Mixed results for Niagara Wheatfield basketball teams

by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, December 15, 2005

Niagara Wheatfield’s Michele Schaffer (center) scrambles for a loose ball during the Lady Falcons’ 45-43 loss to Newfane last Saturday. (photo by Larry Austin)

Byron Mulkey had 36 points to lead the Niagara Wheatfield boys basketball team to a 59-50 victory over highly touted Niagara Catholic last Monday, while the girls team lost their its game in a row.

Niagara Catholic had beaten Grover Cleveland earlier in the year, the same Grover team that had knocked the Falcons out of the Section VI tournament semifinals last year.

Junior guard Jeff Bissell had 10 points for Niagara Wheatfield. Dave Viola of Lewiston had eight points for Niagara Catholic, who led 26-24 at the half before the Falcons responded with a big second half.

The girls team lost to Mount St. Mary’s 46-33 in the opening round of the Niagara Wheatfield Holiday Tournament on Dec. 8. Sophomore Krystin Lekki had 10 points for the Lady Falcons.

In the consolation game, a rematch with Newfane, Niagara Wheatfield lost 45-43 to drop its record to 1-4. Like the first time the two teams met in the Wilson Tournament, a

Newfane lead evaporated in the heat of a Lady Falcons comeback. Trailing 35-24 after three quarters, Niagara Wheatfield applied a full court man-to-man defense and held the Panthers without a point for over four minutes, tying the game at 37. Margo Weber made a three-point shot to put Newfane up 42-37. Lekki’s trey cut the lead to 44-43 before Weber added another free throw. Two subsequent possessions by Niagara Wheatfield went for naught as the Panthers held on for the victory to improve to 3-1 on the year.

Michele Schaffer was named to the All-Tournament for Niagara Wheatfield.

Niagara Catholic beat Niagara Wheatfield, 34-22, in non-league girls’ game on Monday.

Starpoint won the Holiday Tournament over Mount St. Mary’s 38-35 on a three-point play by Julie Scarupa with five seconds left that put the Spartans up by one. Christine Giambattista added a last-second lay-up for Starpoint.

Meredith Dziewit of Lewiston had five points for the Thunder.

Starpoint beat Newfane 33-26 in the semifinals.