Thursday Roundup: C-R’s Ricketts heads home OT-winner vs. B-R, A/W-JT starts fast with Fri/Scio to set up Brock Young title game; GV/Belfast boys, B-R girls record 1-0 shutouts

SCIO — The Brock Young Tournament in Scio was a soaker to start, but the inclement weather would eventually subside for the sun to peek through the mostly overcast clouds in time for the annual Fall tournament to kick off on Thursday.

On the field first, two long-standing rivals in Cuba-Rushford and Bolivar-Richburg. For one team, a chance to find their rhythm after three tough battles out of the gate. The other? — An opportunity to pave the way towards another tournament crown to begin the season.

The slippery conditions wreaked havoc across all 80 minutes of play, forcing midfield battle all throughout the field. Despite multiple opportunities for each team to cash in, extra time was required as a direct result to determine who was moving on to vie for tournament gold this weekend.

The balance of power between the Rebels and Wolverines was your metaphorical see-saw battle, through and through. In the late stages, that pendulum was shifted in favor of Bolivar-Richburg, with each knock at the door growing louder and louder as time continued to pass. But just over three minutes into the final overtime period separating both teams from a scoreless tie and penalty kicks, a power shift was established.

Finn Ricketts had the distinct privilege of providing it.

During what would be Cuba-Rushford’s final trip into the Bolivar-Richburg zone, the ball was dug free from the corner and then immediately after, shifted to the front of the goal where a leaping Ricketts met it with the most perfect of headers to poke it past David Abdo in between the pipes for the Wolverines, sending the Rebels bench into a craze to capture their very first win of the season and for first-year head coach Rob Wight by a 1-0 count in double overtime.

“I am so proud of the way the boys bounced back after a tough start to the season. We finally looked like we pieced it all together and I hope we can use this to kick start our season,” Wight said. “My back three guys Kaden Bell, Luke Brooks and Brock Stadler did a great job dealing with B-R’s stellar attack. The energy and effort from every guy that stepped on the field is something we can be proud of tonight. I am always impressed with Coach (Mike) Zilker and the program he has built at B-R. To get a win against them, you know you had to earn it.”

A great deal of midfield battling and physical play were showcased all through the opening 40 minutes of play between both squads — elements that have settled in from start to finish. Opportunities were earned, and at the end of it all, none were punched in. Cuba-Rushford (1-2-1) would ultimately finish the period on one of the more positive notes, as they held a ferocious Bolivar-Richburg offense without a single shot on goal while taking four shots themselves.

But the Wolverines began knocking on the door across the second half, seeing two great chances against the Rebels develop. The first being a save that slipped through the hands of Alex Baron in goal to create a second-chance opportunity, and the next coming on the following possession courtesy of Reiss Gaines, who broke away from the Cuba-Rushford defense for a wide-open shot that sailed just high and over the crossbar.

The heat continued to rise in the final minute of regulation with the Wolverines earning back-to-back corner kicks — their 10th and 11th of the game, with the first earning prime position in the midst of a scrum out front of the Rebels cage. But nothing further would develop.

Cuba-Rushford would cool off Bolivar-Richburg slightly with their first massive opportunity 2:30 removed from the opening kick, as Robert Childs picked up possession on a launch downfield, breaking away from the Wolverines defense for a shot that hit David Abdo square in the chest for the save and cover to force play back the other direction.

With momentum sitting squarely with the team in white and blue, it was used to its fullest of advantages one last time in double overtime, when Finn Ricketts was at the right place and at the right time for a cross directed to him from the far corner by Braxton Clark, who initially pried the ball free from the Wolverines defense to deny the clear. With it, Ricketts found the perfect position in front to place his head on the ball to drive it past Abdo and into the far right corner of the net to help Cuba-Rushford seal a massive first victory of the season.

Cuba-Rushford outshot Bolivar-Richburg by a narrow 8-5 count when it was all said and done, with Baron collecting the five-save shutout in net for the Rebels. Abdo would finish his tenure of defense with seven saves for the Wolverines.

With game one now in the books, the time to determine who each team would face in Saturday’s conclusion of the tournament would come.

In the nightcap, it was a fast and furious start keyed by Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg that helped set the tone right away against host Friendship/Scio, as they filled in the last spot in the Championship game with a strong 10-0 victory after the game was called partway into the second half, due to torrential downpours.

Brody Vance helped Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg (1-1) get the first half scoring initiated with four big helpers before scoring on one of his own later to complete what was a seven-point night on offense. Leading the scoring was Robert Bradley, who posted a hat trick, while Ronaldo Vasquez (two assists) and Carter Grice each scored two goals.

Derek Perkins recorded a penalty kick score along the way, while Ethan Warriner added a score. In goal, Skyler Orpet made five saves to record the shutout over Friendship/Scio (0-3).

On Saturday, the Brock Young Memorial Tournament will conclude with the Consolation game between Bolivar-Richburg and Friendship/Scio kicking off with a 5 p.m. start, while the title game takes center stage immediately following at 7 p.m. with Cuba-Rushford and Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg vying for this year’s prize.

Genesee Valley/Belfast 1, Houghton Academy 0

BELMONT — Looking to rebound after a tournament title defeat to the hands of Bolivar-Richburg last week, Genesee Valley/Belfast looked to get back on the right side of the tracks to help close out the week on Thursday.

They were challenged from start to finish by the Houghton Academy Panthers, who also provided a strong showing during their tournament time in Belfast. When the two collided for their first battle, scoring was going to be a rarity.

But when it mattered most, the hosts in black and gray made sure they provided the punctuation in the first half. Ian McKenzie was responsible for that, as he scored the game’s lone goal during the first half of action to break the ice. With the lead, Genesee Valley/Belfast would lean on their defense to get the job done in the second half, despite some heavy traffic in the midfield from the Panthers, securing the 1-0 shutout at Judy Bliven Field in Belmont.

“We played really well in the first half. The score should have been more than it indicated, but we missed opportunities,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “We had eight corner kicks, and we couldn’t score on any of them. Houghton dictated play in the midfield, but the fullbacks played tough to keep them off the board. A win is a win though, and we did some good things while we worked through some kinks that we still have to work out.”

McKenzie’s goal for Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-1) arrived at the 27 minute mark of the opening half, as he connected with Sean Mahon on the marker to break the ice. From that point forward, it would become a midfield battle between both teams until they reached the finish line.

The Panthers kept the hosts on their feet for much of the second half with strong midfield play, but the Genesee Valley/Belfast defense managed to hold down the fort for victory.

Genesee Valley/Belfast outshot Houghton Academy by an 11-5 count, with Kyle McCumiskey making all five saves for the shutout. On the other end, Marco Zanini made 10 saves for the Panthers (0-2-1).

Both teams will return to the field after the weekend, as Genesee Valley/Belfast prepares to host Bolivar-Richburg back at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, while Houghton Academy heads back home to welcome in Alfred-Almond for a 5 p.m. first kick.

GIRLS SOCCER

Tri-County Cup

Bolivar-Richburg 1, Cuba-Rushford 0

HINSDALE — Getting that one chance at the most opportune of times can play an enormous factor. When it’s a penalty kick, it’s a game-changer. That scenario arose for the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg in their Tri-County Cup first round battle with the host Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford.

With the score on the board without one, that was changed drastically with a single kick from inside the Cuba-Rushford box when Cassidy Stives buried the best chance the Lady Wolverines mustered against the hosts in blue all night long, putting them out in front of the driver’s seat for the remainder of the night to lock in a berth in Saturday’s Championship game of the inaugural tournament behind a 1-0 shutout in Hinsdale on Thursday.

The Lady Wolverines (2-1) were in prime position to jump out ahead first after a rush into the Cuba-Rushford zone resulted in a dynamic chance to open the scoring. With nearly 15 minutes left in the half, Stives was the recipient of a penalty kick after a foul just inside the Lady Rebels box. A chance that she would not allow to slip from her grasp, as she buried the ball to give the visitors in white and red the only lead the game would see.

“Finishing made all the difference in this one,” Lady Rebels coach Aaron Wight said. “We created tons of chances and we just couldn’t convert them. We did a lot of things right, and just lacked that little bit of quality in front of the goal. Credit to Bolivar-Richburg, they took advantage of a foul at the top of the 18 in the first half and scored on the free kick.”

Despite falling behind the eight ball going into the half and upon re-entering the field for the second half, the Lady Rebels (1-1) were able to hold the fort down securely on defense, freezing Bolivar-Richburg right where they stood with just the single goal behind another stellar defensive effort.

In all, a massive 22-2 outshooting of the Lady Wolverines went in favor of Cuba-Rushford.

“Defensively, I thought we were great. It came down to one foul in a dangerous area and we were a bit disorganized during the free kick,” said Wight. “It falls on me, and we’re a young group that will learn a lot from this game. That’s part of the game, and sometimes you do everything right and control a game. There will be times where you just cannot find the back of the net.”

In goal, Rylee Whiting received shutout honors for Bolivar-Richburg with all 22 stops against the Lady Rebels, while on the other end, Lilly Johnson-Clark made one save.

The Tri-County Cup will reach its conclusion Saturday morning back down Interstate-86 and to Cuba-Rushford where the host Lady Rebels will face Olean in Consolation round festivities beginning in a 11 a.m. opening kick, while the Championship game between Canisteo-Greenwood and Bolivar-Richburg will follow afterwards at 1 p.m.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Houghton Academy 3, Hammondsport 0

HOUGHTON — The Lady Panthers of Houghton Academy took the reins from beginning to end on their home floor for the first time this season, Thursday night, as they started with a dominant first set performance against Hammondsport and never looked back, recording the straight-set sweep along the way with a 25-10, 25-19, 25-12 triumph.

Charging the victorious efforts for the Lady Panthers (1-0) were Liberty Stevens, who recorded nine digs, six kills, six aces and one helper. Following behind was Bella Stevens, who tallied five kills of her own to pair alongside four aces and four digs.

Houghton Academy will return to the floor with a quick turnaround tonight, visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast at 7:30 p.m.

Hinsdale 3, Keshequa 2

HINSDALE — In a true back-and-forth affair all the way down to the wire, the Lady Bobcats of Hinsdale were pushed to the brink after three sets of play against visiting Keshequa on Thursday.

But behind some incredible resilience, the hosts in blue were able to bounce back in a big way with a massive fourth set win to force a decisive fifth set that could have gone either way. With points being traded left and right by both squads, the Lady Bobcats were able to find two consecutive points in extra serves to record the five-set victory by a 25-13, 18-25, 23-25, 25-19, 16-14 count.

Stats for the Lady Bobcats (1-1) were not made available to report upon publication.

Hinsdale is back on the floor Monday night with a 6:30 p.m. trip to Ellicottville.

Bolivar-Richburg 3, Canisteo-Greenwood 0 (Wednesday)

CANISTEO — The 2023 campaign for the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg fired up across all cylinders Wednesday night over the road, as strong nights of service from both Hannah Mascho and Brena Walp helped pull them ahead of host Canisteo-Greenwood with a dominant straight-set, 25-15, 25-6, 25-5 victory.

Helping create the big offensive uproar for the Lady Wolverines (1-0) were Kori Thomas, Jayna Thomas and Joey Danaher, as all three attackers provided five kills each. As for their service, Hannah Mascho was at the top of her game with 12 massive service points, pairing them with 12 assists at the front of the net to go with nine aces.

Brena Walp added in 11 more service points, eight aces and four digs on defense.

Adding some additional help along the way was Carmen Crowley, who posted eight service points to couple with four kills and four aces.

Bolivar-Richburg is back on their home floor tonight, welcoming in the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford for a 7:30 p.m. visit.