Monday News Brief

Local Basketball Greats Inducted into Section V Hall of Fame

Three former standouts from Genesee County are being honored for their impact on high school basketball.
Tami Phillips of Pavilion, Mark Wadams of Notre Dame-Batavia, and McKenzie Hill — formerly Bezon — of Elba, were inducted into the Section V Basketball Hall of Fame this Saturday at RIT.
Phillips helped lead Pavilion to three Genesee League titles and a 1981 sectional championship, and still holds several school scoring records. She says her team’s success helped spark greater recognition for girls’ basketball — noting Pavilion was the first women’s sports broadcast ever aired on WBTA back in 1981.
From Notre Dame, Mark Wadams was a two-time team MVP and the only player in school history with over a thousand points and rebounds. He credits longtime coaches Mike Rapone and Dave Pero for building the program’s winning culture.
And Elba’s McKenzie Hill (Bezon), a two-time New York State Player of the Year, led the Lady Lancers to the 2012 state championship before continuing her career at St. John Fisher and later coaching in Section VI.
The trio will officially join the Section V Hall of Fame during Saturday’s ceremony beginning at 4:30 p.m. at RIT.

Alexander Candidate Issues Apology Over Lawsuit Mix-Up

In Alexander, town board candidate Sarah Kohl is apologizing after a mistake in one of her campaign letters. Kohl had stated that the Town of Alexander was involved in a lawsuit — but later clarified the case actually involved the Village of Alexander.
She says the error caused confusion and backlash from opponents, and she feels genuinely bad about it. In a letter of apology published by The Batavian, Kohl took full responsibility for the mix-up and emphasized her respect for the current town board and commitment to open, constructive dialogue moving forward.

Byron-Bergen Wins Fifth Straight Sectional Crown

The Byron-Bergen girls’ soccer team claimed its fifth straight Section V Class C2 title Friday night, edging top-seeded Kendall 1-0 in a rematch of last year’s final.
Eighth-grader Ana Kuszlyk scored the game’s only goal just four minutes in, while the Bees’ defense and keeper Rylee Burch held strong through rain and wind to secure the shutout.
Head coach Wayne Hill praised his team’s resilience, saying they “played outstanding.” The defending state champions now advance to face Holley on Tuesday in the Class C regional qualifier at Caledonia-Mumford.

Genesee County Teams Advance, Fall in Sectional Football Quarterfinals

It was a busy weekend of sectional football for Genesee County teams.
In Class C, top-seeded Alexander/Pembroke stayed unbeaten with a dominant 38-0 win over Livonia. Pierce Dinkins led the Defenders with three touchdowns — two on defense and one rushing — while Ryder Reichert added 68 yards and two scores. Alexander/Pembroke’s defense lived up to its name, holding Livonia to just five total yards. The Defenders, now 8-0, will host Le Roy/Cal-Mum in the semifinals Friday at Genesee Community College.
Le Roy/Cal-Mum advanced with a 27-20 victory over Wellsville/GV-Belfast. Cameron Riggi ran for 88 yards and the go-ahead score, while Dillon Alcott had a touchdown catch and eight tackles.
In Class D, Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen defeated Attica 51-42 behind a huge performance from Chase Antinore — 273 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The Irish move on to face top-seeded York/Pavilion in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba’s season ended with a 55-6 loss to Canisteo-Greenwood. Senior Nick Scott led the Aggies with 68 yards and a touchdown.

Longshots Light Up the Board at Batavia Downs

It was a big night for upsets — and for driver Kevin Cummings — at Batavia Downs on Saturday.
Cummings guided 42-to-1 longshot Double Class to victory in the $12,500 Open Trot, winning by a head in 1:57.2 and paying $86.80. He later teamed with his cousin Kyle Cummings for a dead-heat finish in the Open Pace, as Stranger Things and Lanjo Lee crossed the wire together in 1:54.1.
The wins were part of a four-victory night for Kevin Cummings, who also scored with Soul Assassin and Nautical Hanover to complete a grand slam at Batavia Downs.