basketball

The Hornets stayed undefeated at 8-0 on Friday after beating Notre Dame 62-45.

For Oakfield-Alabama:

• Gaige Armbrewster, 31 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block
• Kam Cusmano, 18 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Kaden Cusmano, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks

For the Fighting Irish:

• Jordan Welker, 16 points
• Ryan Fitzpatrick, 10 points
• Cody Henry, 10 points

Notre Dame is now 7-3 on the season.

Also on Friday in boys basketball:

• Le Roy beat Rochester Prep 80-41.  Merritt Holly, Jr. scored 34 points, Finn Shelby, 15, and Mitchel Hockey, 14.
• Pavilion lost to Livonia, 6-41.
• Alexander lost to Wheatland-Chili, 59-42
• Byron-Bergen beat Kendall, 74-54
• Elba beat Attica, 65-51

There were no local girls games on Friday.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Notre Dame came back from a first-half deficit, down 20-16, to beat Le Roy 42-33 to capture the 2022 Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Classic championship.

It's the 15th time in 31 tournaments the Lady Irish have taken home the trophy.

Avelin Tomidy scored 14 points and Juda Macdonald scored 10 for Notre Dame.

For Le Roy, Lindsey Steffenilla scored 11 points.

Tomidy won the Christina Volpe MVP Award.

The rest of the all-tournament team:

• Jaimin Macdonald, Batavia
• Karli Houseknecht, Pembroke
• Kenna Mckenzie, Le Roy
• Maylee Green, Notre Dame
• Lyndsey Steffenilla, Le Roy

Lyndsey Wiedman won the Ray Shirtz Service Above Self Award.

Past champions:

• 2021 No Tourney
• 2020 Batavia
• 2019 Batavia
• 2018 Notre Dame
• 2016 Batavia
• 2015 Batavia
• 2014 Notre Dame
• 2013 Notre Dame
• 2012 Batavia
• 2011 Notre Dame
• 2010 Notre Dame
• 2009 Batavia  
• 2008 Batavia  
• 2007 Pavilion 
• 2006 Notre Dame
• 2005 Batavia
• 2004 Notre Dame
• 2003 Notre Dame
• 2002 Notre Dame
• 2001 Batavia
• 2000 Cal-Mum
• 1999 Notre Dame
• 1998 Notre Dame
• 1997 Notre Dame
• 1996 Notre Dame
• 1995 Pavilion
• 1994 Pavilion
• 1993 Gates-Chili
• 1992 Byron-Bergen
• 1991 Attica
• 1990 Attica

Past MVPs:

• 2020 McKenie Reigle, Batavia
• 2019 Bryn Wormley, Batavia
• 2018 Stevie Wilcox, Notre Dame
• 2017 Gillian Flint, Cal-Mum
• 2016 Tiara Filbert, Batavia
• 2015 Tiara Filbert, Batavia
• 2014 Laurie Call, Notre Dame
• 2013 Riley Norton, Notre Dame
• 2012 Tiara Filbert, Batavia
• 2011 Carly Pike, Notre Dame
• 2010 Nicole Hort, Notre Dame
• 2009 Jaycee Shirk, Batavia
• 2008 Annie Palermo, Batavia
• 2007 Hannah Norton, Pavilion
• 2006 Heidi Norton, Notre Dame
• 2005 Amanda Page, Batavia
• 2004 Katie Francis, Notre Dame
• 2003 Ashley Napoleone, Notre Dame
• 2002 Marie Stressing, Notre Dame
• 2001 Jen Batchellor, Batavia
• 2000 Kelley Sullivan, Cal-Mum
• 1999 Christina Volpe, Notre Dame
• 1998 Christina Volpe, Notre Dame
• 1997 Christina Volpe, Notre Dame
• 1996 Christina Volpe, Notre Dame
• 1995 Taya Blanton, Pavilion
• 1994 Taya Blanton, Pavilion
• 1993 Naima DeLain, Gates-Chili
• 1992 Melody Hutchinson, Byron-Bergen
• 1991 Lynn Jensen, Attica
• 1990 Jenny Acquard, Attica

Notre Dame will get a chance to play for another Rotary Club crown at 7:30 p.m. tonight at GCC after beating an aggressive Pembroke Lady Dragons team on Tuesday for a 49-34 victory.

The Lady Irish were led by Emma Sisson with 13 points, Mayee Green, 12, and Lindsey Weidman, 10.

For Pembroke, Karli Houseknecht scored 16 points.

For more game photos, click here.

In the first game of the first round of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Classic, Le Roy beat Batavia 48-44.

For Le Roy, Kenna McKenzie and Lindsey Steffenille scored 13 points each. 

For Batavia, Jaimin Macdonald scored 16 points and Jaylene Dersham scored 15 points.

Le Roy will face Notre Dame in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. tonight at GCC.

For more photos, click here.

Kelsey Schlagenhauf scored 12 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals to help lead Oakfield-Alabama to a 51-28 win over Kendall on Tuesday night in girls basketball.

Caitlin Ryan had 12 points, Makena Reding, nine, and Broke Reding, eight.

"Our girls played a solid 32 minutes against a well-coached and physical Kendall team," said Head Coach Jeff Schlagenhaufj. "All eight girls contributed. Brooke Reding was all over the court tonight.

"I can't say enough about the job Piper (Hyde), Alea (Grof) and Alaina (Manges) did defensively when they came in," he added. "They maintained our defensive effort and played extremely well for younger players. They improve each and every day."

The Hornets are now 11-0 on the season.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

The 32nd Annual Batavia Rotary Girls Basketball Classic tips off today at 6 p.m. at GCC.

The first game, Batavia vs. Le Roy.

The second game begins at 7:30 and features Notre Dame vs. Pembroke.

With a storm threatening Thursday, the finals have moved to Wednesday with the championship game beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Photo: Mackenzie Harmon, Batavia; Abby Allen, Le Roy; Allie Schwerthoffer, Pembroke; and, Lindsey Wideman, Notre Dame.

For the first 12 minutes of their championship match at GCC on Thursday night, Le Roy and Attica looked pretty evenly matched, then in the waning minutes of the first half, the Oatkan Knights offense caught fire.

By the end, the score wasn't close.

Le Roy won the large school division crown of the 39th Annual Pete Arras Lions Tournament 58-34.

The Knights held the Blue Devils to only 14 points in the second half, only four points in the final quarter.

For Le Roy, Mitchel Hockey scored 28 points, Merritt Holly scored nine, John Penepento, 9, and Finn Shelby, 9.

For Attica, Cole Harding scored 11 points.

The all-tournament team for the large school division:

• Jamel Johnson, Roy-Hart
• Carter McFollins, Batavia
• Cole Harding, Attica
• Simon Lamparelli, Attica
• Merritt Holly, Le Roy
• Mitchel Hockey, Le Roy (MVP)

Oakfield-Alabama prevailed over Notre Dame on Thursday to win the small schools division of the 39th Annual Pete Arras Lions Tournament at Genesee Community College.

The final score was 74-61.

Kaden Cusmano scored 20 points for the Hornets, Kam Cusmano, 18, and Gaige Armbrewster, 11.

For Notre Dame, Jordan Welker scored 24 points and Cody Henry scored 17 points.

The small schools' all-tournament team:

• CJ Gottler, Elba
• Cody Henry, Notre Dame
• Jordan Welker, Notre Dame
• Gaige Armbrewster, Oakfield-Alabama
• Kaden Cusmano, Oakfield-Alabama
• Kameron Cusmano, Oakfield-Alabama (MVP)

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

After trailing for much of the game, including, at times, by double-digits, the Batavia Blue Devils put together a final quarter rally but still fell short against Attica, 50-48.

Carter McFollins scored 19 points for Batavia while Tanner Mountain added 12 points.

For Attica, Simon Lamparell scored 16 points and Luke George scored 10.

Attica advances to the championship game at 9 p.m., Thursday, at the GCC gym against Le Roy.

For more game photos, click here.

The Fighting Irish are advancing to the championship round the 39th Annual Lions Club Tournament in the small school division after beating Alexander on Tuesday 66-51.

Notre Dame will play Oakfield-Alabama at 7 p.m., Thursday.

For the Irish, Cody Henry scored 22 points, Jordan Welker, 17, Ryan Fitzpatrick, 11, and Jimmy Fanara, nine.

For the Trojans, Nick Kramer scored 14 points, Dylan Pohl, 10, and Trent Woods, 8.

For more game photos, click here.

In a first-round game of the small schools' division of the annual Lions Tournament at GCC, Oakfield-Alabama beat Elba 60-44.

For the Hornets:

• Gaige Armbrewster, 20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
• Kam Cusmano, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
• Kaden Cusmano, 12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks

For Elba, CJ Gottler scored 25 points.

O-A is now 5-0 on the year.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

The Lady Lancers hit 70 percent of their shots in the first half of Monday's game against Batavia propelling Elba to a 54-31 win.

Dakota Brinkman, who dropped three three-point buckets, scored 13 points for Elba, while Laci Sewar and Kennedy Augello scored nine each. Adrianna Long scored eight and Sydney Reilly scored seven.

Brinkman also had seven rebounds.

For Batavia, Jaylene Dersham scored 10 points.

The Batavia Blue Devils boys basketball team lost Thursday to Greece Olympia 64-47.

Javin McFollins and Tanner Mountain scored nine points each. Estavan Lovett and Sawyer Siverling scored six each.

Also in boys basketball, Notre Dame beat Lyndonville 83-56.

In girls basketball, Batavia beat Olympia 47-37. Jaylene Dersham scored 21 points and Julia Clark scored 10.

The Oakfield-Alabama boys basketball team moved its season record to 4-0 with a 66-45 win over Attica on Tuesday.

Scoring:

• Kam Cusmano, 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
• Kaden Cusmano, 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
• Gaige Armbrewster, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals

Also in boys basketball on Tuesday:

• Batavia lost to Mendon 78-50. Javin McFollins scored 12 points for the Blue Devils. Sheldon Siverling and Sawyer Siverling each scored eight points.
• Elba beat Lyndonville 63-37
• Alexander beat Kendall 55-47
• Wheatland-Chili beat Notre Dame 68-53

In girls basketball:

• Pavilion beat Keshequa 54-28. Lauren Kingsley scored 14 points for Pavilion.  Karlee Zinkievich, 12, and Paige Landers, 12.
• Depew beat Elba 70-40
• Le Roy beat Geneseo 52-42. Abby Allen scored 12 points for Le Roy. Kailyn Tresco, 11, and Kenna MacKenzie, 10.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Alexander in boys basketball on Wednesday night 54-38.

For the Hornets, 

• Kam Cusmano, 16 points, 8 rebounds
• Gaige Armbrewster, 16 points, 5 assists
• Kaden Cusmano, 12 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 5 blocks

For the Trojans: 

• Trent Woods, 10 points
• Braydon Woods, 9 points

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Also, in girls basketball, Elba beat Wheatland-Chili, 49-36.  Game write-up by Drew Muehlig:

Led by senior Dakota Brinkman, Elba defeated Wheatland-Chili 49-36 Wednesday night in Genesee Region girls basketball. 

The senior baller notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Lancers. 

Elba also got strong performances from freshman Sydney Reilly (11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists), senior Adrianna Long (5 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists) and sophomore Halie Deville (8 points and 6 rebounds). 

Elba (1-2) led 29-13 at the half and led by as many as 19, but held off a valiant comeback effort by the Wildcats in the second half. 

Chyene Whitcomb led Wheatland-Chili with 10 points and 3 steals despite being in foul trouble throughout the game. Thailaih Sainpaulin added three 3-pointers to finish with 9 points and Reghan LaMere added 6 points for Wildcats. 

The Batavia Blue Devils overcame a first-half doldrums that left them trailing Greece Athena 34-21 to score 42 points in the second half, tying the score and sending the game into a double-overtime when Javin McFollins hit a three-pointer as the clock on regulation time expired.

McFollins finished the night with 18 points, hitting five three-pointers, including two in OT.

Carter McFollins also scored 18 points, Tanner Mountain scored 12, and Cam McClinic scored 10.

For Athena, Connor Osier scored 27 points. 

Oakfield-Alabama beat Pembroke 74-46 on Monday night.

For the Hornets:

• Gaige Armbrester, 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
• Kam Cusmano, 18 points, 7 rebounds
• Kaden Cusmano, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks

For Pembroke: 

• Cayden Pfalzer, 19 points
• Tyson Totten, 14 points

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Press release:

We are excited to have your school in the newly expanded Batavia Lions Club Tournament that now includes both a large and small school division. This year’s tournament is a 2-day affair with games on Tuesday, Dec. 28 and Thursday, Dec. 30. The only cost involved is two vouchers for the JV Tournament and one voucher for the Varsity to help cover the cost of having three officials on the Varsity games. This year Alexander replaces Perry and we are rotating the first-round matchups. More info will follow as we get closer to the basketball season.

The Batavia Lions Club is excited to have your team play in one of the best and longest-running Boys Basketball tournaments in Section V.  The additional teams with their strong community support made this event even better than had been in the previously the past 2 years. There were great crowds which provided  an exciting atmosphere for the student-athletes. Hoping for more of the same in December 2021!

Varsity Schedule                                                                      JV Schedule

Tues  Dec. 28                                                                            Tues  Dec. 28

3:30  Roy-Hart vs LeRoy @ GCC                             Noon Roy-Hart vs LeRoy @ BHS

5:15   Elba vs O-A @ GCC                                         Noon Elba vs O-A @ ND

7:00   Alexander vs ND @ GCC                                1:30pm Alexander vs ND @ ND

8:45   Attica vs BHS @ GCC                                     1:30   Attica vs BHS @ BHS

 

Varsity Schedule                                                                      JV Schedule

Thurs  Dec. 30                                                                           Thurs  Dec. 30        

3:30    Large School Consolation @ GCC             Noon Large School Consolation @ BHS

5:15   Small School Consolation @ GCC              Noon Small School Consolation @ ND

7pm Small School Championship @ GCC            1:30 Small School Championship @ ND

9pm  LargeSchool Championship @ GCC           1:30 LargeSchool Championship @ BHS

There will be a 15 minute warmup time for all games.

Photo: File photo from Lions Tournament in 2016

Press release:

The Notre Dame Board of Trustees on Wednesday announced the hiring of Mikey Rapone as the varsity boys basketball coach beginning in the 2022-23 season, replacing his father, Mike Rapone, who has compiled the most victories in Section V boys basketball history over a 42-year career.

Previously, Mike Rapone announced that he would be stepping down after this season. He has a 708-208 record at the varsity level.

Mikey Rapone (ND Class of 2002 and member of 2001 ND NYS Championship basketball team) has over 15 years coaching at Notre Dame, working with athletes, parents, administrators, and community members.

During the interview process, he commented that coaching in various positions at Notre Dame has enabled him to learn how to successfully motivate student-athletes by ascertaining their strengths as well as their weaknesses and to use this knowledge to assist them in working to achieve beyond their limitations while forging a team first attitude.

"I have gained an understanding of the unique balance of discipline, respect, support, and approachability one needs to maintain with student-athletes to be a successful coach," he said. "I feel that I have developed a great rapport with the teams I have coached and am proud of the relationships we share.”

Rapone said he developed his coaching style by learning from excellent coaches, including his father and also Bill Sutherland, Bill Wade, Dave Pero Sr., Wade Bianco, Marc Staley, Joe Zambito, Rick Rapone, Billy Sutherland, Rick Mancuso and Jim Fanara.

"That is a coaching tree that anyone interested in becoming a coach would love to have been able to learn from and it has prepared me well to maintain the tradition of excellence that is Notre Dame basketball," he said.

He acknowledged that "nobody can replace my father," but added that, "there is nothing more I would like to do than to be the next coach of the Notre Dame basketball program that he spent 40-plus years building."

"I plan to coach in the way that he has envisioned his program to be run by his successor and in a manner Notre Dame can be proud of.  I am not my father. We haven’t always agreed on coaching strategies and personnel but the one thing I definitely share with my dad is his love and passion for Notre Dame, the student-athletes and especially the Notre Dame boys basketball program,” he offered.

Press release:

Mike Rapone, longtime Basketball Coach at Notre Dame HS, has informed the school that the upcoming 2021-2022 season will be his final one at the helm of one of Section V’s most successful boys basketball programs.

His final season will be his 42nd Varsity season and 45th season coaching basketball at ND.

On March 3rd, 2010, he surpassed legendary coach Ed Nietopski’ s 545 career wins to become Section V’s All-Time winningest coach. Coach Rapone has a Varsity record of 708-208 (Winning percentage 77.3) while his JV record of 47-7 includes consecutive unbeaten seasons in 1979 & 1980.  Rapone coached teams won State Titles in 1992 & 2001, five regional titles, nine Section V titles (tied for the most all-time of any Section V coach), and 33 Genesee Region Division Championships.

He was inducted into the Section V Boys Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and Notre Dame HS Hall of Fame in 1996.

Winning the 2001 State Championship team provided one of the special memories of his distinguished coaching career as the roster included 11 players (of 13) that were sons of Coach Rapone’s Notre Dame High School classmate, his childhood friends or neighbors from LeRoy and included his son Mikey, his nephew and assistant coach Dave Pero’s son Jeff.

In the past 15 seasons, Coach Rapone feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work closely with his son Mikey watching him learn how to coach as he worked his way up from program assistant to JV Head coach to his current position as Varsity Associate Head Coach.  This experience and time together with his son have made coaching at Notre Dame even more fulfilling.

When asked about why now to retire, Coach Rapone commented. “I always said I would know when it was time to move on from the job that I love. Being a basketball coach here has been a big part of my life but it is time. Coaching at Notre Dame provided me with the opportunity to help young men learn how to compete and work as a team while personally growing and maturing as individuals. I take great pride in the adults my players have become.  Even though I will miss coaching, the time spent together with the team, and the thrill of competition, it is time for me to move on.”

The school will name Coach Rapone’s successor before the start of the upcoming season to ensure continuity and a smooth transition in the spring. Resumes can be submitted until Oct. 3 to michael.rapone@ndhsbatavia.com or wade.bianco@ndhsbatavia.com

Photo: File photo