Day one of the 18th annual Cataract Classic lived up to the hype its amassed over the years. On Friday night, fans got to see six teams in three different games that all brought entertainment to the table. With another full slate of games on tap for Saturday, here's a recap of the first three games of the Classic from Friday night.  

On Wednesday night, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons displayed superb defense versus Clarence throughout the course of the game. They needed the effort for all 45 minutes of play, and they got it. The Falcons defeated Clarence 2-1 in Section VI Division 1 action.

Playing two games in as many nights demands a lot out of basketball players from high school to pros. On Tuesday night, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons played their second of three games in a row. Fatigue was shown early, but as the game went along, the Falcons seemed to gain energy and pull through for their second straight win. The Falcons defeated the Starpoint Spartans on the road, 48-41, behind a huge comeback run in the third quarter.

In basketball there are five starters and usually seven people to come off the bench. If one player is having an off night, the team looks to pick that one player's spirits up. The 2017-18 Niagara-Wheatfield basketball team is all about team unity and togetherness. 

In Western New York, dominant high school basketball programs have come and gone throughout the years, but one that has remained consistently dominant is Niagara Falls High School.  The Wolverines are coming off their second straight Section VI Class AA title and 15th sectional title appearance in the last 17 years. With 19 sectional titles in program history, coach Sal Constantino and his team have their expectations set to work for No. 20 this year. 

The Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons might not be in the playoffs this year as they'd hoped, but they were in action on Saturday, in an extra regular season matchup versus Frontier High School. The Falcons came out on top, 41-26, in the last home game of 2017.

In 13 seasons as head coach of the Niagara-Wheatfield girls volleyball team, Brandi Cochran hoped that one day her team would raise a Niagara Frontier League title. The dream became reality on Friday night, as the Falcons' defeated Grand Island, 3-0, in the NFL Championship game.  

After coming a tough loss for a league championship, any team could've hung their head and lost confidence. Niagara-Wheatfield girls soccer did the complete opposite on Friday evening. The No. 2 seeded Falcons defeated the No. 7 seed Lockport Lions, 4-1, in the Section VI Class AA quarterfinals.

In his post-game speech coach Russ Nixon said, "This is a night you guys will never forget." The statement is fitting, as the Falcons made history playing the school's first game under Friday night lights at Terry Harvey Field. The Falcons lost the homecoming battle with Class AA power Williamsville North, 49-14.

On Friday night, Buffalo Bills linebacker Preston Brown and Niagara-Wheatfield grad, Justin Gilmore were in attendance at the Falcons' football game in Clarence. The two have helped impact Niagara-Wheatfield football in a positive way this season, collaborating with the school district and booster club to put on N-W's first-ever Friday night football game.

The Niagara-Wheatfield golf team has turned heads with their play for the last several years. On Tuesday, they added to the program's legacy of success. The Falcons golf team took home the Niagara Frontier League title at the league tournament at Willowbrook Golf Course. The top six golfers from each team in the league were on hand, with each team keeping the top five scores from their players at the end.

The Niagara-Wheatfield football team went into Clarence desperately needing a road win to boost their playoff chances. The Falcons couldn't put it together Friday night and they fell to Clarence, 42-29.

Anyone that plays golf knows consistency in the sport is not easy. When it comes to Niagara-Wheatfield golf, consistency is all they know. The 2017 N-W golf team is currently 14-0, on a 59-match winning streak and seeking their fourth straight Niagara Frontier League title.

The Niagara Power collegiate baseball team entertained kids, families and fans at Sal Maglie Stadium from 2007 to 2015. After two whole summers removed from the New York Collegiate Baseball League, the Power have come back home to Niagara Falls. On Monday afternoon, representatives from Niagara University and the Niagara Power came together to announce the return of the Power.

At the end of the 2016 tennis season, the Niagara-Wheatfield girls tennis team found themselves in second place, finishing 12-2 and one match behind Niagara Frontier League champion, Lockport. This season, the Falcons have used that finish as fuel to their fire. The Falcons have been nothing short of dominant in their first eight matches of the year, as they are 8-0 and 40-0 in sets.

Niagara-Wheatfield's defense has had a tough start to the season, giving up over 40 points per game. On Saturday, the script was flipped. The Falcons defeated the reigning Section VI Class A champion Bennett Tigers, 28-20, on a unusually hot September day at Terry Harvey Field.

Elementary school-age children in the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District recently enjoyed the basketball magic of David Paul, or "DP" as his teammates call him, of the Harlem Wizards.

The Niagara Wheatfield Football Families Association presented the family of former Falcon Terry Harvey and Niagara-Wheatfield High School with framed jerseys Saturday, Sept. 27, during the rededication of the school's football field.

A crowd estimated at more than 2,000 celebrated the rededication Friday of the new Gene Masters Field at Grand Island High School.

Former Youngstown resident Matthew Glynn was the overall winner with a time of 1.17.06. The first female runner, Mindie Sawtelle, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, was fourth overall with a time of 1.21.10.

The NFL's finance committee voted Wednesday to approve the sale of the Buffalo Bills to Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula and his wife, and Kim.

WGRZ reported the $1.4 billion sale must be approved by a majority of NFL owners. They can vote accordingly when they meet Oct. 8 in New York.

Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula are set to become the next owners of the Buffalo Bills.

Kevin Townsend of North Tonawanda won the second annual Grand Island Fun Center Golf Tournament Aug. 24, taking home the $250 first prize.

The Niagara University women's volleyball team volunteered their time Thursday at Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School. The girls, joined by assistant volleyball coach Eric Buggs, helped with various tasks to get the school ready for its Sept. 4 opening.

On July 26-27, the Youngstown Yacht Club hosted the first-ever CanAm Challenge, a one-design and pursuit class event that emphasizes a friendly rivalry between the U.S. and Canada, with each country vying for bragging rights.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced James VanArsdall of West Henrietta caught a record-breaking freshwater drum from Irondequoit Bay (Lake Ontario) in Monroe County.

The World Cup is heating up near its end, but for young athletes in Niagara County, the real soccer excitement is only just beginning.

This weekend marks the 30th annual Niagara Pioneer Soccer Tournament, billed as the county's largest and longest-running youth sporting event. It is hosted by the Niagara Pioneer Soccer League and held at Fort Niagara.

Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union has announced a 12-year agreement with Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Center Inc. for the naming rights to the new 93,500-square-foot facility under construction at 34 Chestnut St. Slated to open in September, the facility will be called Cornerstone CFCU Arena.

The Grand Island Alumni Association will hold "Friday Night Under the Lights" when the first night football game on the Ransom Road campus in Grand Island Vikings history takes place at new Gene Masters Field.

The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 12-member class of 2014, Thursday, Oct. 16, at its annual induction ceremony and dinner. The event will be held for the first time ever at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The cash bar reception begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction of sports memorabilia. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony. Proceeds from the dinner and the auction benefit the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame amateur sports development fund.

The Buffalo Sabres and the National Hockey League announced the team's 2014-15 regular-season schedule. The variable ticket pricing designations for individual games will be released at a later date.

Buffalo opens its season at home on Thursday, Oct. 9, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and then embarks on one of the season's busiest stretches, with 11 games scheduled over 22 days in October, and a four-game road trip from Oct. 22-28.

The Niagara Falls Country Club hosted the second Women's Porter Cup tournament June 11-13. Following the deep tradition established by the 55 years of the men's Porter Cup, it was decided the world of female golfers deserved "A Cup of Their Own."

Four members of the Niagara-Wheatfield varsity soccer team have won the state cup in their respective age bracket and will travel to Rhode Island to compete in regional competition with their premier teams at the end of the month.

The Niagara Pioneer Soccer League Blaze U12 girls team won the 2014 Winter B-Under 12 Girls Division at Sportsplex in Tonawanda. The players capped off an undefeated season by beating the Northtowns Reign in the championship game.

One hundred sixty golfers journeyed to the Niagara Falls Country Club for the 23rd annual Niagara Cup Classic golf tournament. The event raised more than $45,000, which will support health care programming at the hospital - particularly cardiac and stroke services.

USA Hockey announced it would bring two major world championships to Buffalo in 2015, with both being staged at the soon-to-be-completed HARBORCENTER.

On Wednesday, May 13, the Lewiston-Porter boys tennis team defeated Kenmore East by a score of 5-0. With the win, the Lancers completed a near perfect season with a 13-1 record, and officially earned the Niagara Frontier League championship.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy is holding its 22nd annual "Matthew J. Murphy Jr. On the Tee fore NCP" golf tournament, June 13 at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course, 4560 Creek Road, Lewiston. Registration and lunch are at noon, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit NCP's adult vocational program.

The event will celebrate the agency's 60th anniversary, in addition to unveiling a new award, "The Chairman's Award." This year's recipient is James Catanese.

Buffalo RiverWorks recently announced it would become home to the Queen City Roller Girls, an amateur Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association league next season.

The Queen City Roller Girls will compete on a 98-foot-by-66-foot derby track that will be built to accommodate some of the nation's best female athletes. The indoor track is a part of Buffalo RiverWorks eight-acre entertainment and event center that will officially open next fall on the shore of the Buffalo River. The derby track will be the first of its kind in the nation. Derby players provided input into its custom design.

Elizabeth Keefer, a senior at Wilson Central High School, has signed with Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester and will receive a scholarship to play women's lacrosse. Steven, her brother, is also on a lacrosse scholarship to Roberts Wesleyan College.

Elizabeth comes from a lacrosse-playing family and has played the past four years for the Newfane Panthers girls club lacrosse team (Wilson does not have a girls team). Prior to that, she played lacrosse in the N.W.A.A. youth program. Elizabeth will be first student from Wilson to play NCAA Division II women's lacrosse.