Tuesday Roundup: C-R’s fast start, Fri/Scio’s free throw game sets up Christmas Tournament title game; Lady Lions fall to Newark Valley at Coaches v. Cancer Tourney

Written By Chris Brooks

SCIO — It’s one of the most wonderful times of the holiday season.

After a hiatus last season due to COVID-19, the Scio Christmas Tournament made its grand return to Allegany County over the break, as Cuba-Rushford, Houghton Academy, Belfast and host Friendship/Scio all flocked to take part in the two-day tournament, beginning on Tuesday.

Up first was the Rebels and Panthers to open up shop in Scio. Both teams saw their fair share of bright moments in their first round contest, but even after a late rally by Houghton Academy down the homestretch, it was a fast start by Cuba-Rushford in the first quarter that made all the difference, as they used an excellent run to power up a 49-39 victory to claim a spot in Wednesday’s title game.

“I thought we jumped out of the game with good energy, and created some turnovers,” said Rebels coach Bryce Ryan. “We shared the ball really well, and executed the offense like we should. We got sloppy in long spurts, so we need to really focus on cleaning up some habits, and continue to get better and put those four quarters together.”

The Rebels (2-2) jumped out on the Panthers right from the go, with almost every shooter having a hand from within the team’s 18-3 run they sparked to gather up a lead that would be threatened at times by Houghton Academy, especially down the stretch, but never lost.

With their lead being cut down to 11 at the half, Cuba-Rushford wasted no time building it back up once more with another big run — an 18-7 run of Houghton Academy (2-4), growing their buffer zone exponentially by as much as 23 heading into the last eight minutes.

But the Panthers didn’t go down without a fight however, with Malachi DeGolyer and James Adenuga’s efforts helping fuel up their biggest stand of the night, holding Cuba-Rushford to just five more points in the last eight minute period in the midst of their 19-5 run to close the gap. But the deficit would prove to be too much to overcome in the end.

Cuba-Rushford was led by Luke Brooks in the midst of a balanced effort on offense, recording a team-high 10 points. Jack Frank added in nine points of his own, while Dom Bello had seven. On the other side, DeGolyer led Houghton Academy with a game-high 20 points, while Adenuga chipped in with 11. Both Panthers combined to record all six of the team’s three-pointers, each recording three.

As for the second game of the night, Belfast and Friendship/Scio battled their way through a competitive, back-and-forth contest all throughout. When it came down to brass tax, it was neither offense or defense that provided a spark plug for victory, but special teams.

At the charity stripe, that statistic belonged to host Friendship/Scio, as they hit 65% from the free throw line, grabbing their shots any way they could to remain one step ahead of the Bulldogs coming down to the finish line to pick up the last Championship game berth with a 41-32 edging in the nightcap.

“We made our free throws and they didn’t. If we were to shoot 65% from the line every game, we’d be a pretty happy group,” said Friendship/Scio co-coach Dillon McFall. “The fourth quarter, we played sloppy. All eight of our points came from the line. It was an aspect that made a big difference. We were solid in the first half offensively, and we turned them over a bit. We got outran a bit, but I liked how we were able to get past that. For the most part, we’ve shot the ball well. Tonight, we didn’t. It was one of those grinds where we were able to find a way to get it done.”

For much of the first half, a back-and-forth pace was set right from the start, with both Belfast and Friendship/Scio delivering punch after punch. After a 9-7 Bulldogs lead was established, Friendship/Scio (6-2) found an opening to jump out ahead after the first, scoring the next nine points in a row with help from the line, as well as Lazar Bulajic’s outside game.

In the second quarter, Friendship/Scio was able to branch out their scoreless run to 11 straight before Belfast (5-2) tacked five in a row themselves from Matt Weaver to end the drought, closing the gap to six. The hosts would continue to keep one step ahead of Belfast with more help coming from the line, taking a nine-point lead going into the break.

When the second half approached, the Bulldogs got to within striking distance heading into the last eight minutes of play, narrowly outscoring Friendship/Scio in the third quarter to do so, but in the end, more clutch free throws paid massive dividends for the hosts at the line, as they scored all eight of their fourth quarter points on special teams to push their lead back out to three possessions, ultimately sealing the deal for good.

Leading the offensive attack was Bulajic, who tallied a game-high 17 points to pair with his 12 boards, completing a double-double. Jacob Golden and Brenden Loucks each chipped in with nine points, with Loucks grabbing 10 boards, while Ethan Davenport had six. On the other side, Anthony Logue recorded a team-high 14 points to pace Belfast. Matt Weaver had six points.

Tonight, the Scio Christmas Tournament will conclude with Houghton Academy and Belfast kicking off in the Consolation round beginning in a 6 p.m. tip-off. The Championship game will follow soon after, as Cuba-Rushford and Friendship/Scio battle it out to become this year’s tournament champion at 7:30 p.m.

Cuba-Rushford 18 8 18 5 – 49

Houghton Academy 3 10 7 19 – 39

CUBA-RUSHFORD: Braeden Wight 1 0-0 3, Jacob Smith 2 0-0 4, Jack Frank 4 1-2 9, Will Sharp 3 0-0 6, Dom Bello 2 3-5 7, Austin Clement 2 0-0 4, Kaden Bell 2 0-0 6, Luke Brooks 5 0-0 10. Totals: 21 4-7 49.
HOUGHTON ACADEMY: James Adenuga 4 0-0 11, Chris Habecker 2 0-0 4, Malachi DeGolyer 8 1-1 20, Sam Winkens 2 0-0 4. Totals: 16 1-1 39.
3-point goals: C-R 3 (Bell 2, Wight), HA 6 (Adenuga 3, DeGolyer 3).
Total Fouls: C-R 4, HA 6. Fouled out: None.

Belfast 9 9 9 5 – 32

Friendship/Scio 16 11 6 8 – 41


BELFAST: Kadin Logue 1 0-0 3, Justin Hill 0 2-2 2, Max Miller 0 1-2 1, Matt Cater 1 0-0 2, Anthony Logue 6 2-4 14, Matt Weaver 2 1-11 6, Connor Stork 1 2-2 4. Totals: 11 8-21 32.
FRIENDSHIP/SCIO: Jacob Golden 3 3-6 9, Brenden Loucks 3 3-4 9, Ethan Davenport 2 2-4 6, Lazar Bulajic 5 5-6 17. Totals: 13 13-20 41.

3-point goals: Belfast 2 (K. Logue, Weaver), F/S 2 (Bulajic).
Total Fouls: Belfast 21, F/S 19. Fouled out: A. Logue (BEL).

J-T Christmas Tournament

Arkport/Canaseraga 51, Genesee Valley 38

GREENWOOD — The Genesee Valley Jaguars were right on the trail of Arkport/Canaseraga all throughout the first half to begin their return stint at the Jasper-Troupsburg Christmas Tournament. But a flip of the script was performed in the second half, as Arkport/Canaseraga’s offense came to life to help pull away toward a 51-38 first round win on Tuesday.

The Jaguars (1-6) were able to overcome a 14-7 deficit in the opening quarter, cutting it down to as small as four after the first half’s completion with a narrow 11-8 outscoring. But the tables were turned in the second half, when Arkport/Canaseraga held Genesee Valley down with a big 16-9 run that would wind up making all the difference coming down the stretch.

The lead that was once four, became a 38-27 deficit for the Jaguars — a buffer zone that gave the Wolves enough room to hang on and clinch a Championship game berth, the following day.

Genesee Valley saw Morgan Torrey ignite from three-point range, hitting four of the team’s seven in all to account for a team-high 15 points. Thai Norasethaporn added two more treys of his own to put toward an eight-point effort, while Brayden Cooper had seven points.

The Jaguars will now take on Northern Potter in the Consolation round of the tournament, beginning tonight back in Greenwood with a 5:45 p.m. tip-off.

Arkport/Canaseraga 14 8 16 13 – 51

Genesee Valley 7 11 9 11 – 38


ARKPORT/CANASERAGA: Logan Hoyt 4 0-1 11, Emory Watkins 2 2-2 8, Adrian Smith 1 0-0 2, Michael Gilbert 7 0-0 17, Alex Preston 2 1-3 5, Evan Reynolds 3 2-5 8. Totals: 19 5-11 51.

GENESEE VALLEY: Morgan Torrey 5 1-2 15, Brayden Cooper 2 2-4 7, Ryan Daciw 1 1-1 3, Thai Norasethaporn 3 0-0 8, Fisher Herdman 2 1-2 5. Totals: 13 5-10 38.
3-point goals: GV 7 (Torrey 4, Norasethaporn 2, Cooper), A/C 7 (Gilbert 3, Hoyt 2, Watkins 2).
Total Fouls: GV 13, A/C 12. Fouled out: None.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coaches v. Cancer Tourney

Newark Valley 66, Wellsville 37

BATH — The Lady Lions have asserted dominance in the first six games of the season. Just recently, they were able to finish off a big come-from-behind victory over Olean in their last home game of this calendar year to win their sixth straight game.

As they returned to action Tuesday night, perhaps their biggest test of the season was on the horizon — Section IV’s Newark Valley, to begin the Coaches v. Cancer Tournament at Bath-Haverling.

They would meet their match.

Right from the start, Newark Valley started a trend that would last the entire game. From sinking baskets left and right, to recording turnovers, the representatives from Section IV took advantage of everything, as they held Wellsville in check to hand them their first loss of the season with a 66-37 victory to advance forward into Wednesday's title game.

“I won’t take anything away from Newark Valley, they’re a college-level team,” said Lady Lions coach Michelle Alvord. “They shot great from the field, they mixed their press up against us, and they have some bigs on the floor that really gave us fits. They’re easily the best team we will see all season. Hopefully, we can come out and regroup, and give a good game back here tomorrow.”

Wellsville (6-1) was held to single digits in three of the four quarters, including the opening eight minute session where Newark Valley built an eight-point lead to carry forward. With that lead remaining in tact to go into halftime, it was extended upon with a humongous second half run, combining to outscore the Lady Lions by a 38-17 count, including an 18-7 third quarter that allowed them to pull away permanently.

Despite the defeat, the Lady Lions saw an even balance on the floor with their offense, with Makenna Dunbar leading the way with a team-high 10 points. Marley Adams added in eight points, while Sara Reitz dropped both of the team’s three-pointers, for six points.

Wellsville will return to Bath to close out their tenure at the Coaches v. Cancer tournament this afternoon, as they take on the host Lady Rams of Bath-Haverling in the Consolation round beginning at 3:45 p.m.

Newark Valley 16 12 18 20 – 66

Wellsville 8 12 9 8 – 37

NEWARK VALLEY: Hayley Beebe 2 0-0 4, Cha Gardner 5 2-2 12, Hannah Ferguson 9 1-1 21, Taylor Benjamin 10 3-6 23, Gracie Gardner 3 0-0 6. Totals: 29 6-9 66.
WELLSVILLE: Marley Adams 3 2-2 8, Jaylynn Mess 1 0-0 2, Emily Costello 2 0-0 4, Jaelyn Knapp 1 0-0 2, Natalie Adams 1 0-0 2, Sara Reitz 2 0-0 6, Kaylee Coleman 1 1-2 3, Makenna Dunbar 4 2-2 10. Totals: 15 5-6 37.

3-point goals: NV 2 (Ferguson), Wellsville 2 (Reitz).
Total Fouls: NV 10, Wellsville 9. Fouled out: None.

Prattsburgh Christmas Tourney Consolation

Genesee Valley/Belfast 59, Wayland-Cohocton 17

PRATTSBURGH — After falling to the hands of host Avoca/Prattsburgh just 24 hours ago, a bounce back from Genesee Valley/Belfast was at the top of their list to close out their tenure at the Prattsburgh Christmas Tournament on Tuesday.

To do so, they would have to climb their way past Wayland-Cohocton. Right out of the gate not only in the first half, but in the second half, the Lady JagDogs established their dominance, coming up with two massive runs of the Lady Eagles to set two big tones for the remainder of the evening, as they rolled toward a 59-17 win in the Consolation round.

Three different Lady JagDogs (4-3) recorded double digits to fuel an offense that started on the strongest of notes in the first eight minutes, holding Wayland-Cohocton in check almost immediately while capitalizing upon a 16-3 run. After a near-even exchange in the second quarter, Genesee Valley/Belfast closed out by pulling away with a 15-0 third quarter shutout.

Mary Hamer was named to the All-Tournament team after her massive contribution, netting a game-high 22 points to lead the Lady JagDogs. Anna Drozdowski chipped in with 14 points of her own, while Kaitlin Sadler added 12 more.

Genesee Valley/Belfast will now break until the new year, as they ring in with their first home game of 2022 against Bolivar-Richburg, next Thursday night beginning in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Belfast.

Wayland-Cohocton 3 13 0 4 – 17

Genesee Valley/Belfast 16 16 15 12 – 59


WAY-CO: Brooke Lander 0 1-4 1, Payton Chizuk 3 0-0 6, Madi Pickard 2 0-0 4, Mackenzie Pickard 3 0-1 6. Totals: 8 1-5 17.

GV/BELFAST: Lexi Burrows 1 0-0 2, Alicia Borden 2 0-0 4, Anna Drozdowski 6 1-2 14, Adison Grusendorf 0 1-2 1, Mary Hamer 11 0-1 22, Kaitlin Sadler 6 0-0 12, Addy Herring 1 0-0 2, Harley Proctor 1 0-0 2. Totals: 28 2-5 59.

3-point goals: GVB 1 (Drozdowski),
Total Fouls: GVB 10, Way-Co 6. Fouled out: None.

Chris Brooks
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