Tuesday Basketball: Lions stroll past New Life behind mammoth 2nd quarter run, carry momentum into battle vs. A-L; C-G girls capture Steuben County title over Addison to finish 20-0 in regular season

WELLSVILLE — The end is near. Wednesday’s tussle with Section VI, Class B State Finalist, Allegany-Limestone is right around the corner for the Lions of Wellsville to close out their regular season. If there was ever a time to build a big burst of momentum to go into Sectionals with, it was on Tuesday to start off the season-ending homestand against New Life Christian.

It was a bit of a slow start on both sides to open the festivities in the Lion’s Den, with New Life Christian weaving their way forward with a tight, early advantage against Wellsville. But the Lions kicked it into hyperspeed a short time later behind a strong first quarter finish which led to bigger and better things.

Just how much? — Try a mammoth second quarter run for size.

Five different Lions all had a hand in contributing to the cause to close out the first half, with Logan Dunbar finding his stroke from outside, while the inside game surpassed big heights down low, as the team held New Life Christian to just a single basket’s worth of points on the other end in return, as Wellsville strolled towards victory by a 64-34 count to use towards their regular season finale against the powerhouse Gators.

“It’s been the story all season. To go on a run, you need stops,” said Lions coach Tom Muska. “We held them to two points in that second quarter, which allowed us to go on a big run. The better our defense, the bigger our run. We need to bring that type of defense into Sectional play next week. Hopefully we still have just enough energy left for another game tomorrow. Our thin bench had to step up today, and they’ll have to do it again.”

A narrow 5-3 lead was garnered by New Life Christian to open the first minutes of the game, but it was one that Wellsville (11-8) was able to shake off and build considerably as time advanced forward, as the Lions accounted for nine of the last 11 points to close out the frame with a five-point lead.

The quarter-ending positive was used as fuel for the second quarter to conduct a run of epic proportions to close out the half, as Wellsville saw many different shooters all contribute to the offense’s cause with their biggest run of the night — a 23-2 jaunt of New Life Christian that they controlled from all angles on the floor. A run that gave them all the room they needed to remain out front to ultimately secure the victory in the end.

Logan Dunbar was a piece to the team’s puzzle of success, as he tallied a game-high 16 points. JJ Howard provided a big presence downlow to help the cause, bucketing 12 points. Cody Costello was Wellsville’s third scorer to eclipse double figures, sinking 10 points on the nose.

The Lions will put a wrap on their regular season tonight back on their home floor, now looking to avenge a 50-42 defeat to the Allegany-Limestone Gators from just a couple weeks ago, as they come to town for a 7:30 p.m. visit.

New Life Christian 7 2 14 11 – 34

Wellsville 12 23 18 11 – 64

NEW LIFE: Niinoi Hanson-Norley 7 0-0 14, Jefferson Isaah 2 4-6 8, Niinashu Hanson-Norley 2 0-0 6, Emmanuel L. Botchuag 2 0-0 6. Totals: 13 4-6 34.
WELLSVILLE: Cody Costello 4 0-0 10, Aidan Riley 3 0-0 7, Cooper Brockway 1 2-2 5, Asher Billings 3 0-0 8, Ethan Bailey 2 0-0 6, Logan Dunbar 5 3-4 16, JJ Howard 6 0-0 12. Totals: 24 5-6 64.

3-point goals: New Life 4 (Niinashu 2, Botchuag 2), Wellsville 11 (Dunbar 3, Costello 2, Billings 2, Bailey 2, Riley, Brockway).
Total Fouls: New Life 7, Wellsville 6. Fouled out: None.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Steuben County Title Game

Canisteo-Greenwood 46, Addison 37

ADDISON — With the number one seed already on lockdown, the historic rollercoaster ride that the Lady Redskins of Canisteo-Greenwood could perhaps also witness two more additional bonuses come at the drop of a hat by the end of the night on Tuesday to close out their regular season.

That would have to come against the Lady Knights of Addison in the Steuben County Championship game.

With history hanging in the balance, the Lady Redskins were given another tough battle in what was the third and final regular season meeting with the Lady Knights, who shook off a deficit by as much as 13 early on. Maintaining a footstep right behind the unbeatens along the way, Addison would attempt to keep the pressure on late.

But in the end, Canisteo-Greenwood’s powerful start proved to be the early jackhammer.

The Lady Redskins ushered a strong offensive start behind the guidance of Peyton Peters, who opened up the attack for big things, scoring 11 of the team’s 18 first quarter points. Despite battling through some foul trouble that carried over into the second half, Canisteo-Greenwood’s buffer zone would remain intact through it all to finish off an incredible regular season undefeated for the first time in school history, recording their 20th straight win to cruise into the Class C1 Tournament as Steuben County Champions with a 46-37 victory.

“It was a really tough game tonight. We jumped out to a great first quarter with Peyton scoring the points for us. They ran a box-and-1 on Lillian (Mullen) and then she took over for us,” Lady Redskins coach Les York said. “We had some foul trouble with Elaine (Roach) and Brooke (Burd) sitting until the third quarter, but our subs played well to keep the difference in our favor. This is the program’s first undefeated season ever, mine as well, and we’re the only unbeaten in Section V. Now we start a brand new season in Sectionals.”

An early game trade between both squads worked out towards a 7-4 Canisteo-Greenwood (20-0) lead before the tires began to kick into gear, as the tournament’s top seeds finished off the frame on a hot streak, scoring 11 of the last 12 points with Peters fronting the majority of the efforts with all 11 of her points in the midst of it.

The buffer zone remained intact despite some pressure from Addison throughout the battle going forward, as well as some early foul trouble. But in the second half, the Lady Redskins were able to put the game away with Lillian Mullen having her hand in on the action, motoring towards an 11-point second half to put towards Tournament MVP honors for the team when it was all said and done.

Mullen led all Canisteo-Greenwood scorers with a game-high 15 points, pairing them with six rebounds. Bailey Mullen chipped in with 14 points, while Peters finished off a double-double performance with 13 rebounds to go alongside her 11 points. Brooke Burd and Elaine Roach grabbed seven, and six additional rebounds to further the team’s cause.

The regular season is now over, as the Lady Redskins put a bow on what was a 20-0 regular season, capturing Steuben County’s top prize, as well as the top seed in Class C1 come Sectionals in the midst of a heavy field of competition. A battlefield that will consist of the top 11 teams with records standing over .500.

York says that it will be his team’s hardest challenge in quite some time.

“The C1 division I believe, is the hardest class out of the bunch this year. Anyone from the Top 10 to 11 are legitimate teams, with 11th place having lost only five or six times. I am very proud of the girls accomplishments this season, and beating tough teams this year. Two of them against Dansville and Wellsville, and three of them against a really tough Addison team, who is very experienced with fast guards, good shooters and two legit centers.”

Addison 5 10 12 10 – 37

Canisteo-Greenwood 18 8 11 9 – 46

ADDISON: Makayla Miller 0 1-2 1, Anna Carlineo 2 0-0 4, Kerrigan Driskell 2 0-0 5, Chiara Lai 5 0-0 10, Erin Terwilliger 1 0-0 2, Jillian Ames 3 2-4 10, Bailee Jackson 2 0-0 5. Totals: 15 3-6 37.
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD: Bailey Mullen 5 2-4 14, Elaine Roach 1 0-0 2, Kennedy Richardson 0 0-2 0, Lillian Mullen 4 6-8 15, Peyton Peters 4 2-2 11, Brooke Burd 1 2-6 4. Totals: 15 12-22 46.

3-point goals: Addison 4 (Ames 2, Driskell, Jackson), C-G 4 (B. Mullen 2, L. Mullen, Peters).
Total Fouls: Addison 16, C-G 11. Fouled out: None.