Sports

Batavia Notre Dame United’s season came to an end tonight at the hands of perennial hockey powerhouse Victor, 5-0, in the Section V tournament Class A quarterfinals at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairport.

The team – in its first year of the merger of the Batavia High and Notre Dame programs – finishes with a record of 12 wins, seven losses and three ties.

As the clock wound down in the third period, Head Coach Marc Staley said he could only think of seven senior class members of the club who provided the leadership needed to forge such a successful inaugural campaign.

“Right now, we’re just thinking about the seniors; we’re thinking about how far up the mountain we climbed because it’s a lot further than I think people thought we were going to go,” Staley said. “And, tonight we may have just lost to the state champions – on their home ice.”

Victor, now 16-2-2, got goals from five different players – scoring once in the first period, three times in the second period and once in the third period. A deep and talented squad, it limited United to 18 shots and put constant pressure on BND goaltender Frank Falleti Jr., putting 38 shots on net.

“They’re one of the best teams in the state,” Staley said. “So, that’s the level you have to get to; you can’t make mistakes.”

Staley was talking about a turnover along the boards behind Falleti that turned into the game’s first goal at the 10:02 mark.

Senior forward Jon Chapman stole the puck and quickly passed it out front where senior forward Braydon Risenberger, streaking down the middle of the ice, flicked a one-timer past Falleti.

Less than a minute later, United’s Cooper Hamilton had a great scoring chance but missed the open side of the net. Falleti came up with a sparkling save with 3:46 left to keep it at 1-0.

Victor thought it had a second goal in the opening period with 1:42 remaining, but the goal judge ruled “no goal” as Falleti fell onto the puck as it rolled across the goal line.

BND’s freshman forward Brady Johnson, alone in front of Victor's sophomore goalie Max Pitts, was unable to get off a good shot in the first minute of the second period, and less than a minute later, Victor went up 2-0 when sophomore defenseman Michael Peluso’s long flip shot toward the BND goal deflected off Falleti’s pad and into the net.

The Blue Devils capitalized on a roughing penalty on BND as sophomore forward Tanner Radogna batted a shot in mid-air from Asher Erwin past Falleti. Chapman scored an unassisted goal with 6:12 left to make it 4-0. Victor outshot United 16-4 in the period.

United had a few decent scoring opportunities in the third period but Pitts was equal to the task – thwarting seniors Vin DiRisio and Gavin Schrader. Victor senior forward Colin McNamara closed out the scoring with a power play goal with just 2:29 left on the clock.

After defeating Victor, 4-2, on Jan. 27 in Batavia, United was unable to find the back of the net in the teams’ next two meetings, losing 9-0 on Feb. 3 and getting shutout tonight.

Staley said he could sense the disappointment on the bench when the team got down by three and four goals, knowing that Victor gave up as many as four goals in a game just twice this season.

“You could feel it on the bench when they got up by four goals but we never stopped, we never quit. I thought we played a great third period. I'm proud of the way that the kids handled themselves in terms of playing with class right to the end,” he said.

Victor Head Coach Mike Ferreri, who guided the Blue Devils to the state title in 2018 and were on their way to the state Final Four in 2020 before COVID-19 hit, credited the BND coaches for their efforts.

“I think Marc and (Assistant Coach) John (Kirkwood) did a phenomenal job of trying to merge schools,” he said. “We’ve got a handful a merged schools in our section right now and it’s very challenging. I can't imagine how they do it because the culture that we preach – supporting one another and putting the team ahead of your individual goals – would be even harder to do with kids from multiple schools.”

Staley acknowledged that he will be thinking about next season in a day or two but tonight was saddened about losing “a great senior class” – Schrader, DiRisio, Zack Eschberger, Parker Corbelli, Andrew Kasmarek, Thomas Reardon and goalie Courtney Schum.

He said the journey that all of the coaches and players took together this year was special.

“So many stories to be told about practices; what happened in the locker room and great moments of guys supporting one another and being selfless,” he said. “To me as a coach, that's what it's about. Did we make 21 kids better hockey players, probably. But I feel really confident that we made 21 kids better people. And right now, that's what I reflect on.”

Still, he couldn’t help but to speak about the future.

“We certainly have a very positive jayvee team this year. The coaches did a great job developing those kids and a number of those kids are going to be ready to step right in with us next year,” he said. “That was the goal -- to create this type of development model and it was extremely rewarding. It's something personally that I've been privately dreaming about for over a decade and now we’re seeing this unity not only in the hockey locker room, but within the community too.”

Staley said the United club will be involved in raising the bar for youth hockey at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in Batavia.

“We want to help the youth hockey program grow,” he said. “We have a responsibility to help fix up the rink in Batavia a bit and put hockey on a better path long term – and this was a heck of a start.”

Photo at top: United's Vin DiRisio fires one past Victor goalie Max Pitts but just wide of the net.

Pitts grabs the puck as BND's Jameson Motyka applies the pressure.

United's Brady Johnson reaches to control the puck as he battles with Victor's Tanner Rodogna.

United goalie Frank Falleti Jr. dives on the puck with help from DiRisio after a shot by Victor's Simon Kowal.

BND's Ronin Hofmaster looks to skate past Victor's Asher Erwin.

United's Cooper Hamilton and Victor's Christian Kurz meet at the puck in front of goalie Pitts.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

It was Mike Rapone's night at Notre Dame and in front of a capacity crowd there to honor the legendary coach, the Fighting Irish emphasized the point with a win over archrival Elba 63-52.

Rapone said he wanted the focus to be where it should be, where it's always been, on the kids, but also admitted it was an emotional night for him.

"It really didn't hit me until tonight," Rapone said. "I've been talking, you know, this is my last year. It hit me tonight. It was pretty emotional."

Rapone coached at Notre Dame for 42 seasons amassing 709 wins (a Section V record), 32 Genesee Region championships, nine Section V championships, and two state championships.

On Wednesday, Jordan Welker led the scoring with 15 points. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Aiden Sisson scored 14 points each and Cody Henry scored 13.

For Elba, Zach Marsciell scored 23 points, hitting four three-pointers along the way.  Conner Scott scored 15 points.

Press Release:

The Genesee Amateur Hockey Association invites children to the Batavia Ice Rink (aka The David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena) on Evans Street on Saturday, March 5th for a Try Hockey For Free clinic as part of  USA Hockey  Week  Across  America.  Starting at 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. local youth, ages 4 to 9, are encouraged to experience ice hockey for the first time and learn the basic skills in a fun, safe environment.

"We look forward to welcoming families to Batavia Ice Rink to try our great sport of ice hockey,” said Sharon Gray, coordinator of the “Try Hockey for Free” event.  “Our goal is for these families to enjoy watching their kids learn new skills with big smiles on their faces.”

USA Hockey’s Try Hockey program, with the support of the National Hockey League and NHL member clubs, among others, is designed to provide youth hockey associations with a national platform for introducing children to the sport, free of charge. 

All your youngster needs is a helmet (bike or sports) and winter gloves.  Skates are available at the Rink and will be available Free of Charge through the Firland Rink Management Group. The GAHA organization does have a few hockey sticks available (but must be returned at the end of the clinic).

Players in attendance will be given a free USA Hockey jersey to take home.

To register for this Try Hockey For Free event, please visit (PLEASE NOTE – EVENT IS LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS)

www.TryHockeyForFree.com

Photo: File photo from 2016 by Howard Owens.

Team Zing, representing the Youngstown Yacht Club, is in third place overall after two of three legs of the IC37 Winter Series Lauderdale Cup sailboat race in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The crew, which includes Batavia High School junior Charlie Kegler in the jack-of-all-trades “floater” position, competed earlier this month and did very well – placing first after day one and second after the second and final day.

When combined with results from the first leg last November, the team is third out of seven crews who will meet once again on March 18-20 off the coast of the southern Florida city.

Kegler’s father, Charles, said Team Zing missed out by a mere one second from taking the top spot on the second leg.

Submitted photo: Team Zing competing in the IC37 Winter Series Lauderdale Cup earlier this month.

Previously: Batavia High student finds smooth sailing as junior member of Youngstown Yacht Club racing crew

No matter how you slice it, the inaugural season of the Batavia Notre Dame merged hockey program has been a successful one. And it became much sweeter tonight before a large, enthusiastic crowd at the newly-named David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena on Evans Street.

Junior forward Cooper Hamilton’s goal with 5:15 remaining in the third period broke a 2-2 tie and Coach Marc Staley’s United squad went on to post a 4-2 victory over the Hilton Cadets in the opening round of the Section V Class A tournament.

The win lifts the seventh-seeded BND’s record to 12-6-3 and sets up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 Victor at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Rochester Ice Center on Lyndon Road in Fairport.

Tonight’s contest featured inspired play by both teams – especially goaltenders Frank Falleti Jr for BND and Luciano Chinappi for Hilton, who time and time again came up with spectacular saves.

United fired 50 shots at Chinappi – 19 of them in the decisive third period – while Falleti turned away 31 of 33 shots by the Cadets.

Staley pointed to his team’s ability to dig deep when the game is on the line as a key factor in the victory,

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH

“This team is resilient,” he said. “We've been resilient all year. We’ve been down in the third period and we've come back to win before, and even when they (Hilton) came back and tied the game, there was no panic on our bench, none at all.

“In a pressure moment -- do or die at home and a new merged program. A lot of these kids haven't been in big sectional games before. And they did a great job executing our defensive game plan the last seven or eight minutes by keeping the clock running and getting the pucks deep.”

Hilton opened the scoring 8 minutes and 19 seconds into the game when senior defenseman Rylan Searley’s shot from the point went through Falleti’s legs and into the back of the net. Senior forward Dominic Goodenow picked up an assist.

BND was unable to convert several good scoring chances on two power plays prior to that, and junior Noah Hudson, playing on the front line tonight due to three teammates being out with illness, was thwarted by Chinappi in front with five minutes left.

A pair of stellar saves by Falleti in the closing three minutes of the period kept the deficit at one goal.

GAVIN SCHRADER TIES IT UP

United tied it up at the 9:48 mark of period two when senior Gavin Schrader (in top photo winding up for a shot), Section V’s leading scorer, deposited the rebound off the initial shot by junior defenseman Bryce Feldmann.

The home team took a 2-1 lead with 2:05 left in the period when freshman forward Jameson Motyka took a pass from freshman forward Brady Johnson, skated in alone, put a nifty fake on Chinappi and backhanded the puck into the net for a shorthanded goal.

Hilton killed off a United power play with 9:23 on the clock and four seconds later tied the score at 2-2 when Goodenow flew in from the left side and flipped a rebound past Falleti.

Four minutes later, Hamilton came through with what proved to be the game-winning goal (Motyka and Johnson assisted) and Johnson sealed the deal with 2:14 remaining by converting a pass from Motyka.

Staley said he expected a hard-fought game against Hilton, which came into the contest with a 6-10-4 record.

“They’re a great hockey team; much better than their record because of the difficult schedule they play,” he said. “Our plan was to stay out of the (penalty) box and to limit the odd-man rushes, although we did give up a few of those.”

FALLETI, DIRISIO STRONG ON ‘D’

He also credited Falleti and senior defenseman Vin DiRisio for rising to the occasion.

“Frankie was spectacular. I mean, he made four saves in that last period that were probably the difference in the game,” Staley said. “And Vincent was incredible on defense. When he puts his mind to it, and stays focused on hockey, and doesn't get drawn in, he's one of the best players in the league. I think he's learning that and, now he’s seeing the fruits of that labor.”

Staley also singled out Schrader’s ability around the net and said that Motyka’s shorthanded goal triggered the loudest cheer “I’ve heard in this building in 10 years.”

“We had a lot of great individual efforts,” he said. “I thought defensively that (Andrew) Kasmarek was excellent and Feldmann was very strong in the back. We got great minutes from Bartzie (Alex Bartz), (Noah) Whitcombe and Gino Falleti.

“That's really key when we can get that third line in and they can eat 10 to 15 minutes of the clock for us. That just keeps our other guys fresh.”

FACING VICTOR FOR THIRD TIME

United only gets a day or so to celebrate before facing Victor, 16-2-2, for the third time in the last three weeks. BND beat the Blue Devils, 4-2, on Jan. 27 but dropped a 9-0 decision on Feb. 3.

“I think the kids are excited to have a third crack at them,” Staley said, adding that maybe Victor might be a bit overconfident coming off of the lopsided win.

“Our kids know we can beat them and we wanted another shot at them because we didn't play well last time,” he said. “The beat goes on. The train keeps rolling.”

Staley said sophomore forward Addison Warriner and junior forward Ryan Hamilton will not be able to play on Thursday, but he is hoping that senior forward Zack Eschberger will be available.

United's Brady Johnson moves in on Hilton goaltender Luciano Chinappi as Evan Fish (15) defends on the play.

BND goalie Frank Falleti Jr. secures te puck as teammate Parker Corbelli checks the Hilton player.

Jameson Motyka takes aim at Chinappi during the first period for BND.

Falleti and teammate Vin DiRisio slide on the ice to prevent the Cadets from finding the back of the net.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Pembroke seniors Allie Schwerthoffer and Sydney Johnson combined for 18 points, eight assists, 14 rebounds, and five steals to help lead the Dragons to a 63-23 win over Holley on Monday.

Schwerthoffer started the game off with a three-point shot and Johnson hit three three-pointers on the night.

Pembroke is now 10-9 on the season.

Scoring:

• Karli Houseknecht 15 points one assist, five rebounds, nine steals
• Izzy Breeden 12 points, two assists, five rebounds, three steals
• Sydney Johnson 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, three steals
• Allie Schwerthoffer seven points, four assists, 12 rebounds, two steals

Also in girls basketball on Monday:

• Batavia lost to Eastridge 44-24.  Jaylene Dersham scored 13 points for the Blue Devils and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Pavilion beat Mount Morris 55-31. Karlee Zinkievich scored 17 points for Pavilion. Lauren Kingsley scored 13, and Paige Landers, Kylie Conway, and Shea Amberger scored eight each

In boys basketball:

• Alexander lost to Avon 57-42
• Mount Morris beat Pavilion 65-62

After 42 seasons, 708 wins (a Section V record), 32 Genesee Region championships, nine Section V championships, and two State championships, Notre Dame's Mike Rapone will be honored before Wednesday evening's basketball game at the high school.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Rapone is a 1971 graduate of Notre Dame and also served as the school's athletic director.

His coaching career began in 1978 as JV coach.

In 1981, he became varsity coach. The team was just two years removed from a 1-17 season yet Rapone helped guide the team to its first of 17-straight Genesee Region championships, a Section V title, and a win in the Far West Regional Championship.

The GR championship streak was broken in 1998 but Rapone's teams won 14 of the next 16 GR titles.

Submitted photos. Top photo, Mike Rapone as a player with Notre Dame.

Mike Rapone in 2008

Coach Mike Rapone with his son Mikey in 2002.

Coach Mike Rapone, 1979.

After 17 straight wins to start the 2021-22 season, Oakfield-Alabama fell to Wheatland-Chili (15-3) on Friday 62-54.

Kam Cusmano scored 16 points for the Hornets. Gaige Armbrewster scored 13 and Kaden Cusmano scored 12.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

For the second straight week, Medina's Hayden Allis posted a United States Bowling Congress honor score in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes.

The 25-year-old right-hander rolled games of 255, 269 and 290 for an 814 series on Feb. 6. It is his second 800 in a row, having recorded an 805 series on Jan. 30, and his third overall.

In other Genesee Region USBC action over the past couple weeks:

• Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw fired a 289 game and 780 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen;

• Rich Wagner of Batavia had a 299 game in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl;

• Jim Pursel of Batavia started with a 290 game en route to a 754 series in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

The Pembroke High School girls basketball team hosted its 11th Annual Shooting for a Cure game on Friday night and raised more than $23,000 for cancer research.

The event has now raised more than $225,000 in its history, making it one Roswell Park's largest community-based fundraisers.

In the game, Oakfield-Alabama beat the Dragons 58-38. Olivia Breeden scored 12 points for the Dragons. Allie Schwerthoffer scored 10.  

For the Hornets:

• Kelsey Schlagenhauf. 13 points, 10 rebounds three steals, three assists 
• Caitlin Ryan.  13 points, eight rebounds, four steals 
• Brooke Reding. 12 points, 
• Makena Reding.  six points, eight assists, three steals
• Piper Hyde six pts., two steals

In other girl's basketball on Friday:

• Notre Dame beat Wheatland-Chili 44-10. 
• Elba beat Lyndonville 51-35. Sydney Reilly and Kennedy Augello each scored 15 points for Elba. Laci Sewar and Dakota Brinkman each scored nine points.
• Avon beat Le Roy 48-32. Kailyn Tresco scored 21 points for Le Roy.
• Batavia beat Greece Odyssey 61-53. Jaylene Dersham scored 22 points for Batavia and pulled in 13 rebounds. She also had four steals. Julia Clark scored 15 points.

In boys basketball, Batavia beat Greece Odyssey 65-47. Tanner Mountain scored 14 points, Carter McFollins scored nine, and Javin McFollins scored eight.\

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Update, 4:30 p.m., Feb. 13:

Batavia Notre Dame United is the No. 7 seed for the Section V hockey tournament and will host No. 10 Hilton at 6 p.m. Tuesday in a pre-quarterfinal game at the Batavia Ice Arena. Hilton comes in with a 6-10-4 record.

Other first-round matchups are No. 8 Fairport vs. No. 9 Greece Storm, No. 5 Brighton/HFL/ER vs. No, 12 WFL Panthers, and No. 6 Portside Royals vs. No. 11 Gates/Wayne/EI/Wheatland.

The top four seeds receive a bye. They are No. 1 Penfield, No. 2 Victor, No. 3 McQuaid Jesuit and No. 4 Pittsford.

If United wins on Tuesday, it will take on Victor at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Rochester Ice Center.  Victor and BND have split two contests this season.

-------------------

Batavia Notre Dame Coach Marc Staley said he’s already put Friday’s 9-0 loss against top-seeded Victor in the rearview mirror as he prepares his United club for next week’s Section V hockey tournament.

“I could see that we weren’t that sharp to start the game – giving up three goals in the first six minutes – so we kind of took the approach to play everyone, rotating all five lines,” Staley said this morning. “Things didn’t go our way, but I consider the final score an anomaly. We’re definitely right there in terms of our caliber of play.”

Victor avenged a 4-2 loss to BND (on Jan. 27 at the Batavia Ice Arena) as Colin McNamara scored three goals and added three assists, while Simon Kowal chipped in with two goals in the game at the Rochester Ice Center.

The Blue Devils outshot United, 27-21, scoring seven times against starting goaltender Frank Falleti Jr., who was relieved by Courtney Schum midway through the second period.

BND finishes the regular season at 11-6-3 while Victor improves to 15-2-2.

“Looking at everything, we had a fantastic first year – merging the two programs the way we did and playing the 14^th hardest schedule among all teams in New York State,” Staley said. “An 11-6-3 record is quite an accomplishment.”

United will look to post win number 12 at 6 p.m. Tuesday when it opens the Class A sectionals at home.

“Our opponent is yet to be determined but it looks like it will be Gates-Chili or Hilton,” Staley said. “It depends on what happens today as there are still a number of games to be played.”

Staley said the status of senior Zack Eschberger is uncertain after the first-line center suffered a shoulder injury early in yesterday’s game.

The BND United junior varsity team takes a 9-7-2 record into sectional play on Monday night when it takes on host East Aurora.

Submitted by Tess Diskin:

Pembroke Varsity Cheerleading made history by first winning their division and then being named Grand Champions for the entire Genesee Region Cheerleading Championship held at Attica High School last night. This is the first time in school history that Pembroke has won the title. First-year head coach Alison Diskin remarked, “These athletes are determined and driven to exceed any expectation that is set for them. It is the start of a new era in Pembroke Cheerleading.” She continued, “We are working on building a seamless program starting at the youth level and working up through Modified, JV and culminating with our Varsity squad. Coach Diskin talked about the importance of having her juniors and seniors mentor the younger athletes so as to carry this year’s success into the future. Her coaching team consistently stresses having the entire program work together to build strong and dedicated cheerleaders, just like the ones who won today.

Submitted photos.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs and CAN-USA Sports Ownership are back for their second season in the PGCBL and are incredibly excited to announce plans for the upcoming summer!

The 2022 PGCBL schedule has been released with Opening Day in Elmira on June 3rd and the home opener at Dwyer Stadium the following night with postgame fireworks. 

In addition to playing teams in the West Divison, the Muckdogs will incorporate new opponents from the East division like the Oneonta Outlaws and Watertown Rapids. Batavia will have exhibition games with the Cortland Crush of the NYCBL and the Capital City Reds from Ottawa, Ontario. 

In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for our 2022 promotional schedule that already includes Batavia Blue Devils Night on Saturday, June 18th, and STOP DWI night on Thursday, July 14th. Be sure to check out our social media pages for more updates and call the office if you are interested in booking a night at Dwyer Stadium.

We would also like to announce the signing of eight players to the 2022 roster. Six players are returners from last season, including head coach Joe “Skip” Martinez. They include ace starting pitcher Julian Pichardo, catcher Brice Mortillaro, slugger Abner Benitez, first basemen Daniel Burroway, sidearmer AJ Winger, and dual pitcher/shortstop Trey Bacon.  

Batavia has also signed two local high school products to play this upcoming season. Gavin Schrader is an outfield/pitching prospect at Notre Dame High School who committed to play at Niagara University after his senior season. Batavia High School catcher Vincent Grazioplene will also join the Muckdogs as he prepares to play collegiately at Erie Community College.

“As an organization, we are so thankful to bring back fan favorites from a year ago. They feel like they have unfinished business the way last year ended and wanted to build off such a successful rookie season in the league,” Martinez said. “To also have a new crop of local guys this summer was important for us to do for a tight-knit community like Batavia. Gavin and Vincent will be huge additions to the roster, and I hope the fans will rally around them like how they did for Jerry Reinhart and Tyler Prospero.”

Lastly, CAN-USA Sports & Dwyer Stadium will be hosting multiple events throughout the spring and fall months. All varsity baseball games for Batavia and Notre Dame High Schools will be exclusively hosted at Dwyer Stadium. Following the PGCBL season, Dwyer will host the Western New York Alzheimer’s Association annual walk for the second year on October 1st. The Batavia Muckdogs will host another Trick or Treat day on Saturday, October 22nd. 

Dwyer will also be the host to two concerts for the first time! Margaritaville will come to Dwyer Stadium on Saturday, August 20th as a Parrothead Jimmy Buffett Cover Band will play at the stadium with live music, drinks, food, & fun!  Before the school year starts, Zac Brown Tribute Band (ZBTB) will play Dwyer Stadium as one of their end-of-summer shows on September 3rd.

The season is only a few months away, and make sure to get in on all of the action for the best season in Batavia baseball history!

Press release:

The Pembroke Jr/Sr High School Girls’ Basketball Team will host its 11th annual Shooting For A Cure! event versus Oakfield-Alabama tonight at the high school located at the corner of Routes 5 and 77 (8750 Alleghany Road) in Pembroke, New York. The doors open at 5:00 PM, and admission is free. The JV game begins at 5:30, and varsity starts at 7:00. In addition to the many ways supporters may contribute during the event, the team is accepting donations online. This year, the team hopes to add to the more than $200,000 raised since the inaugural game in 2011. Because of unwavering local support, Shooting For A Cure! has become one of Roswell Park’s largest community-based fundraising events. 

While fundraising is an important part of the event, it is not the primary focus. The 2011-2012 varsity team held their first Shooting For A Cure! to support Toni Funke, wife of Coach Ron Funke, and others affected by breast cancer. To honor additional survivors, current patients, and families of those who have battled cancer, the varsity halftime program recognizes people from all of these groups. It is a moving tribute to anyone who is fighting, has beaten, or has lost the battle against cancer.  Anyone who would like to support the cause is encouraged to do so by coming to the event or by visiting the Shooting For A Cure! donation page here.  

While the varsity roster changes from year to year, the event holds a special place in the hearts of every Shooting For A Cure! team. This year, team captain Allie Schwerthoffer stated, “My teammates and I are developing through this game and learning what it means to give back. Our goal is to raise as much money as we can for Roswell and cancer research, but this game has a much wider impact. Our team, and every other student who helps out, learn the importance of paying it forward, and we get so proud of the event before it is even over.”

Captain Sydney Johnson added, “Whenever I go to the game, it’s always an overwhelming feeling. When we can say, ‘We did that, we just helped someone who needed it the most,’ that’s probably my favorite part, knowing that this game is truly helping other people.”

On Friday, in addition to showing support through attendance, those wishing to contribute to the fundraiser will have several options, including buying raffle tickets and purchasing food and beverages. Burnin’ Barrel BBQ, Buttercrumbs Bakery, Homeslice 33 Pizzeria, and Tim Hortons will be providing concessions, and Hershey’s Ice cream and Original Pizza Logs will be sold as well.

The generous support of local benefactors has made the event possible. In addition to individual supporters, the 2021-2022 Shooting For A Cure! business and organization donor list includes 26Shirts, ACES Foundation, ADPRO Sports, Advance Auto Parts, Alleghany Services, Avalon Sports, Batavia’s Original, Bourbon & Burger, Buffalo Bandits, Buffalo Sabres, Burnin’ Barrel BBQ, Buttercrumbs Bakery, C.B. Beach & Son Mortuary, Covered Wagon Promotions, Crickler Vending, Cross Training Athletics, Dave & Adam’s Card World, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dollars for Scholars, Dry Creek Group, Eli Fish Brewing Company, Five Guys, Game of Throws, Genesee Feeds, Haun Welding Supply, Hershey’s Ice Cream, Homeslice 33 Pizzeria, Insty-Prints, Island’s Hawaiian Grill, Jessica Foos Photography, Jim’s Steakout, Knockaround Sunglasses, Linda’s Family Diner, M&T Bank, Main St. Pizza, Maurice’s, Michael Napoleone Foundation, Mighty Taco, Original Pizza Logs, Overhead Door of Batavia, Pembroke Youth Association, Pesci’s Pizza and Wings, Pizza 151, Pudgie’s, Rhino & Ace, Roman’s, Ron& Newt’s Sales & Service, Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Russell’s Steaks, Chops & More, Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, Seaman’s Hardware, Settler’s, Sincerely Kayla Photography, Spa at Artemis, Subway, Target, Terry Hills, The YNGoddess Shop, Tim Hortons, Valle Jewelers, Valu Home Center, and YMCA of Batavia. Businesses or organizations wishing to donate to this year’s event should contact Mike Wilson by calling 716.949.0523. 

For more information about Shooting For A Cure! please go to:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Team Roswell

Jaylene Dersham scored 20 points on Tuesday to help Batavia beat Greece Arcadia 49-29 in girls basketball.

Jaimin Macdonald scored 12 points.

Photos by Steve Ognibnee. To view or purchase photos, click here.

Cooper Hamilton scored three goals in the third period Tuesday night, including the game-winner with 27 seconds to play, to lift Batavia Notre Dame United to a 7-6 victory over visiting Geneseo/Avon/Livonia.

The win puts BND at 11-5-3 in Section V hockey going into a Friday matchup against Victor.

United rallied from a 5-1 deficit after two periods.

Addison Warriner had two goals and Jameson Motyka had the other while Brady Johnson contributed five assists for BND. Gavin Schrader and Hamilton each chipped in with two assists.

United outshot G/A/L 56-22. Frank Falleti got the win in goal in relief of Courtney Schum.

Before the game, the team's 12th-graders were honored on Senior Night at the Batavia Ice Arena.

All-time scoring leaders, school records, championships, a legacy of excellence, determination, and hard work -- the Johnson family has made a lasting impression of Pembroke girls basketball.

That's the impression you get when you look at the legend of Top 10 scorers in girls basketball on the Pembroke gym, which contains three Johnson names: Breanna, with 814 points, Mackenna, 678 points, and Aralyse, 618 points.

Then there are the two championship basketballs in the trophy case, both with the name "Johnson" on them.

Finally, there is the current roster with senior Sydney on the team that is coached by father Jamie, along with Breanna and Aralyse.

Breanna is no longer the school's all-time scoring leader (Serene Calderon surpassed her last season when she finished her career with 831 points), and Aralyse is still the school's all-time rebound leader with 639, and Mackenna leads all-time in assists with 308 points.

At one time, Breanna, the oldest of the sisters, held all but one of the key girls basketball records and she also helped lead the team to its first Section V title challenge. Her mom Shannon said that was one of her proudest moments in the family's sports history. 

"She did anything that (then-coach) Mike Wilson asked her to do," Shannon said. "Just watching her do that -- and I think easily she could have broken 1,000 (points) --  but every game she wanted to make sure every person scored. She could have been somebody who could have walked around with her head high and just bragging but the day that Serene broke her record, (she was) here and taking pictures with (Serene), I think for me, just watching her walk around as somebody who could have just been a snot and she was just so humble, I think for me, that was a proud moment."

All the girls, mom said, have that kind of character, and that means more to her than the athletic accomplishments.

Breanna may have led the way for the girls to make their marks in basketball -- a legacy that eventually helped Pembroke win back-to-back Section V titles in 2019 and 2020 when Mackenna was a junior and a senior -- but the athletic pace of the family was set by father Jamie, a 1991 graduate who excelled as a Dragon in football, baseball, and basketball.

He started coaching youth baseball in high school and as his girls came of age for sports, he naturally fell into coaching them in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball and other travel leagues.

For the past few seasons, he's been the Dragons football coach, and last year he took over the girls varsity program in basketball.

Both Breanna and Aralyse said they love coaching and that dad set the example.

"When I finished college, I came home and I started coaching with an offseason AAU team and  I just loved helping the girls learn to play," Breanna said. "I started out with a sixth-grade team. They were younger and still learning so I've stayed with them. I love teaching and helping the girls learn to play the game."

Aralyse said her father definitely inspired her as a player and coach.

"So many people hate being coached by their parents," Aralyse said. "I had my dad for one year when I played travel basketball and I couldn't imagine a better coach at that point. I think his consistency, and just seeing his determination and his hard work and everything he does is really inspiring.

"He's always been constant in support whether we have a bad game or a good game, he's always there to either congratulate us or tell us what we could have done better or different."

Breanna is 25 and majored in biology at Clarkson University. Aralyse is 24 and is an event coordinator after attending Johnson & Wales University.

It's watching young athletes grow that drew Jamie to coaching, he said. 

"I like the connections you make with the kids and the improvement that you get to see," Jamie said. "They come in sometimes with raw skills and you get to watch them develop, and watch them gain confidence in the skills and the new skills that they're learning."

Basketball has always been part of the Johnson household, the girls said, especially after Breanna took up the sport as a young girl.  She led the way, her younger sisters said, and Jamie was an immediate inspiration with his deep knowledge of the game.

"It definitely gave me something to look up to with both my older sisters playing before me and my dad (coaching)," said Mackenna, who has continued her basketball career at GCC, where she's in a natural sciences program in environmental biology with hopes of becoming a park ranger or DEC officer. "They all really helped me set goals and helped me work towards those goals, and it brings us a lot closer together. It's our whole life."

Sydney, of course, had three older sisters to guide her toward the game.

"Since the time I was three years old, I'd be going to basketball games and going to my sister's tournaments or even just the high school games. I was always here," Sydney said. "I started just going to my sisters' open gyms or practices and just shooting on the side while they were actually practicing. Ever since then I fell in love (with the game)."

In the Johnson household, Shannon said, post-game film review among the girls and their father has been a regular undertaking.

"I guess (it means a lot to me) just watching them take after their father, seeing the things that he loved, and we've all let them try," Shannon said. "They have tried everything from gymnastics to competitive dance to softball, everything. They take after their dad, like coming home after a game and wanting to watch the game again and go through it with Dad what we did wrong, what we did well. Watching them strive to be like him and be dedicated like him; I think that's one thing that means a lot to me."

As a dad and coach, Jamie gives his girls most of the credit for what they've accomplished on and off the court.

"They have, I don't know what to call it, an inner drive that, you know, they want to be the best of everything," Jamie said. "So they put in the work, they put in the time, and they really just have that inner drive, I don't know how else to explain it."

Jamie said he is the proud coach and father.  His girls have set records, won titles, set a good example for their friends and classmates, and set themselves on solid career paths.  But he's most proud, he said, that his girls have good character.

"I'm proud of how the girls carry themselves in all the things that they do, whether it be at work or at school or in sports," he said.

Top photo: The Johnson basketball family of Pembroke: Sydney, Shannon, Aralyse, Breanna, Jamie, and Mackenna.

Mackenna with her mother Shannon while Shannon tracks team statistics during a game at Pembroke.

Pembroke Head Coach Jamie Johnson along with his assistants, daughters Aralyse and Breanna, during a recent game.

Mackenna Johnson taking a shot during the Shooting for a Cure game in 2017. This year's Shooting for a Cure game is Friday. Photos by Howard Owens.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Lyondonville in girls basketball on Saturday, 68-34.

Scoring for O-A:

• Makena Reding, 12 points,  five assists, three steals
• Kelsey Schlagenhauf, 11 points, 11 rebounds, nine steals   
• Caitlin Ryan, 11 points 11 rebounds,  five steals, three blocks
• Alea Groff, 11 points, six rebounds
• Brooke Reding, 10 points
• Emma Wray,  six points

Also in girls basketball on Saturday, Alexander beat Wheatland 68-12

In boys basketball, Byron-Bergen lost to Wheatland-Chili, 61-52

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Alexander in girls basketball on Thursday night, 55-49.

For the Hornets:

• Caitlin Ryan   13 points., 8 rebounds
• Brooke Reding    13 points., 7 assists, 3 steals
• Makena Reding   10 points., 2 steals
• Kelsey  Schlagenhauf   9 points., 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists

For the Trojans:

• Riley Powell  14 points.
• Natalie Whitmore  13 points.
• Melanie Pohl  10 points.
• Emma Kramer 10 points

"This was an incredibly well played high school game, said O-A head coach Jeff Schlagenhauf. "Both teams played at a very high level. This was a great win for our kids. Marcia's teams are  extremely well coached and they play hard from start to finish. I think the largest lead tonight was 6 points."

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

And now they're 15-0.

Oakfield-Alabama's flawless season in boys basketball rolled forward on Wednesday with a 69-39 win over Holley.

Stats:​

• Kam Cusmano, 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Gaige Armbrewster, 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
• Kyle Porter, 8 points
• Kaden Cusmano, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks

Also on Wednesday in boys basketball:

• Pavilion beat Keshequa, 62-37
• Byron-Bergen beat Elba, 69-64
• Le Roy lost to Geneseo, 52-40
• Notre Dame beat C.G. Finney, 76-49
• Pittsford-Sutherland beat Batavia 50-48. Carter McFollins scored 14 points, Javin McFollins and Sawyer Siverling has 11 each.

In girls basketball, Le Roy beat Letchworth, 51-30

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more click here.