Junior guard Carter Mullen’s three-point basket with 43 seconds to play broke a 49-49 tie, and Batavia High went on to defeat Attica, 56-52, in a battle of Blue Devils to win the 42nd annual Batavia Lions Club Pete Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament Large School bracket on Friday night

Updated at 9:45 p.m. with Batavia versus Le Roy score.

The Attica Blue Devils advanced to the championship game of the Large School division of the 42nd annual Batavia Lions Club Pete Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament this afternoon with a 67-55 victory over Royalton-Hartland.

Coach Rob Crowley’s team, playing the first of four opening round games at Genesee Community College, raised its record to 6-1 and now will take on Batavia, which defeated Le Roy, 68-62, in the last game of the night.

Senior forward Cole Harding scored 22 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and dished out six assists to lead Attica, which also got 18 points and 10 rebounds form senior guard-forward Jack Janes and 16 points and 12 rebounds from senior center Clayton Bezon.

Junior guard Carter Gorski chipped in with seven points for seven points.

Attica raced out to a 10-0 advantage, but Roy-Hart battled back to tie the score at the end of the first quarter. Balanced scoring pushed the winners up by 10 at the half, 36-26, and the lead ballooned to 19 in the third quarter.

“The boys played hard this afternoon and moved the ball very well,” Attica Coach Rob Crowley said. “We sort of battled ourselves at certain points in the game, making things difficult on ourselves, but found a way to stick together and get the victory.”

For Roy-Hart, Dan Aquilina scored 21, Rem Albee 18 and Brayden Ricker 10. The Rams will play in the consolation game against Le Roy at 3 p.m. Friday at GCC.

Photos by Brennan Bezon.

The Erie County Agricultural Society hosted the Harvest Classic Cattle Show on the Erie County Fairground this past weekend. In its third year, the event hosted nearly 200 cattle and competitors and prize premiums totaled over $8,000. Exhibitors came from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Results:

Charolais Heifers

• Grand Champion, Charolais Heifer – Evie Groom, Lyons
• Reserve Champion, Charolais Heifer – Lisa Compton, Ovid

Hereford Heifers

• Grand Champion, Hereford Heifer – McKenna Broughton, Attica
• Reserve Champion, Hereford Heifer – McKalynne Helmke, Philadelphia, OH

Maine-Anjou Heifers

• Grand Champion, Maine-Anjou Heifer – Lincoln Giebner, Canton, PA
• Reserve Champion, Maine-Anjou Heifer – Simon Spoth, Lewisburg, PA

Maintainer Heifers

• Grand Champion, Maintainer Heifer – Kalya Lippert, Sinclairville
• Reserve Champion, Maintainer Heifer – Lana Miles, Jasper

Shorthorn Heifers

• Grand Champion, Shorthorn Heifer – Makayla Sugg, Alden
• Reserve Champion, Shorthorn Heifer – Jenna Weixlmann, Arcade

Shorthorn Plus Heifers

• Grand Champion, Shorthorn Plus Heifer – Broughton Cattle Company, Springs
• Reserve Champion, Shorthorn Plus Heifer – Chelsea Lippert, Alexander

Simmental Heifers

• Grand Champion, Simmental Heifer – Addy Rae Bozeman, Naples
• Reserve Champion, Simmental Heifer – McKalynne Helmke, New Philadelphia, OH

Sim-Solution Heifers

• Grand Champion, Sim-Solution Heifer – Chase Gerhardt, East Aurora
• Reserve Champion, Sim-Solution Heifer – Gavin Palmer, Springboro, PA

AOB Heifers

• Grand Champion, AOB Heifer – Evie Groom, Lyons
• Reserve Champion, AOB Heifer – Emily Smith, Marion

Crossbred Heifers

• Grand Champion, Crossbred Heifer – Gavin Palmer, Springboro
• Reserve Champion, Crossbred Heifer – Tyler Strub, East Concord

Supreme Champion Females

• Supreme Champion Female – Gavin Palmer, Springboro, PA
• Reserve Supreme Champion Female – Kayla Lippert, Sinclairville
• Third Overall Champion Female – Chase Gerhardt, East Aurora
• Fourth Overall Champion Female – Addy Rae Bozeman, Naples
• Fifth Overall Champion Female – McKalynne Helmke, New Philadelphia, OH

Market Heifer

• Grand Champion, Market Heifer – Lincoln Giebner, Canton, PA
• Reserve Champion, Market Heifer – Sarah Wilson, Dansville

Shorthorn Plus Steer

• Grand Champion, Shorthorn Plus Steer – Kayla Lippert, Sinclairville
• Reserve Champion, Shorthorn Plus Steer – Maddilyn Durfee, Attica

AOB Steer

• Grand Champion, AOB Steer – Payson Southers, Millmont, PA
• Reserve Champion, AOB Steer – Molly Decker, Scenery Hill, PA

Light Weight

• Champion, Light Weight – Carson Wojciechowski, Springville
• Reserve Champion, Light Weight – Gavin Palmer, Springboro, PA
• Honorable Mention, Light Weight – Jenna Weixlmann, Arcade

Medium Weight

• Champion, Medium Weight – Amelia Hintz-Strub, Springville
• Reserve Champion, Medium Weight – Cody Carlson, Byron
• Honorable Mention, Medium Weight – Romey Slick, Edinburg, PA

Heavy Weight

• Champion, Heavy Weight – Shelby Schrader, Ghent
• Reserve Champion, Heavy Weight – Lydia Covert, Lakewood
• Honorable Mention, Heavy Weight – Savannah Palmer, New Castle, PA

Supreme Champion Market Animals

• Supreme Champion Market Animal – Payson Southers, Millmont, PA
• Reserve Supreme Champion Market Animal – Lincoln Giebner, Canton, PA
• Third Overall Champion Market Animal – Shelby Schrader, Ghent
• Fourth Overall Champion Market Animal – Molly Decker, Scenery Hill, PA
• Fifth Overall Champion Market Animal – Sarah Wilson, Dansville

A complete list of results can also be found online: The Harvest Classic (the-fairgrounds.com)

The show is presented by the Erie County Agricultural Society. Since its founding in 1819, the mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society has been to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State.

Alexander resident Cortni Quinn, a corrections officer at Attica Correctional Facility, provided these photos from Wednesday's Attica Prison Riot Memorial Ceremony.

Every year, on Sept. 13, there are two ceremonies on prison grounds in remembrance of the riot, which started on Sept. 9, 1971, and ended on Sept. 13, 1971. the first service focuses on victims and families of victims who died. The second is a state service remembering the riot.

This year was the 52nd anniversary.

The bagpiper is William Franz of Attica. The pictures include the Attica Honor Guard and the Attica CERT team members.

Photos by Philip Casper.

What better way to enjoy spring break than lounging on a beach at Isle of Palms in South Carolina, soaking up the sun, cooling off in the ocean from the 80-degree temps and spending quality time with family?

Is the picture firmly in mind? Now look over to the pier and see a throng of people. They must have just gotten off a bus to see the sights. After a beautiful, balmy day, it’s time to go take a shower to wash off all the warm, clingy sand.

Just another typical vacation down south, right? That’s what Melanie Domes thought. She and her 10-year-old daughter had gone there to visit a cousin, and two days in, all was well. They had finished their shower and headed down the street.

After that point, Domes’ vacation paradise changed drastically. During the shower, a nearby restaurant’s music masked the sounds of gunfire. Those throngs of people were kids on a senior skip day, and fights had broken out.

“We casually walked out to the street where there were cop cars coming from all directions, sirens and horns blaring. We moved out of the way for the truck thinking someone must have been hurt on the beach.  We then continued to walk to my vehicle, parked across and down the street. As I looked up, hundreds — 400, 500, plus gangster people, came running in our direction. I became very scared, I had no idea what this mass confusion was going on. I first thought to get to the car quick but the screaming and fighting were between us and the car,” Domes said Tuesday to The Batavian.

“A mass of kids came running at us. I was in complete fear; I thought, ‘Are they running to something, or are they running from something?’ I looked around for shelter, and I saw a Dumpster, and thought do we hide in there? I then saw a cop car a few feet in front of us … I really didn't know what these crowds of angry kids wanted.”

The threesome stood next to a police car as Domes scanned the area for viable shelter. They saw a shop owner locking her doors, and “I begged her to please let us come in,” Domes said.

“The tears of horror, I think, was what allowed us to stay. We had to hide behind boxes and clothing and away from the windows,” Domes, a school teacher from Attica, said. “The lady ‘grandma’ and the girl were so kind to us, she kept us updated on what was going on. Six people were shot, and others injured.  We stayed in lockdown for over an hour, watching through the cracks of them running like crazy and cops chasing them. Some pounding on the door. We did try to get to the car and have to turn back and take cover again because it was chaos.”   

Eventually, the store owner, known as “grandma,” led them safely to their vehicle so that they could leave the island. Meanwhile, they encountered kids screaming threats and cursing as Domes clung to her daughter more tightly. Her cousin drove them back; however, the bridge was shut down, making the trip longer for everyone to get off the island, Domes said.

What she hadn’t known at the time was that many others had been hiding as well, one woman and her baby were behind a bush, and others were in a bathroom or holed up in people’s homes.

“I’m a teacher, and the sad thing is, we’ve been practicing for this stuff. I never thought I’d ever have it happen to me, or to my daughter,” she said, pausing for a few emotional moments. “I just thank the Lord that I was with her. So many times, kids wander off at the beach, and that place is such a safe place, I wouldn’t have thought twice about letting her go get an ice cream. I’m still shocked. I broke down several times today.”

Her daughter is also, obviously, upset about the incident — or, more bluntly put — the mass shooting, yet another. Domes is an advocate for having a gun permit and having the ability to protect oneself in situations like this one. The problem is that not all states allow for that, she said.

Her parents taught her to look for an out when learning to drive. If something blocks the path, look to see where you can move to avoid a crash. She has adapted that to other scenarios and believes she tried to do that during the shooting, to look for shelter instead of just having one plan of going to her vehicle.

Another lesson is to “always be aware of your surroundings,” she said.

Even though there were several police officers present, they were focused on the chaos and fights, she said, and not available to help other citizens. It took three hours to get it all under control, she said.

“This experience was horrifying,” she said. “I never thought I would be put in a situation like this. I was beyond grateful I was with my cousin and the lady of the store let us in.”   

According to USA Today, six victims included people between the ages of 15 and 16, and one woman in her 30s who was not part of the beach party on Friday. One suspect, age 16, was arrested for possessing a stolen firearm, and an 18-year-old was arrested for possessing a firearm in a municipal parking lot, police said.

The incident stemmed from a high school senior skip day in the coastal city of Isle of Palms, about 15 miles east of Charleston, SC, when gunfire erupted at about 5:20 p.m., according to CNN news reports.

Photo of Isle of Palms beach submitted by Melanie Domes.

Three local wrestlers had strong showings at the NYS championship meet this week, one of the area's top grapplers, Casper Stewart, finishing third in his class, 152 pounds.

That wasn't the result he and his coach and father were hoping for, said Rick Stewart (dad and coach).

" It’s hard to put things in words right now," Stewart aid. "Obviously, it is not the result we wanted, and we are disappointed.  He set the bar very high and expect to accomplish the goals.  Even though this year’s season is an amazing accomplishment with a 51-1 record with a third-place finish at states and an eastern states title, the ultimate goal wasn't achieved, and that will be the motivation for next year. I'm very proud of him and know he will do great things in this sport. He is beyond driven."

Casper’s comments about the future, Just keep training hard, working with good training partners and coaches.

Other local podium finishers in Genesee County:

• Alexander senior Ben Merill finished 4^th in division two, 138 lb. weight class
• Byron-Bergen junior Malachi Smith finished 6^th in division two, 189 lb. weight class

To view the final results, click here.

Photos and information provided by the Attica-Batavia team

Merritt Holly, Jr., unloaded on Attica for 27 points on Tuesday evening in the opening game of the 2022 Lions Tournament at GCC to lead Le Roy to a 48-30 win over Attica.

Jean Agosto scored 12 points for the Oatkan Knights.

Cole Harding scored 18 points for the Blue Devils.

Other opening-round games today:

• Elba vs. Oakfield-Alabama (started at 5:15 p.m.)
• Medina vs. Notre Dame (started at 6:30 p.m.)
• Roy-Hart vs. Batavia (starts at 8 p.m.)

On Thursday, the small school championship game is at 6:30 p.m. and the large school championship game is at 8 p.m.  Both games are being played at GCC.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Photos by Philip Casper