Gehen nets 100th goal
Erin Gehen became the first player in the four-year history of the Section VI Girls Hockey Federation to score 100 goals in a career on Thursday night. The West Seneca forward had the lone goal for her team in an 8-1 loss to Amherst/Sweet Home. Gehen scored on a breakaway, beating the goalie on a backhand deke.The goal was her eighth this season in six games. As a freshman she finished second in the Fed in scoring with 22. As a sophomore and junior she led the Fed in scoring with 32 and 38 goals respectively. She reached the milestone in 63 games.
Her coach Brian Hillery said Gehen is actually more of a playmaker and she shoots only if she’s in a better position to score than a teammate.
“Her stats don’t show she’s more of a playmaker than a goal scorer,” Hillery said. “She eclipsed 100 goals mainly because of her speed and knowledge of the game. When she has an open look at a corner, she rarely misses. She’s very unselfish. She’ll look to make the pass first, and if it isn’t there, she’ll take the shot.”
St. Joe’s skates to OT win
James Bassett scored in overtime on a quick one-timer to give the St. Joe’s Federation hockey team an electrifying 3-2 win over nemesis Williamsville North before an estimated 1,500 at the Northtowns Center. Anthony Pontello picked up the assist on the game-winner as he carried the puck just over the North blueline and fed it to Bassett, who sent a low shot into the net at 2:19 of overtime.The Spartans opened the scoring thanks to Bryce Ferrell with 3:20 left in the first period. With 30 seconds left in the first, Brad Kaminsky tied the game, scoring from the point on an assist from Bassett. The second period was scoreless. With 8:24 left in the game, North scored a shorthanded goal by Wil Stryker. A mere 16 seconds later, North’s Bryce Donovan scored on a power play on another shot from the point.
“I’m proud how the boys worked and battled back each time, they never gave up,” said St. Joe’s coach Rich Crozier, whose team improves to 3-3-0-1.
Wrestler gets 150th win
Senior Tim Barnard of Tonawanda won his 150th wrestling match in a 41-33 win at Lackawanna at 145 pounds. Barnard moves to 12-0 this season after pinning Yayeen Abdulla of the Steelers in 1:02.Barnard has been on the varsity since seventh grade. Of his 150 wins, 90 are by pin, a school record. He ranked No. 2 on the Warriors’ career win list behind teammate Cody McGregor.
“He’s got a lot of different holds and moves. He doesn’t have one bread and butter move coming at you,” coach Dave Nedell said. “He’s a very physical wrestler, he’s going to wear you down. It helps that him and Cody work out every day against each other in practice.”
Park beats St. Joe’s
Park’s first win as a member of the Monsignor Martin Association can’t get much bigger as they stunned St. Joe’s, 73-65. Park fell behind, 15-6, after the first quarter, but rallied to win the second quarter, 18-4, on its way to the historic victory.Derrick Cheatom led the Pioneers with 26 points followed by Randy Golda’s 22. Park coach Michael Battaglia said after the first quarter his team switched to a zone, which took St. Joe’s a while to adjust to. “Our kids were a little nervous, we only scored six points in the first quarter, but once they settled down and played a little better defense, things started to go our way.”
In Park’s first game in the league they lost to Canisius. Park, which forfeited its first five wins because of a player disqualification, improves to 3-6.
Poloncarz nets 1,000th
Senior guard Noelle Poloncarz surpassed 1,000 career points for Orchard Park in a 69-59 girls basketball victory over West Seneca West. The Quakers senior guard scored eight points, giving her 1,006 in her five-year varsity career.She’s now No. 2 in scoring at OP behind 2003 graduate Jen Buskus.