The GCC Cougars entered the postseason ranked #4 in the nation and kept their championship hopes alive with a 95-74 victory over the North County Community College Saints.

The Saints, based in Saranac, made a game of it in the first half but the Cougars pulled away in the second to secure the victory. 

In the first half, GCC was 0-11 on three-point tries while Saints hit 43 percent of their three-pointers.

​At the end of the first half, the score was Cougars 44, Saints 42.

GCC is 20-4 on the season.

As the second half began the Cougars found their game and slowly walked away from the Saints by hitting their shots, controlling the ball and pace of the game. The Cougars led by 20 with 10 minutes left in the game and easily maintained that lead for the duration. 

The Cougars will play again at home on Saturday at 2 or 3 pm to a team to be determined. Admittance to the game is free.

Anthony Grey was the high scorer for the Cougars with 16 points from off the bench and starter Jalen Willis had 15. 

For more pictures of the game go to jimburns.org

The first 50 Genesee fans to the women's game and the first 50 people to the men's game will receive a limited edition WGCC/Cougars foam finger.

Additional foam fingers will be sold for $5, with all proceeds going to the college radio station for new sportscasting equipment. Donations will also be accepted.

"It will be a lot of fun," said WGCC sportscaster Jon White, who will also be broadcasting the games on the radio. "I hope it brings a lot of excitement and a lot of people out to support the Cougars and watch two very good basketball games."

Tuesday will also mark the last regular season home game for both the men's and women's basketball teams. They will honor each member of their sophomore class with a pregame ceremony, recognizing their accomplishments as a member of the program.

Both teams are currently ranked third in their respective Western New York Athletic Conference Coaches Poll and are fighting for better position in the post-season, which begins on Feb. 28.

Admission for both games is free of charge. The women's game will begin at 6 p.m. and the men's game will follow at around 8 p.m. The pre-game ceremonies will begin approximately 15 minutes before tip-off of each game.

In game one on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, the Cougars defeated Jamestown Community College 3-0. The team was led by pitcher Greg Rapp who threw a one-hitter in all nine innings while striking out five and walking three. Nate Smith and Adam Grace each had two hits to lead the offense.

In the championship game later that day, Genesee defeated Niagara County Community College 7-1 to win the WNYAC championship.

The Cougars took the early lead scoring in the second inning. John Broll led the inning off with a walk and then scored off a single by Jacob Featherstone. NCCC came back to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning, but Genesee was determined to battle back as they continued to score throughout the game to make the score 7-1.

Adam Grace led the team in offense going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI's. Genesee starting pitcher Shaun Slemko pitched 5 2/3 innings giving up two hits while walking one. Dan Sharpe entered the game and got the win pitching the rest of the way, striking out four and walking one.

The team will play at SUNY Brockport on Saturday, Oct. 9, in an "all day" game with SUNY Brockport and Finger Lakes Community College. The team will play three games on Saturday.

On Sunday, Oct. 10 the team will hold its annual Eastern Great Lakes Baseball Showcase at Dwyer Stadium. The team invites high school students, as well as junior college players, to workout in front of four-year colleges and professional baseball scouts.

This is one of the ways Genesee successfully sends its players up to other colleges. In the last five years, the program has had 32 players get baseball scholarships from colleges and universities around the country. Genesee has also had three players drafted or sign to play professional baseball.

The team finished its Conference fall season with an impressive 11-3 record. Coach Skip Sherman says, "I could not be more proud of this team. They have worked very hard and this a well deserved championship for this group of players."

All Conference players should be announced in the next couple of weeks and the team will then begin getting prepared for a competitive spring season.

GCC Baseball Roster:

Shan Alexander, of Willemstad, Curacao; John Broll, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Bryan Depew, of Wellsville; Jacob Featherstone, of Ajax, Ontario; Charles Gibbons, of Port Washington; Adam Grace, Niagara Falls, NY; Ross Graham, Kingston, Ontario; Alex Harms, Hamburg, Germany; Manuel Hernandez, Valencia, Venezuela; Josh Hill, Akron; Josh Leavitt, of Kingston, Ontario; Ivan Madafferi, of Albion; Leandro Pereira, of Curacao; John Polonius, of Curacao; Bryan Pyper, of Toronto; Greg Rapp, of Cambridge, Ontario; Adrian Rosellon, of Mexico City; Daniel Sharpe, of Youngstown; Shaun Slemko, of Courtice, Ontario; Nathan Smith, of Brampton, Ontario; Kyle Taylor, of Ajax, Ontario; Jaymee Young, of Pickering, Ontario; Greg Young, Waterloo, Ontario.

For further information please contact Genesee Community College Baseball Team Coach Sherman at 343-0055, ext. 6454 or email: SSherman@genesee.edu.

It was found out Saturday evening that the Genesee Cougars Men's Basketball team has a new star player. Sign him up folks, Batavia's own Paul Ohlson, founder of Care-A-Van Ministries! It seemed Pastor Dale Gooch of the Emmanuel Baptist church was negotiating the deal.

I just could not resist sharing this breaking news! Ok, well maybe it is just his dream,, to be a star basketball player  but the reality of it all is that the vision of Care-A-Van Ministries is strong and truly is a key player in bringing hope and encouragement to all.

On Saturday evening Care-A-Van Ministries was at GCC for our annual Fall cookout.

We served over 150 students at the cookout. It was a great night out! Many of the students remembered Care-A-Van from last year with our monthly visits to the  door rooms with treats and prayers. This group of young men joined us for the cookout.

Debbie Crossett of the GCC CSU ( Christian Students United) was on hand to lend her support and provide information for the students in regards to the opportunity of becoming involved with that campus organization.

Patti Chadwick of the Reading Room, located here in Batavia set up a table and offered free books to the students while her huband John was busy cooking on the grill.

It just amazes this PR director how Bridget, Paul's wife does all the cooking for the weekly cookouts.

Dave Holenbeck and Ron Mazulla provided entertaining music for all.

Care-A-Van Ministries will be returning the campus on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 for street church, where Pastor Dale will give the message.

Thank you to everyone who made this evening possible and thank you to the students for such a warm reception. As the bus pulled away, the team was busy on the practicing on the outdoor court. I just had to holler out Go Cougars! You may just want to catch one of their games in this upcoming season, I am sure you will not be dissapointed!

These young gals enjoy the evening on the hillside