-team selection in Class C and is the only local girl to receive all-state honors.

 Cocking is a four-time Genesee Region League all-star and ended her high school career with 1,061 kills, 788 digs and 309 aces. She was the MVP when the Bees won a sixth consecutive title in 2007 and was a member of the three state champion squads.

Batavia Boys Basketball

By Adam Pettinella

Our team has been working really hard all year so far and are now 3-0. We won the tip-off tournament in Olean, New York, as well as our first league game against Pittsford Mendon. The last couple of days we have been having pretty practices, so we definitely need to limit those so it doesn't affect us in games.

Blue Devils win Christmas Tournament

By Brian Hillabush

 For the second straight year, the Batavia wrestling team won its own Christmas Tournament.

The Blue Devils scored 186 points to easily down second-place finisher Fulton, which had 164.5 points.

Nick Lazarony (135 pounds), Ryan Darch (160), Anthony D'Aurizio (171) and Dylan Goodsell (285) all had victories for the Blue Devils.

Le Roy/Batavia football rivalry probably ending as LR moves from D2 to D1

By Brian Hillabush

 I just found an interesting story on the Hornell Evening Tribune.

The story primarily deals with Wellsville moving from Livingston Conference Division II to Division I, and renewing a rivalry with Hornell.

But that isn't the most interesting thing I took from the story, which was written by my former college friend Derrick Balinsky, the sports editor.

Pending final approval by the Superintendents of Livingston County, there will be a division realignment for the Livingston County Athletic Association for the 2009 football season, moving Wellsville from Division II to Division I, joining Hornell, Livonia, Wayland-Cohocton, Dansville and Bath-Haverling. Also making the move from Division II to Division I is LeRoy.

Assuming this move gets approved, it probably makes some major changes for the Le Roy football team. The story makes no mention as to how next season's schedules will be made up, but will the Oatkan Knights lose out on playing rival Caledonia-Mumford?

The Red Raiders are going to stay in Division II. Letchworth is always another fun game for Le Roy, and the Indians will stay in D2.

Hornell, Bath, HF-L, Livonia, Dansville and Wayland-Cohocton were in Division I last year with Le Roy, Cal-Mum, Avon, Letchworth, Canisteo-Greenwood and Wellsville making up Division II.

Next season, Le Roy would have six games already on the schedule for Division I opponents, which means that one the non-league games against Batavia or Cal-Mum would have to go.

Le Roy and Batavia have played each other for the last four seasons, renewing a rivalry that was halted in 1959. Le Roy and Cal-Mum have been playing since football was invented.

The Oatkan Knights will probably play Cal-Mum with its non-division game, because if that rivalry game was stopped there would be absolute chaos in Section 5.

So it is safe to assume that Le Roy and Batavia will not be playing next season. The Blue Devils played an independent schedule last year, which was made up of mostly Finger Lakes schools. Batavia will probably end up back in the Monroe County League, and the great Batavia/Le Roy rivalry games are probably coming to an end. 

 

D&C small school boys polls out of whack

By Brian Hillabush

I was just checking out the first edition of the Democrat & Chronicle polls for winter sports, and I'm very confused by the small school boys basketball one.

This is the poll in question.

Small schools
Rank/team
1. Bishop Kearney
2. Finney
3. Letichworht
4. Wellsviell
5. Oakfield-Alabama
6. Penn Yan
7. Dansville
8. Gananda
9. Dundee
10. Livonia
(tie) Marion

(not typos, this is directly from the D&C Web site)

 

I think the D&C does a great job with high school sports coverage, but I'm one of the first people to always question the lack of small school athletes that make the All-Greater Rochester teams. There is proof that they focus on the larger schools with these rankings.

First off, Letchworth is 4-1 and has a very good basketball team. I have the utmost respect for coach Tim McMullen. But how do they get a No. 3 ranking?

The Indians have a loss and are one of four Livingston Conference teams to make the top 10. Livingston is a decent basketball league, but the Genesee Region League is probably much stronger this season.

The only GR squad to make the list is Oakfield-Alabama at No. 5. The Hornets are stacked this season and are off to a 4-0 start. Surely the Hornets deserve to be ranked higher than Letchworth.

And I don't see how Notre Dame can be totally left off this top 10 list.

The Fighting Irish have only played two games, but have won both in blowout fashion and are a very talented and deep team. Notre Dame is also one of the best teams in the history of Section 5, so I don't see how they can be left off.

The other glaring exception is Batavia, which is ranked sixth in the small school wrestling poll. If Batavia is considered a small school, then they should be right near the top of this list. As good as the top teams on that list are, if they have to play the Blue Devils, they are probably going to lose. Batavia plays schools like Pittsford Sutherland, Pittsford Mendon and Victor, and just won a tournament with two defending state champions.

D&C does a lot of things well, but these rankings basically forget that Genesee County is on the map.

HS highlights for Friday

By Brian Hillabush

Stacy Hein hit four critical foul shots in the last two minutes and scored eight points to lead the Batavia girls basketball team to a 42-38 win over host Victor Friday, recovering from its first loss of the season earlier this week.

Brittany Wormley led the squad with 13 points and Brittany Mazurkiewicz followed with 11 points and seven assists.

Jaycee Shirk had six points and eight boards for the Blue Devils (5-1).

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 Anni Lehtola, the foreign exchange student from Finland, had another big game for Alexander, scoring 19 points to lead the Trojans to a 57-47 win over Pembroke.

Katie Kochmanski pitched in 11 points while Anna Dominick and Nicki Laird added eight points apiece.

Kelsey Lewis led the Dragons (2-2) with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven steals. Nicole Sharick scored a team-high 15 points.

Alexander is 3-1.

 

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Brynn Perfett was the leading scorer for Oakfield-Alabama with 11 points as the Hornets improved to 3-1 with a 46-28 win over Holley.

Dani Sage had seven points and 11 rebounds and Lindsay Chatt pitched in seven points.

Julie Brooks had 11 points for the Hawks (1-3).

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Sophomore sensation Liz Geandreau scored a career-high 18 points to lead Notre Dame to a 64-33 win over Kendall. She also pulled down eight rebounds.

Nichole Hart had 16 points and Trisha Pike pitched in 12 for the Fighting Irish (2-0).

Meghan Fahy had 20 points to lead the Eagles.

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Paige Golden scored 14 points to lead Albion to a 41-25 win over Lyndonville.

Casey Button scored seven points and had 15 boards for the Purple Eagles (2-1).

Molly Burgess dropped in 10 points with six boards to lead the Tigers (1-3). Samantha Skryp and Miranda Feller had five points with six boards each.

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The Elba girls basketball team jumped out to a 20-7 lead and never looked back in thumping Wheatland-Chili 71-37.

Rachael Cook had 14  points and Chelsie Pangrazio pitched in 11 for the Lancers, who improve to 1-1. Katie Newton was also in double figures with 10 points, and Meg Stucko had 11 boards.

Lauren Drago scored 16 points to lead the Wildcats.

 

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Kayleigh Puma and Kat Palmer combined for 9 of 10 first quarter points as Byron-Bergen jumped out to a 10-6 lead and cruised to a 38-24 win over Attica.

Kaylee Amesbury had eight points with Mary Cocking adding seven.

Jackie Algier scored 10 points for the Blue Devils.

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The Batavia hockey team was outshot 35-17 in losing to Fayetteville-Manilius 6-2.
Goalie Brandon Corcoran made 29 saves with Pat Finnell and Corey Kocent each scoring for the Blue Devils (2-3).
Finnell also had an assist.

 

Blue Devils win home opener

By Brian Hillabush

 The biggest challenge facing the Batavia boys basketball team this season is taking on teams with size.

Victor has plenty of size, especially 6-foot-10 center Rob Page.

But the Blue Devils used an up-tempo pressure defense, with some zone mixed in, and a fast paced offense to overcome a second-straight slow start to beat the visiting squad 67-54.

Victor jumped out to a quick lead though, as Lee Lomenzo hit two quick baskets and Page dumped one in, giving their team a 7-2 advantage in the opening four minutes of the game.

Each of the three Hoy brothers had a basket in the next four minutes as Victor led 15-11 after the first period of play. It was the second consecutive game that Batavia has trailed after the first quarter.

Joe Schlossel and Robert Hoy had two straight baskets, with Hoy hitting an and-one, and Batavia took a 16-15 lead early in the second quarter, and never fell behind.

Schlossel hit two more baskets in the second quarter, Adam Pettinella nailed a 3-pointer and Andrew Hoy scored nine of his 15 points with eight rebounds and three assists as the Blue Devils took a 32-23 lead into the half.

Victor went on a 6-2 run near the end of the third quarter and cut the lead to 44-43, but Marcus Hoy drained a 3 at the buzzer to give Batavia a 47-43 lead after three quarters of play.

After a Pettinella 3-pointer gave the Blue Devils a five point lead, Victor was never able to get any closer than that the rest of the way.

While Andrew Hoy led the Blue Devils in scoring for the fourth-straight game, his supporting cast came up huge in this game.

Robert Hoy scored a season-high 15 points and Schlossel added 14 points, playing much bigger than his 6-foot-2 frame. Schlossel and the rest of the forwards held the 6-foot-10 Page to just four points.

Marcus Hoy had eight points with 12 dimes Dakota Irvin had five points with seven boards. Pettinella pitched in eight points.

David Vistocco led Victor (3-1) with 17 points, with Lomenzo getting 14 and Tyler Brooks finishing with 13.

Batavia beat two defending state champions and opened up with a win in the Olean Tournament, then beat Pittsford Mendon on the road before this game. That makes the Blue Devils 2-0 in the Monroe County League and 4-0 overall.

Batavia is at Pittsford Sutherland on Wednesday.

 

Plenty of local wrestling action this weekend

By Brian Hillabush

 Daily News sportswriter Alanna Stage previews all of the local wrestling tournaments this weekend on the Daily's Web site today.

Batavia will be hosting its 35th Christmas Tournament and is looking to repeat after winning it for the first time in 16 years last season.

Attica hosts the 2nd annual Sgt. Richard Romesser Attica Blue Devils Dual Meet Challenge. Nine teams will compete in a dual-meet, round-robin style tournament.

Holley swept the Holley Team Tournament last year and has won the tournament 13 out of 15 times.

No state wrestling in Rochester

By Brian Hillabush

The Democrat & Chronicle reports today that  the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Tournament will not be held in Rochester again, until at least 2013.

Last year's tournament was held at the Blue Cross Arena and was a treat for area wrestling fans, that had a much shorter drive than Albany to watch the event.

Section 5 officials were pushing to have the state rotate the tournament each year with Albany, but the NYSPHSAA just accepted a bid by the Times Union Center in Albany to host the event until 2013.

I can guess that money was a huge reason why, but the NYSPHSAA might have had some other reasons why Rochester won't get another shot to host the tournament for a while.

The Blue Cross Arena is a great place to host large events, but there were a couple of major issues that upset a lot of people last year. 

The biggest was the parking and traffic.

The most common complaint people that attended the tournament had was that there was simply no place to park. In order to get a decent parking spot (which I believe cost $15 per day), you had to arrive well before the opening round matches and leave your vehicle where it was. If you showed up even an hour after the first match of the day, you were looking at a 20 minute walk in freezing cold conditions.

Rochester vastly underestimated the amount of people that are high school wrestling fans and did not prepare for the amount of vehicles that were in the city. There weren't enough police officers to direct traffic and people often had to sit and wait for traffic problems to be resolved by officers, which were understaffed and were doing all they could in order to try to maintain order.

Another issue that was not a problem for fans, but was for state officials and the media was the wireless Internet was down on both days. The state site was supposed to be updating results as each match ended and because of an unexplained lack of Internet access were not able to do that.

Media members from all over the state that were reporting the event could not get updates and stories out in a timely manner. We were told that our options were to go find a coffee house with free Internet or go over to the hotel across the street and pay for wireless access. I drove back to Batavia to submit my stories, but wound up pushing deadline for some stringer work I was doing for Varsity 845.

It is a shame that a great tournament will not be in Rochester for a long time, or possibly ever again. Money and mismanagement are the reasons.

 

D&C previews Monroe County girls

By Brian Hillabush

 The Democrat & Chronicle released its Monroe County League girls basketball previews this morning, and took a little shot at the Batavia girls basketball team.

Wade will try to build a winner not far from his last head coaching job at Batavia Notre Dame, which he guided to the 1999 state title. He has some pieces to the puzzle, as evidenced by a 4-1 start, but the Blue Devils still aren't good enough to challenge the elite, such as Pittsford Mendon, which beat them 77-49.

 

The previews are quick and to the point, but gives you the basic information you need if you are interested in learning about the teams the Blue Devils will play during the regular season.

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