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Pine Pieces

Penalties, goaltending doom Amerks in loss to Crunch

By Kevin Oklobzija | March 20, 2026

Penfield outlasts Seton Catholic in overtime, advances to NYS Class AA final

By Paul Gotham | March 20, 2026

Saint Louis prepared for big test against Michigan

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

‘We mirror each other’: Michigan readying to face similar Saint Louis in Round of 32

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

The Journey: Rodgers and Louisville look to keep season alive in second round against Michigan State

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 20, 2026

Right School: Experienced Spartans are ready for second round action

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 20, 2026

Saint Louis stampede sends Billikens to Round of 32

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

Fairport rallies to clinch spot in AAA championship game

By Paul Gotham | March 21, 2026

Less than 12 minutes had elapsed in Friday’s NYSPHSAA Class AAA semifinal, and Fairport boys’ basketball already had 10 turnovers on the day. A pair of Red Raider starters had drawn two fouls apiece…

Penalties, goaltending doom Amerks in loss to Crunch

By Kevin Oklobzija | March 20, 2026

Sure enough, the Syracuse Crunch used all three power plays to produce goals, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead in what became a 5-3 victory at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial…

Penfield outlasts Seton Catholic in overtime, advances to NYS Class AA final

By Paul Gotham | March 20, 2026

Jackson Green’s triple with 39.3 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the game winner as Penfield (24-1) clinched a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship game with a 69-66 victory over Section IV champion Seton Catholic (21-2) at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena…

Saint Louis prepared for big test against Michigan

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

Fresh off of a blowout win for their first tournament victory since 2014, No. 9 seed Saint Louis is readying to face one of the best college basketball has to offer- the No.1 seed Michigan Wolverines…

‘We mirror each other’: Michigan readying to face similar Saint Louis in Round of 32

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

After taking down Howard in the first round, No. 1 seed Michigan is advancing to take on No. 9 seed Saint Louis in the Round of 32. According to the Wolverines, it will be like playing themselves…

The Journey: Rodgers and Louisville look to keep season alive in second round against Michigan State

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 20, 2026

March Madness isn’t just about basketball it’s about the stories and one of the best in Buffalo NY comes from Louisville guard Kobe Rodgers

Right School: Experienced Spartans are ready for second round action

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 20, 2026

It is the fifth time in history that Michigan State and Louisville meet in March Madness. But, for Tom Izzo and the Spartans, experience and chemistry can pave the way to their potential 23rd Sweet 16 appearance.

Saint Louis stampede sends Billikens to Round of 32

By Tyler Hathaway | March 20, 2026

Saint Louis shot over 58% from the field while holding a strong Georgia offense to around 35% as the Billikens broke away early and never looked back in a dominant 102-77 win over No. 8 seed Georgia during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round at KeyBank Center on Thursday night…

Johnson Jr leads second half run as Michigan advances to the second round

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 19, 2026

Up four coming out of halftime after a buzzer beater three-pointer by Howard’s Bryce Harris, Michigan scored on 10 of its next 11 possesions with Johnson Jr leading the way with 14 points in the opening eight minutes of the half. The sophomore also hauled in 10 rebounds for a double-double and with the run, the Wolverines took a 77-59 lead it did not relinquish.

Red Wings showcase new food items ahead of 2026 season

By Dan Glickman | March 19, 2026

Three new menu items were showcased ahead of a new Rochester Red Wings season…

Kenneth Blakeney keeps building “The Dream Factory” at Howard University

By Paul Gotham | March 19, 2026

Two nights after winning the program’s first NCAA Tournament game, Howard went toe-to-toe with the Wolverines for the first 20 minutes connecting on 10-of-16 3-point attempts to stay within four at 50-46 heading into the break…

Strong first half helps Michigan State blitz North Dakota State

By Tyler Hathaway | March 19, 2026

Carson Cooper put together 20 points and 11 rebounds while Jeremy Fears Jr. dished out 11 assists, and No. 3 seed Michigan State used a pair of big runs in the first half to help take down No. 14 seed North Dakota State 92-67 during NCAA Tournament First Round action at the KeyBank Center on Thursday…

Conwell keys winning run to start second half; Louisville advances in East Region

By Paul Gotham | March 19, 2026

Teammate Vangelis Zougris opened the scoring then Conwell added the next five points. After a Sananda Fru tap-in, Conwell connected on a 3-pointer then led J’Vonne Hadley into the open court for a layup…

High School

Penfield outlasts Seton Catholic in overtime, advances to NYS Class AA final

By Paul Gotham | March 20, 2026 | 0 Comments

Jackson Green’s triple with 39.3 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the game winner as Penfield (24-1) clinched a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship game with a 69-66 victory over Section IV champion Seton Catholic (21-2) at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena…

Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp State Semifinal Preview: Fairport to face Corning-Painted Post for spot in state final

By Paul Gotham | March 19, 2026 | 0 Comments

One team is making its third state semifinal appearance while the other has reached the final four for the first time in program history. Fairport and Corning-Painted Post will square off in the NYSPHSAA Class AAA semifinal on Friday. Here’s the breakdown…

Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp state semifinal preview: Notre Dame Batavia and Stamford/Jefferson to battle for a spot in state championship

By Matt Hanes | March 19, 2026 | 0 Comments

One team is making its first state semifinal appearance since 2013 while the other last reached the final four in 1994. Notre Dame-Batavia meets Stamford Jefferson on Thursday for a spot in the NYS Class D championship game. Here’s the breakdown…

Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp State Semifinal Preview: Aquinas and William Floyd set to square off for a spot in the state finals

By Matt Hanes | March 18, 2026 | 0 Comments

One team is making its third straight state semifinals appearance; the other its first state semifinal appearance in program history. Aquinas and William Floyd (XI) are set to square off in the state semifinals. Here’s the breakdown…

Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp State Semifinal Preview: Penfield to face Seton Catholic for spot in AA championship game

By Paul Gotham | March 17, 2026 | 0 Comments

One team is looking for its first state semifinal win. The other has two wins in the final four and looking for a first under its current head coach. Penfield and Seton Catholic will meet in the NYS Class AA semifinals on Friday. Here’s the breakdown…

Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp State Semifinal Preview: Lyons to face unbeaten Cooperstown for spot in state championship game

By Paul Gotham | March 17, 2026 | 0 Comments

These two programs have combined to win three state titles One squad is making a second state semifinal appearance in three years and seventh overall. The other clinched a final four spot for a third time. Lyons and Cooperstown will meet on Saturday with a spot in the NYS Class C championship game on the line. Here’s the breakdown…

WNY Sports

Hodgson has USF playing its best basketball at the right time

By Paul Gotham | March 19, 2026

‘Every team is here for a reason’: Top-seeded Michigan prepares for March Madness

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 18, 2026

Izzo, Michigan State ready to make another March run

By Tyler Hathaway | March 18, 2026

‘Be elite all the time’: Louisville is ready to rewrite history against South Florida

By Dylan O'Loughlin | March 18, 2026

Bills

Bills promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach

By Tyler Hathaway | January 27, 2026 | 0 Comments

Buffalo is in the process of finalizing a deal to promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the head coaching role. Brady plans to sign a five-year deal with the Bills and will replace former coach Sean McDermott, who was fired last Monday…

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Bills/Broncos playoff preview: Three storylines, two keys to the game, one X-Factor

By Tyler Hathaway | January 16, 2026 | 0 Comments

The Buffalo Bills will continue their postseason run when they travel to face the number one overall seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos. Where as the Bills enter off of a battle against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Broncos will come into Saturday’s game fully rested…

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Bills/Jaguars playoff preview: Three storylines, two keys to the game, one X-Factor

By Tyler Hathaway | January 10, 2026 | 0 Comments

The 2025 NFL regular season has come to a close, and the Buffalo Bills will be competing in the playoffs for the seventh straight season. But unlike the previous five, the No. 6 seed Bills will be starting their playoff run on the road, heading south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. The third-seeded Jaguars enter the contest red-hot, while Buffalo is coming off of an emotional yet emphatic win over the New York Jets…

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Amerks

Penalties, goaltending doom Amerks in loss to Crunch

By Kevin Oklobzija | March 20, 2026 | 1 Comment

Sure enough, the Syracuse Crunch used all three power plays to produce goals, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead in what became a 5-3 victory at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial…

Kuntar’s OT goal allows Amerks to finally celebrate a victory

By Kevin Oklobzija | March 13, 2026 | 3 Comments

When you go 27 days without experiencing thrill of victory, when an entire month has been nothing but the agony of defeat, there’s good reason for a display of unbridled joy after an overtime victory…

Special teams flop as Amerks winless skid reaches nine

By Kevin Oklobzija | March 11, 2026 | 4 Comments

Fast-forward to today and they’ve become a team that can no longer score goals or win games. Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Utica Comets at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial extended their winless streak to nine (0-6-1-2)…

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