The
Pioneer (Yorkshire) girls basketball team had a great night Tuesday. They won a big game, they learned classes were canceled for the following day due to an impending storm (which never arrived, by the way) and they lent a huge helping hand to a charity.
The Panthers defeated East Aurora 64-48 in an important ECIC Division III game on the strength of
Mikaela Connelly's career-high 24 points as well as nine rebounds. It kept Pioneer alone in first place and extended the team's league winning streak to 59 games.
Before the game, the team accepted a $5,000 check from MaxPreps and awarded the money to the nationally respected Roswell Park Cancer Institute in nearby Buffalo. The money was the reward for winning Gatorade's "Signatures fueled by G Series" contest for its video submission, "For The Stripe," which explained its connection to Janet Payne.
Payne, the wife of former coach Max Payne, died of breast cancer in 2007. The two-minute video, which was on display in the school lobby before the game, tells the heart-touching story.
Pioneer honors Janet Payne's memory with "For the Stripe" videoMORE NEWS FROM THE AWARDS FRONTInspirational Marlboro softball player
Carmen Congelli has been named the first recipient of the Spirit of Sport Award by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
The award is for a coach, athletic administrator, trainer or student-athlete who "exemplifies the ideals of the positive spirit of sport, representing the core mission of education-based athletics," the NYSPHSAA announced.
Congelli is battling Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that results in a fast-growing malignant tumor. She hit .430 last spring and was named her league's player of the year. She will now be eligible for a national award from the National Federation of State High School Associations in July.
"Carmen exemplifies the passion for life that is fostered in part by her participation in high school athletics. That same passion contributes to her success as an outstanding high school athlete," said Nina Van Erk, executive director of the NYSPHSAA. "She serves as an inspiration to her teammates, school community and all involved in high school athletics statewide."
WRESTLING: END OF THE LINE FOR THE EHNTHOLT BROTHERSGranville has run out of Ehntholt kids.
Pete Ehntholt's six sons have all worn the blue and gold Granville singlets, but Kurt Ehntholt's graduation this spring will end 14 straight seasons of at least one brother on the wrestling team.
The streak began with oldest son P.J. in the 1997-98 season. Kurt is on pace to challenge the family record for career wins held by Kyle (107).
"They're synonymous with Granville wrestling," coach Steve Palmer told The Post-Star. "They're always true competitors. They're a family that likes the physical nature of the sport and strives for excellence. When you think of a blue-collar-town type of kid, you draw a picture of those kids.
John Schiano, who has written about high school sports in western and central New York for more than 25 years, covers New York for MaxPreps. He may be reached at john.schiano@maxpreps.com.
