Thursday Roundup: Cole provides offensive spark for Lady Eagles, netting season-high 22 points in road win at Belfast

Written By Chris Brooks

BELFAST — Between both Fillmore and Belfast in their renewed crosstown rivalry on Thursday, some offensive struggles were evident throughout the course of the first half of play. Multiple rebounds, as well as multiple turnovers from the attack would ultimately result in what became a 6-5 lead for the Lady Eagles after one.

In the second, it would remain the same score throughout the majority of the frame. But toward the tail end, a spark ignited for Fillmore — a small run that loomed large coming back out for the second half, as they mined for more success in the last 16 minute offerings to pull away from the grasp of the Lady Bulldogs for good, en route toward a 31-16 victory.

Through the first quarter, it was a back-and-forth exchanging of baskets between the two teams, with Emma Cole scoring all six of Fillmore’s (2-0) points while Belfast kept pace with offense of their own in a pair of baskets. Later on, the Lady Bulldogs offense stalled when the Lady Eagles took advantage of turnovers and rebounds on defense. Although the opportunities were not immediately capitalized upon, the spark came with under 90 seconds left in the half.

The Lady Eagles would score a 6-0 scoreless run to end the first half, with four of those points coming on back-to-back transitions from Cole and Jadyn Mucher to head into the break with a seven-point, 12-5 lead on the hosts. As the game progressed, it would prove to be a spark for the visitors in black and green, as they extended their lead later on in the third quarter with another run headed by their largest point of attack.

Cole continued her massive success by scoring her last 14 points to finish with a game-high 22. Preslee Miller chipped in with four points of her own, while Harley Miller had a basket to add. For Belfast (1-1), Anna Drozdowski led the offense with six team-high points. Mary Hamer chipped in with four of her own.

Both teams will participate in a pair of Saturday afternoon matinees, with Fillmore continuing their road trip to Bolivar-Richburg for a 2:30 p.m. contest with the Lady Wolverines. Belfast will hit the road and visit the Friendship Lady Golden Eagles in a 1 p.m. contest.

Fillmore 6 6 10 9 – 31

Belfast 5 0 6 5 – 16

FILLMORE: Emma Cole 9 4-5 22, Jadyn Mucher 1 1-2 3, Harley Miller 1 0-2 2, Preslee Miller 2 0-0 4. Totals: 13 5-9 31.
BELFAST: Anna Drozdowski 2 2-7 6, Mary Hamer 2 0-0 4, Kaitlin Sadler 1 0-0 2, Emma Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Cierra Wallace 1 0-0 2. Totals: 7 2-7 16.
Total Fouls: Fillmore 9, Belfast 9. Fouled out: None.

Wellsville 38, Cuba-Rushford 33

CUBA — The Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford gave visiting Wellsville all they could handle on Thursday in their home opener. A rally came about late in the fourth quarter when the hosts in white and blue strung together their biggest eight minute frame of the evening, holding the Lady Lions to their lowest.

But it was the only quarter that the Lady Rebels had the upper hand in, as Wellsville accepted Cuba-Rushford’s challenge and in return, managed to build on a first half lead that they did not lose in the end, providing three straight outscorings to stay one step further ahead to successfully bounce back from their overtime loss to Bolivar-Richburg with a 38-33 victory.

“I was happy with how our girls played our first time out this season,” Lady Rebels coach Aaron Wight said. “I was glad with how hard they played, and it was also nice to see some of the younger girls step up and give us some really quality minutes.”

The Lady Lions (1-1) did get some good news with the return of Emily Robbins to the lineup, recording a basket and free throw shot in her season debut to help what has a balanced offense across the board. Wellsville would manage to edge out Cuba-Rushford at the end of the first half with a 19-14 lead in hand heading into the locker room.

In the third quarter, the Lady Lions started to run the table behind their three point game as Jaylynn Mess and Emily Costello launched all three of the team’s triples on a combined basis to kickstart what was a narrow, but defining, 13-9 run of the Lady Rebels (0-1) to take a near-double digit lead heading into the fourth.

With help from Taylor Searle and Brynn Lavery in the last eight minute period, Cuba-Rushford was able to chip away at Wellsville’s lead, but the visitors in black and orange were able to stay ahead to keep their lead secured for good.

Costello led all Wellsville scorers with a team-high 10 points, while Mess and Brooklyn Stisser finished with six points each. Jaelyn Knapp had five to pitch in. As for the Lady Rebels, Searle led the way with a game-high 14 points, including both of the team’s three-pointers. Lavery, along with Lillian Forward, both concluded with six points.

Both teams will have Andover up next on their schedules in the coming days, with Cuba-Rushford getting first crack Saturday night, as they host the Lady Panthers in a 7:30 p.m. contest within the Wighthouse. On Tuesday, it will be Wellsville’s turn, as they host the Lady Panthers in a 7:30 p.m. contest of their own, Tuesday evening.

Wellsville 10 9 13 6 – 38

Cuba-Rushford 8 6 9 10 – 33

WELLSVILLE: Jaylynn Mess 2 0-0 6, Emily Costello 4 1-1 10, Jaelyn Knapp 2 1-2 5, Brooklyn Stisser 3 0-0 6, Emily Robbins 1 1-2 3, Kaylee Coleman 1 2-4 4, Ashden Hyslip 1 2-2 4. Totals: 14 7-11 38.
CUBA-RUSHFORD: Lillian Forward 1 4-4 6, Brynn Lavery 3 0-0 6, Macie Demick 1 3-4 5, Taylor Searle 6 0-0 14, Tara Duvall 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 7-8 33.

3-point goals: Wellsville 3 (Mess 2, Costello), C-R 2 (Searle).
Total Fouls: Wellsville 15, C-R 9. Fouled out: None.

Bolivar-Richburg 27, Andover 19

ANDOVER — Fresh off a big come-from-behind overtime victory over Wellsville at the beginning of the week, Bolivar-Richburg looked for more with their first road trip of the season coming on Thursday in Andover.

It was a battle that the Lady Wolverines had to endure at first in the opening half, battling right with the Lady Panthers using their special teams attack from the free throw line. But in the third quarter, Kayli Giardini helped the offense spring to life.

With a one-point lead coming back out from the locker rooms, Giardini went to work for Bolivar-Richburg, scoring six of her team-leading eight points in the third quarter to help spark a run that went in their favor just enough for them to keep their now-extended lead in tact, as they were able to finish off what was a 27-19 victory over Andover.

“Our girls worked hard, but we are still adjusting to the pace and skill at the Varsity level,” said Lady Panthers coach Jake Bannerman. “Fundamental mistakes hurt us today, and Bolivar-Richburg did a nice job of making it really tough for us to score all game.”

Along with Giardini, Aliyah Cole went 6-of-10 from the charity stripe to lead the special teams attack for the Lady Wolverines (2-0), earning eight points herself. Kelsey Pacer was not far behind both Lady Wolverines, as she added in seven points.

Andover (0-2) was led by Kelsie Niedermaier’s double-double, as she recorded a team-high 10 points to go with 13 rebounds off the glass.

Both teams will hit the road for a pair of Saturday contests, with the Lady Wolverines heading back home to face Fillmore in search of a third straight victory in a 2:30 p.m. clash. As for the Lady Panthers, they will head for the Wighthouse at Cuba-Rushford to face the Lady Rebels later that night, at 7:30 p.m.

Bolivar-Richburg 5 6 10 6 – 27

Andover 6 4 7 2 – 19

BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Kelsey Pacer 3 1-4 7, Kayli Giardini 4 0-0 8, Kelsey Ferris 1 0-0 2, Aliyah Cole 1 6-10 8, Jessica Major 1 0-2 2. Totals: 10 7-16 27.
ANDOVER: Gabby Terhune 1 0-0 2, Mikaila Brewster 1 0-0 2, Livia Simon 2 1-4 5, Kelsie Niedermaier 4 2-4 10. Totals: 8 3-8 19.
Total Fouls: B-R 8, Andover 13. Fouled out: Calladine (AND), Niedermaier (AND).

Whitesville 64, Genesee Valley 35

BELMONT — After 48 hours were removed from her record-setting performance in Friendship back on Monday, Vanessa Hall continued her season-opening tear back over the road once more, Thursday night for the Lady Jays of Whitesville. Straight away in the opening eight minutes, she assisted in jump-starting a massive run for the team against host Genesee Valley, helping provide an 18-2 spark that set the tone immediately in their 64-35 win over the Lady Jaguars.

Hall finished near perfect from the free throw line, going 4-for-5 to put toward a game-high 29 point effort for the Lady Jays (2-0) that saw the majority of her shots come from inside the paint. Kennedy Bledsoe helped the cause with a big night of her own, bucketing 16 points. Gabbi Hall had eight points to add.

Genesee Valley (0-1) was paced by a team-high 16-point effort from their senior, Emera Aquila. Lizzy Bentley netted seven points, while Adison Grusendorf and Ashley Burrows both had four points.

Both teams will have the Scio Lady Tigers up next on their schedules, with Genesee Valley getting them first this weekend by hosting a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday. Whitesville will host the Lady Tigers after the weekend, on Monday at 6 p.m. to open their home slate.

Whitesville 18 11 16 19 – 64

Genesee Valley 2 11 13 9 – 35

WHITESVILLE: Kennedy Bledsoe 7 2-5 16, Rachel Jackson 2 0-0 5, Vanessa Hall 12 4-5 29, Aislinn Hamilton 0 0-2 0, Gabbi Hall 4 0-0 8, Brynn Scholl 3 0-0 6. Totals: 28 6-12 64.
GENESEE VALLEY: Adison Grusendorf 1 2-4 4, Emera Aquila 7 0-2 16, Lizzy Bentley 3 0-0 7, Sierra Burrows 1 0-2 2, Katie Bartlett 1 0-0 2, Ashley Burrows 2 0-2 4. Totals: 14 2-10 35.

3-point goals: Whitesville 2 (Jackson, Hall), GV 3 (Aquila 2, Bentley).
Total Fouls: Whitesville 11, GV 16. Fouled out: None.

Friendship 31, Scio 20

SCIO — After a close battle through the first quarter, the Lady Golden Eagles of Friendship sought a chance to break away with their lead in hand. They did just that with a big second quarter run that saw their lead grow to eight and then some, as they rolled their way toward a 31-20 road win in Scio against the Lady Tigers to pick up their first win on Thursday.

The victory came on the heels of a great night of offense from Nevaeh Ross, who provided a game-high 14 points for the Lady Golden Eagles (1-1), 10 of them coming in the first half to set the tone for the team. Kadence Donohue added in nine points of her own, while Claire Calhoun and Aaliyah Harmon had four points each to round off.

Scio (0-2) was led by Emily Stilson, who tallied six team-high points. Camryn Wiech followed with five points of her own.

Both teams will return to action Saturday afternoon, with Friendship heading back home to welcome in the Belfast Lady Bulldogs for a 1 p.m. contest, while Scio goes down the road to Genesee Valley for a 1 p.m. matinee of their own against the host Lady Jaguars.

Friendship 8 9 10 4 – 31

Scio 7 2 3 8 – 20

FRIENDSHIP: Nevaeh Ross 5 2-2 14, Claire Calhoun 2 0-0 4, Kadence Donohue 4 0-0 9, Aaliyah Harmon 2 0-2 4. Totals: 13 2-4 31.

SCIO: Alexis Crossley 1 0-2 3, Camryn Wiech 1 3-4 5, Emily Stilson 3 0-0 6, Sophie Bolzan 0 1-4 1, Celina Warboys 1 0-0 2, Kiara Grover 1 0-2 2. Totals: 7 4-12 20.

3-point goals: Friendship 3 (Ross 2, Donohue), Scio 2 (Crossley, Warboys).
Total Fouls: Friendship 14, Scio 4. Fouled out: None.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Arkport/Canaseraga 3, Cuba-Rushford 2

CUBA — The defending Allegany County League champions took the floor for their first contest of their title defense on Thursday, but game one of the season turned into a dogfight until the very end against visiting Arkport/Canaseraga.

All five sets of play were required to decide the match. In the end, it was the visiting Wolves that found a way to prevail, as they used a fourth set rebound to put toward a fifth set edging of the host Rebels, winning by a final 17-25, 27-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-13 count.

Caden Granger was the active body on offense for Cuba-Rushford (0-1), recording a team-leading 14 kills to go with his one block at the net to lead the way. At the front, Allen Fuller dished out a team-high 22 assists to help the cause.

Arkport/Canaseraga (1-0) was led by a five-block, four-kill night from Micah Hoyt.

The Rebels are back on the floor Saturday afternoon over the road, as they travel to face the Scio Tigers in a 2 p.m. contest.

Chris Brooks
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Wednesday Roundup: Cook hits game-winner in Andover’s Senior Night edging of Friendship; Lions bounce back on the road at B-R