Notre Dame

In a special second-annual battle of hometown rivals, Batavia topped Notre Dame in Boys Basketball at GCC on Saturday, 63-53.

Hoops for Hopes benefits the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.

Batavia's Buddy Brasky, head coach, conceived of the idea for the tournament in 2024 and after a successful tournament last year, the foundation hosted it again for 2025.

Batavia scoring: 

• Carter Mullen, 22 points
• Gavin White, 16 points
• Justin Smith, 10 points

Notre Dame scoring:

• TJ Cephus, 19 points
• Aiden Bellavia, 15 points
• Chase Antinore, 8 points

The Blue Devils are now 12-4 on the season. The Fighting Irish are 10-6.

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame beat Batavia 44-22 in Girls Basketball at GCC on Saturday in a match-up that benefited the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.

All proceeds from the Hoops for Hopes Tournament, which matches all eight Batavia and Notre Dame basketball teams (boys and girls, JV and varsity), go to fighting pediatric cancer.

This was the second year the schools participated in the tournament.

“This is a special night in our community to remember Michael Napoleone and raise money for pediatric cancer with a hometown rivalry,” said Notre Dame coach Vinny Falleti.

Sofia Falleti led the Irish with a game-high 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks. Gianna Falleti scored 14 points and had three steals. Also contributing was Shirley Thompson with 7 points, Lucia Fiorentino 4 points 10 rebounds, and Penny Jo Thompson 4 points.

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame beat Oakfield-Alabama 64-47 in Boys Basketball on Wednesday at O-A.

Scoring for Notre Dame:

• Chase Antinore, 20 points
• Makyell Walker, 14 points
• Aiden Bellavia, 12 points

• Brady Williams, 15 points
• Avery Watterson, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
• Jack Cianfrini, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
• Gabe Smith, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks

Notre Dame improved to 11-4 on Monday on Tuesday with a 53-37 win over Pembroke in Girls Basketball.

Sofia Falleti led the way for the Irish with a game-high 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Lucia Fiorentino also contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds.

“This was a big Genesee Region match-up for us tonight," said Coach VInny Falleti. "We knew Pembroke was a good team and could shoot well. Our team did a great job defensively and was able to have the majority of our team contribute offensively as well.”

Photos by Jaden Radam (Notre Dame student)

Notre Dame snapped Alexander's nine-game winning streak on Thursday with a 75-68 win.

Fighting Irish stats:

• Aiden Bellavia 19 points, 5 rebounds (5 3’s)
• Evan Fitzpatrick 17 points, 4 rebounds
• TJ. Cephus 16 points, 5 assists
• Chase Antinore 15 points, 8 rebounds
• Makyell Walker 8 points, 4 assists

Notre Dame hit 11 threes on the night. 

No stats were submitted for Alexander.

“What an atmosphere tonight," said Notre Dame Coach Mikey Rapone. "We played very well tonight against a very good team. Our shooting confidence finally came around, and tonight, we were able to make some threes. We had four guys in double figures, and everybody contributed to the win. Our guards did a great job of handling the pressure that Alexander put on full court. We limited the live ball turnovers, not allowing them to get easy buckets. Our press was active, and we were able to get our hands on some passes. We game-planned to try to stop Dylan Pohl and make him earn every basket. In the third quarter he got away from us a little bit, we allowed him to get 11 points. But overall, I thought our zone did a great job tonight, which is different from what we normally play, man-to-man.  I’m proud of our kids, all thirteen of them. They really worked hard together in preparation for this one, and hopefully, we can stay the course and continue to get better.”

Notre Dame is now 9-4 on the season. The Trojans are 10-3.

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame beat Attica in Girls Basketball on Thursday 44-23.

The Lady Irish improved to 8-4

The Irish were led by Sofia Falleti, who scored 18 points and had 9 rebounds. Shirley Thompson pitched in 8 points and 6 rebounds. Clairissa Milliman and Penny Jo Thompson had 6 points each.

Photos by Pete Welker

Notre Dame improved to 7-4 on Tuesday with a 53-33 win over Kendall in Girls Basketball.

Sofia Falleti led the Irish with a 30-point and 15-rebound double-double while adding four steals. Also contributing was Shirley Thompson with 9 points and 7 rebounds and Lucia Fiorentino with 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. 

“This was a good bounce-back game for us. Everyone contributed both on offense and defense tonight. The team really worked well against a solid Kendall defense,” said Coach Vinny Falleti

Byron Bergen beat Notre Dame in Girls Basketball on Saturday 58-55.

For the Bees, Janessa Amesbury scored 22 points. Olivia Senf, who missed the previous five games with an ankle injury, scored 12, and Riley Shallenberger scored 10.

For the Irish, Sofia Falletti scored 19, and Shirley Thompson scored 11. Both girls had eight rebounds. Gianna Falleti scored seven and Lucia Fiorentino scored six with 11 rebounds.

"Nice quality win for us tonight against a very good and young ND team," said Byron-Bergen Coach Rick Krzewinski. "We did a nice job on Sofia Falletti in the first half as she scored six but added 13 in the second half. Eight grader Shirley Thompson scored 8 of her 11 points in the first half. You are going to hear a lot about her in the years to come."

Byron-Bergen is now 8-1. Notre Dame is 6-4.

Photos by Jennifer Diquattro.

After playing even with Byron-Bergen through the first two quarters in Boys Basketball on Thursday, Notre Dame pulled away in the third for a 70-52 win.

Chase Antinore scored 35 points for the Irish. TJ Cephus scored 14 and Aiden Bellavia scored 13.

For the Bees, Cody Carlson scored 30 points.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

Three decades after the program's last appearance in the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament, the Elba Lancers are the tournament's new champions.

The Lancers beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 55-44 at GCC on Thursday.

Elba outscored Notre Dame 21 to six in the first quarter and never looked back.

Sydney Reilly scored 27 points for Elba.  She was the only player on the team to score in double digits. Brea Smith scored seven, and Lydia Ross scored six.

For the Irish, Sofia Falleti scored 28 points and was also the only player on her team to score in double digits. Gianna Falleti and Shirley Thompson each scored five.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Notre Dame knocked off the defending champs in the first game of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament at GCC on Tuesday.

The Irish (6-2) topped Cal-Mum 54-46.

ND is riding a three-game win streak going into the final on Thursday against Elba.

After trailing 15-0 in the first quarter, the Irish rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

Sofia Falleti led the Irish with a team-high 19 points and five rebounds. Lucia Fiorentino had 10 points and eight rebounds. Also contributing were Shirley Thompson with nine points, Clairissa Milliman with six points, Gianna Falleti and Emma Fitch with four each.

“What a comeback! From being down by 15, we had to get in our rhythm and fight back point by point," said Coach Vinny Falleti. "Our defense was key tonight against a talented, veteran Cal-Mum team, which is very well coached. We have such a young team with no seniors, and our objective is  always to compete. Amazing effort. I am so proud of our Lady Irish."

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame improved to 5-2 Saturday afternoon in Girls Basketball with a 63-22 win over Wheatland Chili at home. 

Every Irish player contributed for a balanced win. 

Leading ND were the Falleti sisters, Sofia and Gianna, with 12 points each. Also contributing were Lucia Fiorentin with 11 points, Emma Fitch, 7, Riley Yunker, 7, Shirley Thompson, 6, Clairissa Milliman, 4, and Penny Jo Thompson, 4.

“Back-to-back games are very difficult, and I was happy that the girls could come out and have everyone contribute both on offense and defense,” said Coach Vinny Falleti.

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame, now 4-2, beat the previously undefeated Lyons in Girls Basketball on Friday 69-63.

The Irish were led by sophomore Sofia Falleti, who scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds. She hit five three-pointers.

Gianna Falleti also contributed 11 points and three steals. 

Shirley Thompson, eighth grade, added 10 points and six rebounds.

For Lyons, Carmella Parker scored 19 points, Janiyah Bell 17, and Jayla Bell 16.\

“Our team played a phenomenal game against a talented and undefeated Class B school on our home court," said Coach Vinny Falleti. "This was a tremendous effort from our whole team tonight to take this win.”

Press Release:

A full slate of both girls and boys basketball is scheduled for February 8 and we hope to see you there. Batavia High School will take on the Notre Dame Irish for a full day of both JV and Varsity girls and boys basketball. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.

Game times are to be determined and will be played at both Batavia High School and Genesee Community College.

Admission will be Adults $5 & Students $2, Children 5 & under -free!

There will be a 50/50 raffle at each game.

The Foundation will be running concessions and are looking for donations of soda, water, pizza, candy and chips! Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. All donations assist our fundraising efforts!

The Foundation will also be looking for volunteers during the games to assist with raffles and concessions. Students will be awarded community service hours if volunteering.

Please call Laurie for any donations, volunteering, or questions at 585-409-3275.

The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was established in 2007 in memory of Michael Napoleone who died at the age of 8 of Burkitts Lymphoma, a form of pediatric cancer. Since its start, the Foundation has given over $750,000 to families facing the challenges of a pediatric cancer diagnosis. They have donated over $75,000 to Youth programs from their grant funding, and supported research in the amount of $95,000. They also donated $50,000 to Golisano Children's Hospital and recently just completed their  $25,000 gift  to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

The Foundation depends solely on volunteers and less than 3% of monies raised are applied to administrative costs.

Come out and watch your hometown teams and support a great cause!

Alexander won the Pete Arras crown in the small school division at GCC on Monday night, beating Notre Dame 58-50. 

The Trojans led at the half 24-16, but the Fighting Irish pulled even three times in the fourth quarter. Alexander hits some key baskets in the final three minutes to seal the victory.

Kingston Woods was selected tournament MVP. 

When Notre Dame challenged in the second half, Alexander coach Justin Smith remained confident in his team.

"Our second half is normally our worst, to be honest, but I felt that they were going to get on a run, and I knew that we just had to settle down," Smith said. "Our offense was going to be there. We just had to be more disciplined on defense. Once we did that, I knew the game would swing our way."

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Notre Dame in Girls basketball on Monday 51-48.

Sofia Falleti scored 18 points for the Irish. Gianna Falleti scored nine and Lucia Fiorentino scored seven ad had nine rebounds.

There were no stats submitted for O-A.

Photos by Pete Welker.

Notre Dame beat Eugenio Maria de Hostas 66-61 in the small school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at Genesee Community College on Friday.

Makyell Walker scored 29 points for the Fighting Irish. Aiden Bellevia scored 12, and TJ Cephus and Evan Fitzpatrick scored eight each.

Seth Peterson scored 22 points for EMH.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.