Niagara Gazette

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UB's Maynard suspended for first quarter
University at Buffalo football coach Turner Gill has suspended starting quarterback Zach Maynard and reserve receiver Terrell Jackson for the first quarter of tonight’s home game against Ohio for violating team policies
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Grand Island is all set for finals
Any time Grand Island needs a kill it goes to Jonas Stalyga. Any time the Vikings need a set they look to Tyler Hinaman.
Put the duo together and GI has one of the best set-to-kill combinations in Western New York.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Zinermon sells NCCC out of state
Kierra Jackson left the Southwest for Sanborn this fall to come play for new Niagara County Community College women’s basketball coach Kirk Zinermon, who has used the Internet’s infinite wingspan to extend NCCC’s recruiting reach.
AUTO RACING: Lew-Port's Martin has become national star
When Bobby Martin was a child, he’d stare at the wheels of his stroller spinning round and round as his mother rolled him from place to place.
He went on to construct more than 200 model cars before he was old enough to have a driver’s license, a common hobby that Martin took to the extreme.
HS FOOTBALL: NT sets record in dominating AA championship win
Led by senior Steve Kijowski’s four touchdowns, North Tonawanda rolled to a record-setting 54-7 victory over Lancaster in Saturday’s Section VI Class AA championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Lumberjacks’ 54 points surpassed the previous mark of 53, set by Iroquois in 2006.
BASKETBALL: Niagara to honor '69-'70 team at home opener
The younger fans will be bringing their purple pajamas to the Gallagher Center next Tuesday. The older fans will bring their memories.
BASKETBALL: Former Niagara Falls player Crittenden out with injury
Erie Community College sophomore point guard T.J. Crittenden tore his meniscus and is out for the season.
HOCKEY: Niagara falls to UMass, still looking for first win
Niagara men’s hockey coach Dave Burkholder said prior to the season that finding a goaltender to replace Juliano Pagliero was his team’s top priority, and that without a No. 1 netminder the Purple Eagles might be hardpressed to get victories against quality opponents. After eight games, he’s realizing exactly how prophetic that statement was.
MEN'S HOCKEY: Niagara to honor hockey pioneers
In honor of the program’s magical run a decade ago under coach Blaise MacDonald, one that culminated in a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over New Hampshire, posters with a team shot will be given out to the first 500 fans who come to today’s 2 p.m. matinee against UMass-Amherst. Also, a number of the players from that team — aptly named the “Program Pioneers” — will take part in a ceremony during the first intermission.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: GI advances to sectional final
Grand Island senior Jonas Stalyga continued his strong play this fall with 19 kills, three aces, three digs and a block as the third-seeded Vikings swept No. 2 Lake Shore in Class B boys volleyball semifinal action at Orchard Park High School Saturday. The scores were 25-20, 25-10, 25-23.
COLLEGE ROUNDUP (Nov. 7): NU women skate past ’Cuse
BOYS SOCCER: Vikings earn Class A crown
After the top-seeded Billies scored on a penalty kick less than nine minutes into the second half, No. 2 Grand Island responded with two tallies over the next 20 minutes to earn a 2-1 victory in the Class A Championship game Saturday at Dimp Wagner Field.
HS FOOTBALL: St. Joe’s, O’Hara advance
A goal-line stand in the third quarter and a pair of touchdowns in the fourth propelled second-seeded St. Joe’s to a 14-3 win over No. 3 St. Francis in the Monsignor Martin League AA semifinals Saturday. The Marauders (6-4 overall) will play Canisius for the League AA championship at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
BOXING: Casal takes unanimous decision
If Friday night’s fight was truly the Road to Redemption for Nick Casal, that road wasn’t glitzy, but it kept the Niagara Falls light welterweight headed in the right direction.
COLLEGE ROUNDUP (Nov. 6): NU hockey remains winless
HS FOOTBALL: Grand Island's run ends at The Ralph
Two late interceptions by GI quarterback Joel Klock proved costly Friday night despite a valiant defensive effort as top-seeded Sweet Home, the reigning state champions, escaped Ralph Wilson Stadium with a 20-13 win over the sixth-seeded Vikings
CROSS COUNTRY: GI girls, Barker boys capture crowns
There would be no coming up one point short of victory for the Grand Island girls cross country team at this year’s Section VI Championships.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: UB renovates practice space
The once second-rate Triple Gym now resembles a state-of-the art practice facility after an offseason renovation funded by private donations.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: GI comes up just short in finals
They showed plenty of heart and grit, but in the end Grand Island came up just short in a five-set thriller in Thursday's Section VI Class A girls volleyball final at Daemen College. The Vikings fell to Hamburg 3-2, giving the Bulldogs their first-ever sectional title.
BASKETBALL: Maine takes Falls' Harris eighth in D-League draft
Paul Harris was an Orangeman. Now he’s a Red Claw.
The Maine franchise made Harris the eighth overall selection in the first round of Thursday’s NBA D-League draft.
BOXING: Casal ready to take next step
With a shot at a regional title in sight, Niagara Falls’ own Nick Casal returns to the ring in the main event of today’s Road to Redemption card at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center.
HS FOOTBALL: Vikings up to the task of beating rival Panthers
“We enjoy playing Sweet Home and I don’t know how many people would say that,” said GI coach Dean Santorio, who is bringing his fourth team to the Stadium in his nine years at the helm. “This is a great opportunity to play a great football team in the sectional finals. We enjoy the challenge. We’ve always played them tough and that’s what makes this game even more special.”
HS FOOTBALL: NC linemen will play big role in Saturday’s MMAA semifinal
“When our (skill) players have their best days, it’s a direct reflection that the line did their job,” veteran NC coach Don Marinucci said as his team prepared for Saturday’s Monsignor Martin League A semifinal at St. Mary’s of Lancaster. “And to be honest, the line is where we’re going to have to win this game. They are the key to this one.”
BASKETBALL: Harris likely to be drafted by D-League
Niagara Falls native Paul Harris will get another chance to be drafted into a professional basketball league tonight.
And this time he has a good shot at being a high pick.
BASKETBALL: Cox comes back to fulfill ‘life duty’
“Modie Cox was a raw product of Niagara Falls,” Williamson said. “It’s so wonderful to see what he’s doing today. He’s evidence of what a secure and stable program can do for 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds. They learn how to get along. They learn how to listen to instruction. It’s a beautiful thing.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Starpoint duo chasing after a title
They’ve battled youth and inexperience. Injuries, too. Even that notorious H1N1 strain.
Through it all, the Starpoint girls cross country team is right back in familiar territory with the Section VI Championships set for Friday at Elma Meadows.
HS FOOTBALL: GI assistants bring out the best in their players
Behind every great man is a great woman.
A similar statement can me made in regards to high school football head coaches and their assistants.
Just ask Dean Santorio, the ninth-year head coach at Grand Island.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Super sophs help GI make finals
John Head knew he had a roster full of potential this fall. He had club players, 6-footers at the net, talented underclassmen, senior leaders and even a handful of multi-year varsity starters.
He just had no idea they’d mesh so well.
INSIDE COLLEGE HOCKEY: League change hasn’t affected Niagara's recruiting
Those wondering if recruiting has been altered since Niagara is dropping to a league that offers fewer scholarships should be relieved to hear coach Dave Burkholder.
“We haven’t seen a thing change,” he said.

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