Sports

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:

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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.

Batavia Notre Dame United’s four-game winning streak came to an end tonight by a 6-2 score at the hands of the McQuaid Jesuit Knights at the Batavia Ice Arena.

The loss drops BND to 10-5-3 while McQuaid evened its record at 7-7-2 in Section V competition.

United is scheduled to take on Victor, weather permitting, at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairport. BND handed Victor only its second loss of the season, 4-2, last week.

Freshman forward Brady Johnson gave United a 1-0 lead with 9:15 on the clock in the first period, converting a pass from Ronin Hofmaster to beat McQuaid goaltender Rory Fitzpatrick. Gavin Schrader also picked up an assist on the power play goal.

BND held the lead until just 44 seconds remained in the period when freshman Jack Callery took a pass from Nicholas Bianchi and put a one-timer past United goalie Frank Falleti Jr. for his eighth goal of the season. McQuaid’s goal also came on the power play.

Two goals within four minutes of each other early in the second period gave the Knights what proved to be an insurmountable lead. Junior defenseman Drew Palmer beat Falleti to the glove side 1:28 into the period and junior forward Alex Saracene deflected a shot from the point by Dante Coelho past Falleti, who was screened on the play.

Junior forward Cooper Hamilton’s power play goal – coming after sharp passes from Ronin Hofmaster and Jameson Motyka – pulled United within a goal with 7:58 left in the period.

United had a couple of power play opportunities in the third period but was unable to put the puck past Fitzpatrick, who had 25 saves.

McQuaid scored again after BND pulled Falleti with 1:10 remaining for an extra attacker, with Palmer finding the back of the net on a shot that went the full length of the ice.

With Falleti back in, Palmer closed out the scoring -- and finished with a hat trick -- by poking the puck into left side of the net with just one second to play. Junior forward Evan Kopacz was credited with assists on both goals.

The teams combined to commit 16 penalties – nine against McQuaid and seven against United, which was 2-for-8 on the power play. Shots on goal were even at 27 apiece.

Freshman Olivia Breeden scored a career-high 21 points to help lead the Pembroke Dragons over Albion, 59-38, in girls basketball on Monday.

Breeden also had two steals.

Karli Houseknecht scored 11 points and had five steals, while Sydney Johnson scored nine points, had four assists, three steals and a blocked shot.  Izzy Breeden scored seven points and had four rebounds.

Photos by Howard Owens

The Hornets continued their unbeaten ways -- now 14-0 on the season -- with a convincing win over Pavilion on Monday night, 87-31.

Scoring for Oakfield-Alabama:

• Gaige Armbrewster, 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
• Kam Cusmano, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals
• Jordan Schlagenhauf, 10 points
• Cooper Colantonio, 9 points
• Kaden Cusmano, 8 points, 4 assists

Also in boys' basketball on Monday:

• Byron-Bergen beat Attica, 65-45
• Geneseo beat Alexander, 54-53
• Le Roy beat HAC 71-56

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.

Article by Coach Nick Burk:

The Batavia indoor track team competed on Saturday in the Monroe County Championships at Brockport State College and had a phenomenal meet! The boys' team came away with the championship beating out 21 other schools, scoring 74 points with Rush Henrietta finishing in 2nd place scoring 63 points. The meet came down to the very end with one point separating the two schools with three events left to compete.

Austyn Fernandez earned the Monroe County Championship in the Shot Put with a throw of 43-8 and finished 4th in the Weight Throw (50-0).  The 4x200m Relay of Fabian Vazquez, Aidan Anderson, Parris Price, and Cole Grazioplene also won a Monroe County title and tied our school record with a time of 1:35.61.

Other scorers for the boys' team included Jesse Reinhart finishing in 2nd in the High Jump (6-0) and 6th in the 55H (8.9), Fabian Vazquez finished 2nd in the 55 Hurdles (8.19), and 4th in the Long Jump (19-10), Carter Havens finished 3rd in the Triple Jump (39-11), Ifran Armstrong finished 5th in the 55 Hurdles (8.82), Luke Geiger finished 2nd in the Weight Throw (51-2), and Dan Saeva finished 6th in the Shot Put (39-2).

The 4x800m Relay of Cody Harloff, Noah Pickard, Dom Grillo, and Nate Canale finished in 2nd place (8:44.39), and the 4x400 Relay of Donovan Solis, Carter Havens, Ifran Armstrong, and Cole Grazioplene finished 4th (3:42.99).  To have all three of our Boy's relays finish in the top four is a clear testament to the balance and depth of our program this season.

For our Boys to win the Monroe County Championship as one of the smallest schools, against some very tough competition can be considered with the finest accomplishments for our Batavia Track and Field Program to date.  The Monroe County league has so many gifted athletes and to earn this championship is very impressive for our Blue Devils.  The Batavia coaches, Dan Geiger (Throwers), Rich Boyce (Distance, High Jump), Bill Buckenmeyer (Distance, Hurdles), Breanna Clark (Pole Vault), and Amanda Mikiciuk (Sprints, Jumps) all did a tremendous job preparing our athletes to compete at such a high level.

The girls' team had some excellent individual performances led by Gavin Konieczny's 5th place finish in the Pole Vault (8-6).  Emma Radka finished in 5th place in the Shot Put (28-10), and the 4x800m Relay of Campbell Riley, Makayla Andalora, Jadyn Boyce, and Izzy Scott finished in 4th place (10:50.96)

The Blue Devils have two more prep meets before Sectionals and then will look to have significant success to close out the season at our additional championship meets in February.  Both the boys and girls have continued to improve this season and the team is embracing the opportunities to maintain and build upon the reputation and traditions of Batavia Track and Field.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Second cousins Hayden and Alex Allis lit up Medina Lanes on Sunday morning, rolling an 805 series and 300 game, respectively, in the Sunday Rolloffs League.

Hayden, a 25-year-old right-hander, posted games of 289, 258 and 258 for his second United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series. His high series is 822.

Alex, a 22-year-old righty, fired his second USBC-certified 300 game en route to a 777 series. He previously rolled an 834 series.

Roger Allis, Hayden's father, was third on the list of high scores in the league with a 259 game and 734 series.

In the Thursday Ladies League at Medina Lanes, Amy Allis, who is Hayden's cousin and Alex's aunt, led the way with a 268 game and 704 series.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC last week, Chris Bailey of Batavia just missed an 800 series -- rolling 32 strikes in a 298-228-267--793 effort in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Bailey, who turns 41 on Tuesday, left a pocket 7-10 split after 11 in a row in the first game, had 10 strikes in the second game around a split and an open frame, and came back with 11 strikes in the third game, including the final nine after an open in the third frame.

In the Mancuso Real Estate League on Monday, Devon Leach of Batavia started with a 300 game in a 748 series. Leach, winner of the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament earlier this month, had an 802 series in October.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Nathan Cordes of Batavia recorded a 289 game and 784 series in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League.

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

Pembroke beat Lyndonville in girls basketball on Friday, 64-63.  Izzy Breeden and Sydney Johnson each scored 14 points.  Breeden had four rebounds and Johnson, three, along with five assists. Karli Houseknecht had 12 points and five steals. Elle Peterson scored five points and had eight rebounds. "Pembroke jumped out to a big first lead," said Head Coach Jamie Johnson. "Lyndonville played tough and slowly got back into it and tied the game up with 1:01 left in the game on a 3-pointer by Ella Lewis. Sydney Johnson was fouled with no time left on the clock and made the first of 2 free throws to secure the win."

Also in girls basketball on Friday:

• Notre Dame beat Attica 49-35
• Warsaw beat Le Roy 36-33. Kailyn Tresco scored 10 points and had seven rebounds. Lindsey Steffenilla scored nine points and had seven rebounds. Corina Dunn had 10 rebounds.
• Elba beat Holley 49-19. Sydney Reilly scored 13 points.
• Oakfield-Alabama beat Byron-Bergen 55-37. Kelsey Schlagenhauf scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds. Caitlin Ryan scored 14 points and scored 10 points. MaKena Reding scored 13 points.

In boys basketball:

• Le Roy beat Warsaw 69-39
• Cal-Mum beat Pavilion 71-37
• Arcadia beat Batavia 55-40. Carter McFollins scored 11 points and Javin McFollins scored 10 points.

An Olympic Torch passed through Batavia today with a spot at the Ice Arena where members of the Ramparts passed it into the arena and then were given a chance to sake it around the ice rink.

Above, Levi Bennett during his turn to carry the torch.

Genesee Region USBC bowlers have plenty of tournaments to choose from over the next couple months, starting with this weekend’s 9^th annual Scott Whittier Triples No-Tap Memorial Tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The event lists four squads – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today and Sunday – and offers at $600 first prize. The entry fee is $75.

Proprietor Randy Hanks reports that today’s squads are nearly full, but there are many openings tomorrow. To enter, call 589-6900.

More information can be found on the Oak Orchard Bowl website – www.oakorchardbowl.com/tournaments.

Other tournaments are as follows:

• Feb. 4-6 – Help-R-Hero’s 4-Person Handicap No-Tap, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Entry fee is $100 per team. First place is $1,000, based on 40 teams. Squad times are 7 p.m. Feb. 4, noon and 3 p.m. Feb. 5 and 2 p.m. Feb. 6. Call 585-409-6459 to enter.

• Feb. 5-6 – GRUSBC Youth Team, Oak Orchard Bowl, Albion. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.

• Feb. 13 – Super Bowl Handicap Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia. Entry fee is $45. One squad at noon. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

• Feb. 19 – GRUSBC Doubles No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.

• Feb. 25-27 – 20^th Anniversary Ron Riggi Memorial, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Four-person handicap. Call 585-409-6459 for squad times and availability.

• Feb. 25-27 – 26th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial Strike Out for Crossroads House fundraiser, Mancuso Bowling Center.  Squad times are 6 p.m. Feb. 25, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 26 and 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Entry fee (five person team) is $125. To enter, call Cindy at 585-993-0584 or Tara at 585-409-0136 or go to www.crossroadshouse.com/upcoming-events.

• Feb. 27 – Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour, Brockport Bowl. Qualifying squad at 11 a.m. Entry fee is $50. Walk-in are accepted (registration starts at 10 a.m.).

• March 4-6, 11-13, Bertram Memorial No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes.  Entry fee is $125 for a five-person team. First place is $1,000. To enter, call 585-658-2540.

• March 5 – King & Queen Mixed Doubles Handicap, Mancuso Bowling Center. Entry fee is $50, with a $500 first prize, based on 60 entries. Squad times are noon and 2 p.m. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

Oakfield-Alabama continued to run the table in the 2021-22 hoops season -- they're now a perfect 13-0 -- with a 69-51 win over Byron-Bergen at home on Thursday night.

Kam Cusmano scored 19 points for the Hornets, while Kyle Porter scored 18, and Gaige Armbrewster scored 13.

For the Bees, David Brumsted scored 13 and Colin Martin scored 12.

Also in boys basketball on Thursday,

• Elba beat Holley 50-29
• Notre Dame beat Attica 64-60
• Pembroke beat Lyndonville 69-33
• Pavilion fell to Mount Morris 53-44

There were no local girls'd basketball games on Thursday.

Thursday night’s 4-2 home win over Victor has moved Batavia Notre Dame’s varsity hockey team into the No. 4 seed in the Section V Power Seeding Standings.

BND defeated the previously once-beaten Blue Devils to raise its record to 10-4-3, which is good for 88 points in the standings. The team’s per game average of 5.1765 puts it fourth on the list of the section’s 12 Class A clubs.

Penfield (12-1-1) is No. 1 with a 6.5714 per game average, followed by Victor (12-2-2) at 6.5625 and Pittsford (7-5-1) at 5.6154.

Other teams in Class A, currently ranked fifth through 12^th, are Brighton/HFL/ER, McQuaid Jesuit, Portside Royals, Greece Storm, Fairport, Hilton, Gates/Wayne/EI/Wheatland and WFL Panthers.

Should United finish in the top four at the close of the regular season, it would get a first-round bye into the Section V Tournament.

BND Head Coach Marc Staley said the power seeds are determined by strength of schedule, with more points awarded to clubs taking on teams with winning records.

“Teams that are better and have a winning record give us more points whether we win or lose,” he said today. “So, it rewards you for playing against top teams. For instance, we can beat Geneva (WFL Panthers, currently 1-8-0) and we will only get four points. Or we could lose to Aquinas (11-3-0 in Class B) and we still get four points.”

Last night’s victory gave United 10 power seeding points – moving them up from seventh to fourth.

Section V hockey officials say they are using the power seeding system “to provide the best opportunity for the best teams (in) Section V ice hockey to potentially represent us onto (New York) State competition.”

Staley took a deeper dive into his team’s won-loss-tie record, which has been boosted by five wins and a tie in its last six matches.

“Our record may not look incredible at 10-4-3, but in 17 games, we’ve only lost three games in regulation time. That’s impressive; 14 games we’ve either won or went into OT,” he said.

United is back in action at 6 p.m. Tuesday against visiting McQuaid, and then has a rematch with Victor at 5 p.m. Feb. 3, this time at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairport. The regular season finale is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at home against Geneseo/Avon/Livonia.

The Class A sectionals begin with pre-quarterfinals on Feb. 15-16. The top four teams would start with quarterfinal contests on Feb. 17-18.

Semifinals are scheduled for Feb. 25 at the higher seed’s rink and the finals are set for 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at Tuttle Ice Arena on the Brockport State College campus.

Regional competition in Division I will take place at 1 p.m. March 5 at Tuttle Ice Arena.

File photo: Batavia Notre Dame's Gavin Schrader scored three goals and added an assist on Thursday night to raise his Section V-leading totals to 29 and 28, respectively. The senior forward's 57 points are five more than compiled by Max McKay of Churchville-Chili (24 goals, 28 assists). Photo by Howard Owens.

Press release:

The Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School Girls’ Basketball Team will host its 11th annual Shooting For A Cure! event versus Oakfield-Alabama on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 7:00 PM at the high school gym located at the corner of Routes 5 and 77 (8717Alleghany Road) in Pembroke, New York. Admission is free. The team asks that attendees make a donation of any amount as they enter the facility, and all donations go to Roswell Park to support research efforts. In addition to donations at the door, all proceeds from raffle tickets, concession sales, and apparel sales go directly to Roswell Park. To date, Shooting For A Cure! has raised over $200,000 and has become Roswell Park’s largest independent, community-based fundraising event.

The event began over a decade ago when the team approached then head coach Mike Wilson with an idea; they wanted to show their support for Toni Funke, wife of former coach and Pembroke teacher Ron Funke, in her battle against breast cancer by hosting a game in her honor which would bring the community together to raise awareness and funds for cancer research at Roswell Park. This season, the team hopes to add to the $200,000 the event has generated and donated since 2011, by continuing this benevolent Pembroke tradition.

At this present time, in accordance with NYS guidelines, we kindly ask that all attendees wear a mask when entering the school that evening.

Direct online donations are now being accepted in support of this year’s Shooting For A Cure! at: http://give.roswellpark.org/goto/shooting-for-a-cure-11. In addition, the team is seeking donations from the community in the form of items to include in various raffles, as well as food, beverages, and merchandise that can be offered for sale during the event.  All of the proceeds will benefit cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The 2021-2022 Shooting For A Cure! donors list already contains many businesses and organizations, including 26Shirts, ADPRO Sports, Buffalo Bandits, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Burnin’ Barrel BBQ, Buttercumbs Bakery, Clarence Deli, Five Guys, Genesee County YMCA, Hershey's Ice Cream, Homeslice 33 Pizzeria, Knockaround Sunglasses, Linda's Family Diner, Original Pizza Logs, Pesci's Pizza, Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Salvatore’s, Terry Hills, Tim Horton's. Businesses and organizations wishing to make a donation for this year’s event should contact Mike Wilson, the Shooting For A Cure! coordinator at Pembroke, by calling 716.949.0523.

For more information, please go to:          

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PemGBBPinkGame/

Twitter, https://twitter.com/pemgbb_pinkgame

Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/shooting4acure/

Team Roswell, http://give.roswellpark.org/goto/shooting-for-a-cure-11

Coach Marc Staley’s United club posted a major victory tonight, knocking off the Victor Blue Devils, ranked third in the state by the NYSSWA, by a 4-2 score at the Batavia Ice Arena.

Gavin Schrader, Section V’s leading scorer, poured in three more goals to lead BND, which stands at 10-4-3 after its fifth win in its last six games (the other being a tie). United is not listed among the NYSSWA’s top 15 teams in Division I in its latest poll.

Victor’s second straight loss puts its record at 12-2-2.

United got a big lift from sophomore goalie Frank Falleti Jr., inserted into the starting lineup for the first time since he suffered a leg injury in the team’s opening game. Falleti stopped 29 of 31 shots, including several at point-blank range.

BND managed just 13 shots against the Blue Devils, but made the most of its opportunities – driving starting goalie Cameron Beal out of the game after Schrader’s third goal at the 12:11 mark of the third period gave the home team a 4-1 advantage.

As expected, Staley was ecstatic after the final buzzer sounded – yelling out “I told you we would win this game” – as he headed to the locker room.

Afterwards, he brought up the fact that his club had just beaten an elite opponent.

“Well, they are the third-ranked team in the state,” he said, responding to the significance of tonight’s win. “So, you tell me. I mean it was 4-1 at one point and we went into our trap the last eight minutes to keep the clock moving. We knew they were going to come after us late, but we hung on.”

Victor opened the scoring five minutes into the first period when sophomore forward Chris Donnelly scored after a shot from the point by teammate Christian Kurz popped out of Falleti’s glove and onto the ice.

United responded eight minutes later when senior Vin DiRisio swept a rebound on a long shot by Schrader past Beal for a power play goal to tie the game. Zack Eschberger also picked up an assist on the play.

Neither team scored in a second period that proved to be a clinic in penalty killing as the teams combined for six infractions – four of them by BND. Falleti was tested throughout the frame as the Blue Devils outshot United by a 12-1 count.

The third period showcased Schrader’s talents as the senior forward registered a “natural hat trick” with three goals in the final 17 minutes. He now has 29 goals and 28 assists in the team’s 17 games.

BND took the lead with 14:46 on the clock when Andrew Kasmarek got the puck to Brady Johnson, who passed it in front of the net to Schrader, who quickly put the puck in the net.

Schrader made it 3-1 when, after taking a pass from DiRisio, rushed down the ice untouched and beat Beal high to his glove side with 12:31 to play. Following a Victor timeout, Schrader scored again just 20 seconds later when he jammed the puck into the net, with Johnson picking up the assist.

Victor’s Simon Kowal collected a rebound of a missed shot at the 7:08 mark to make it 4-2, but the visitors were unable to score again as Falleti came up with five nifty saves down the stretch.

“We’ve been a great third period team all year – outshooting and outscoring teams – but we got outshot tonight, and we knew that was going to happen,” Staley said, assessing Victor’s strengths. “But we wanted to get quality shots, and a couple of those went in to really help us out.”

He said he wasn’t pleased with all the penalties in the second period, but was happy that BND was able to kill them off and also was one for four on the power play.

“When you get that and then you add in some g

Staley said the team’s nickname is appropriate at this stage of the season.

“I just feel by the way we've been practicing that these kids are really united, and they’re really playing for each other right now,” he offered. “Everybody on the bench is happy. Even when we see guys blocking shots and clearing the puck, the team is responding to that now.

“And we've really found our identity in terms of the style we want to play. And when we stick to our game plan, we're going to be a tough team to beat down the stretch. Teams are going to have to play their best hockey to beat us.”

United is off until 6 p.m. Tuesday when McQuaid Jesuit comes to town, and then it will face Victor again at 5 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairport. Its last regular season game is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at home against Geneseo/Avon/Livonia.

Photos from tonight's game: Coach Marc Staley on the bench, United players congratulate goaltender Frank Falleti Jr. (33). Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Press Release:

The Empire State Games will be making a stop in Batavia with the Olympic Torch on their way to Buffalo this Saturday, January 29th.  The representatives from Empire State Games expect to reach the Batavia Ice Rink (soon likely to be known as the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena) at 8 a.m.  They will arrive through the front doors and go to the Rink and pass the torch to an awaiting Genesee Amateur Hockey Rampart player who will proceed to skate around the rink and pass the torch off to other Rampart players.  There will be a photo shoot in front of the trophy case before their departure.