HS ROUNDUP (Feb. 2): Cardinal O'Hara scores emotional boys hoops win

Staff Reports

Down 10 points with 4:01 to play, the host Cardinal O’Hara Hawks were able to earn the come-from-behind victory, 66-65, over St. Francis in Monsignor Martin boys basketball action Friday night.

The Hawks hosted a benefit night for 4-year-old Owen Pieber, an Akron resident who is battling a rare form of brain cancer. More than $2,000 was raised for Pieber.

“It was an emotional night,” said O’Hara coach Sil Dan, himself a cancer survivor. “We were able to pull out.”

James Ewing led O’Hara (9-10, 4-6) with 30 points, while Keron Briggs added 12.

John Schichtel led St. Francis with 20 points.



Nichols 78, Niagara Catholic 56

Will Regan continued his strong play as he scored a game-high 25 points in leading unbeaten Nichols to the Monsignor Martin victory. Ron Canestro added 16 and Jim Regan had 12 for the Vikings (18-0), who led 19-7 after the first quarter and stormed out of halftime with a 19-8 advantage in the third quarter.

“They jumped on us early and executed real well,” NC coach Chuck Sprigg said. “They were very methodical in the way they ran their offense.”

A.J. Roberts had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Dyrell Dolson added 13 points for NC (6-11 overall, 3-6 MMAA), which hosts Canisius at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.



St. Joe’s 79, Timon 54

Senior guard Phil Maiarana shot 11-of-14 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line en route to a game-high 32 points in the Monsignor Martin win. Maiarana scored 19 of those 32 in the first half, which saw St. Joe’s take a 40-18 lead. Phil Scaffidi added 14 points, while Sean Mulhern had eight points and 17 boards and Matt Spitler added 10 rebounds and six assists for the Marauders (11-7 overall, 6-2 MMAA).

Steve Bryant led Timon with 12 points.



Maryvale 83, Tonawanda 36

Josh Thomas led four Flyers in double figures with 15 points in an easy ECIC III win. Maryvale led 22-4 after the first quarter and 52-14 at halftime.

Harley Burrows had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors (1-14 overall, 0-10 ECIC III).



Medina 52, Akron 45

Nick Peterson scored 18, Levi Pace 12 and Tyler Evans 10 to lead the way for Medina (5-5 N-O) in a key Niagara-Orleans League win.

J.C. Tretter took game-high scoring honors for Akron (8-3 N-O) with 19 points.



Boys Swimming

Niagara-Wheatfield 119,

Grand Island 64

The host Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons won their third straight Niagara Frontier League championship and their 46th meet in a row, downing visiting Grand Island 119-64 Friday night to highlight boys swimming action.

Niagara-Wheatfield went a perfect 14-0 in the NFL. Leading the Falcons was the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Bryan MacSwan, Dan Heberle, Lukas Shumway and Jordan Ohar, which set a new pool record, finishing in 1 minute, 32.57 seconds.

Shumway also won the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, while Jordan Ohar took first in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races.

Grand Island (10-4) got a win in the 100 backstroke from Josh Kaplan, who set a new pool record by finishing in 54.50 seconds.



Niagara Falls 120,

Kenmore West 62

Brian Sawma broke two school records as the Wolverines won every event in an NFL meet. Sawma, a junior, broke his own record in the 100-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 50.87 seconds, which qualified him for the state championships. Sawma later won the 100 backstroke in 59.80, another record-setting performance.

Sam Cale won a pair of freestyle races and swam on two winning relays for Niagara Falls (4-10). Kenmore West finished the NFL season 1-13.



Starpoint 113, Alden 49

The Spartans completed a perfect 12-0 season in ECIC small schools with the road win. Marc Toth broke an eight-year-old school record in the 100-meter breaststroke race, even though he finished second to Alden’s Bob Rutkawski.

Steve Pochatko won three events for Starpoint (15-0) overall. Alden finished league play at 6-6.



Girls Basketball

Grand Island 51, Niagara Falls 42

The host Vikings scored the NFL win, as Mallory Griffiths and Kallie Banker each had 14 points.

Also for Grand Island (7-7, 5-5), Amber Duda had 11 points.

Aquilah Thomas led Niagara Falls (3-12, 2-9) with 16 points.



Akron 43, Medina 29

Dale Jonathan scored a game-high 17 points and Gub Jonathan added 13 to spark the attack for Akron (6-5 N-O) in a Niagara-Orleans League game.

Miranda Benthin netted 10 for Medina (5-5 N-O).



Lockport 35, Niagara-Wheatfield 34

The visiting Lady Lions stayed out front in the NFL, earning the narrow victory over Niagara-Wheatfield.

Lindsey Burke had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead Lockport (10-4, 10-1), while Lea Sobieraski had nine points and pulled down 14 boards.

Kyrstin Lekki led Niagara-Wheatfield (9-7, 5-5) with 12 points.



Niagara Catholic 62, Park 18

The host Patriots got Niagara 20 points from Mary Cain in the win. Jen Hare added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Emily Bird chipped in 15 for Niagara Catholic (10-9).

No information was submitted for Park.



Starpoint 49, Amherst 42

The host Lady Spartans picked up the ECIC III win, as Katie Colton led the way with 14 points. Tiffany Wendt pulled down 11 rebounds for Starpoint (3-12, 3-8).

Jen Newhouse led Amherst with 20 points.

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