Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020: Sec. 6 league may have to resort to tie-breaker

   Leading off today: We're getting ahead of ourselves, but the Niagara Frontier League may have to resort to a coin flip or similar tie-breaker later this month to determine one of the teams in its girls basketball championship game.

   The Niagara Gazette reported That peculiar it's a realistic scenario following Grand Island's 56-48 home victory vs. Lewiston-Porter on Tuesday. With the win, Grand Island improved to 7-2 in the NFL and 10-4 overall while Lew-Port dropped to 7-2 and 13-3.

   Lockport had already clinched its division title.

   According to Grand Island AD Jon Roth, the first two tie-breakers -- head-to-head and division record (at the moment) -- are even.

   "Then the third tie-breaker is the best overall (league) record and the fourth is sectional power points and that would be even, because they're in the same classification in the section," Roth said.

   The coin flip or drawing from a hat comes into play if the results of the remaining game against league opponents go according to form.

   "If both teams win out, then it comes down to a draw and that's a pretty crappy way to go out for two teams who've worked extremely hard," said Grand Island coach Kristin Wegrzyn. "That's really a tough way to decide who's gonna go."

   Said Lew-Port coach Richard Lindamer: "We gotta take care of business and it may come down to a coin flip, but we'd really like to see these girls have that opportunity because they've earned it. They've worked hard since they were in seventh and eighth grade and we're really proud of them."

   Timon topples Canisius: Bishop Timon-St. Jude handed Canisius its first loss against a Western New York opponent, 69-65.

   Canisius is ranked second in the state in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association. (Full rankings here.)

   Bishop Timon-St. Jude had taken Canisius to overtime two weeks earlier in a 90-81 loss.

   Jaymier Patton, who scored 38 in the overtime loss, led the Tigers to victory with 27 points, including a drive down the lane with 10 seconds left to snap a 65-all tie.

   Sophomore Kamar Goudelock had 22 points and Kevin Thompson 19 for Timon.

ADVERTISEMENT

   Dewayne Vass had 23 points for Canisius, whose only previous loss was to Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep.

   Milestone victory: Waterville girls basketball coach Larry Stockwell picked up his 500th victory with a 43-15 win over Sauquoit Valley.

   "I just think it means I've had a lot of great ladies who have done a fantastic job," he said.

   Stockwell is in his 37th season and follows Westhill's Sue Ludwig (573) and retired Syracuse Corcoran coach Jim Marsh (505) as a member of Section 3's 500-win club.

   More girls basketball: Eden handed Holland its first loss of the girls basketball season, riding 16 points and 12 assists by Brooke Woodard to a 64-50 victory. Jess Zittel added 12 points and seven rebounds.

   Holland is ranked second in the state in Class C. (Full rankings here.)

   Section 3 football changes: The eight-man football league in Section 3 will shrink to nine teams and just one division next fall with a net loss of one team.

   Sherburne-Earlville and Altmar-Parish-Williamson have notified the section of their intention to return to 11-man football. Adirondack, which played in Class C last season, will switch to eight-man football.

   Among the classification changes, the Section 3 Competition Committee has moved Syracuse CBA down to Class A after nearly two decades in Class AA. The committee also moved Bishop Ludden down from Class B to C and Utica Notre Dame from C to D.

    • Due to the renovations taking place at the Carrier Dome, there will be no Kickoff Classic at the start of the season. The Central New York Chapter of the National Football Foundation, which sponsors the event, plans to bring it back in 2021.