All three local teams remaining in NYSPHSAA Title hunt fall this past weekend

Posted By on Mar 7, 2016 | 0 comments


batavia vs will south boys basketball 03-05-2016 - 1 (1)

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Sunday, March 6, 2016 | BataviasBest.org

 

This past Saturday, the Wheatland-Chili Girls, and Batavia Boys Basketball teams, along with the Notre Dame Hockey team, each fell in their respective NYSPHSAA Tournament games – thus eliminating each of squad from postseason play.

Despite each team’s respective losses, however, it was quite a ride.

The Winter Sports Season is a grind. Day-in, and day-out, for about 4 months, student athletes are asked to give their all in order to work their way toward achieving what each of these teams did this season. And for that achievement, each group should be forever proud.

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Starting with Notre Dame Hockey’s loss to Pelham on Saturday evening, the Irish fell to the top-seed in Class B by a final score of 4-2. Although the game was on its way to a blowout early, as Pelham took a 3-0 lead after on period, the Irish were able to bring it to a respectable 2-goal number by games end – finishing their year on a bitter note – but not as bitter as it could have been.

IMG_1519“I am very proud of the way the kids played,” said ND coach Marc Staley following the game. “We got down early to a very good hockey team and they never quit. We came out in the second period, we crawled back, and made it interesting late. But their goaltender and defense was just too tough down the stretch.”

Staley also added, now that the season is over, there were a few specific things he will look back on as most-special about this year.

Firstly, Notre Dame won 19 games this season – which ties the all-time wins record in a single season inIMG_1517 ND History. The last time the Irish won 19 games in a single year was 1996. Also, Finnish foreign exchange student Henrik Toiviainen (who despite being a junior will depart after this year) finished the season with 30 goals and 31 assists, which is a new single-season record for points at ND. Henrik broke the previous record held by former Irish skater Tyler Kessler – who racked up 59 points in 2012.

Going forward, Notre Dame returns 19 of 23 players next season – giving them a sound chance of repeating as Sectional Champions.

STORY: When it comes to Notre Dame Hockey, youth has carried the day for the Irish

Moving on to the Wheatland-Chili Girls Basketball team’s tough loss to Panama on Saturday night, the Wildcats fell in the Far West Regional by the final score of 56-51.

wheatland vs york girls basketball 2-26-2016 - 1 (20)Despite being down big early, the Wildcats scratched their way back into things – and eventually cut it to low single digits late in the contest. Although they eventually fell by the 5-poit margin, they stuck to their identity when the stakes were highest – proving to be one of the toughest basketball teams in the area this season.

STORY: It’s a family affair in Wheatland, as three sets of sisters have sparked the Wildcats’ 2016 postseason run

IMG_1552Lastly, Batavia Boys Basketball lost a heartbreaker to Williamsville South late on Saturday night, dropping the game before the State Final Four by a 53-51 final.

A slow start turned into a late lead for the Blue Devils, who climbed back from a 14-point deficit to find themselves ahead with just seconds to play. However, a late three-pointer with :10 remaining on the clockbatavia vs will south boys basketball 03-05-2016 - 1 eventually did Batavia in, as a late attempt at a game-tying bucket ended in a Devils turnover – which the Batavia bench thought should have been negated by a foul call.

Regardless, though, the questionable no-call – which I believed could have gone either way – resulted in the Billies taking a few free throws on the other end, and eventually they walked away with the victory.

One game away from Glens Falls. The Blue Devils were heartbroken.

Despite this fact, a team that I didn’t even expect to be at that point, they have much to look back on with fondness – as they are just 1 of 6 teams at Batavia with a Boys Basketball Sectional Championship.

STORY: The Batavia Boys Basketball team has a severe case of Senioritis this year

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All in all, it was a fun, and exciting winter season. One that I will personally never forget.

Thanks to everyone who made it so special, not only for me, but for everyone who followed along with us throughout the year.

Until the spring.

 

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