Wanzer, Pfeiffer Help Teams Move On

Big time players step up in big time situations. That’s what senior Claire Wanzer and sophomore Sara Pfeiffer did Tuesday night at Sweet Home High School. The result? Amherst and Olean will face each other in the Section VI Class A-2 championship at Buffalo State College this Sunday at 2pm. Wanzer had 20 points to lead the No.3 Lady Tigers to a stunning 56-53 win over No.2 and defending Class A champion Lake Shore. Pfeiffer, meanwhile, dropped 28 points as No.4 Olean beat top-seeded Kenmore East, 53-37. For Wanzer, a fifth-year player and Amherst’s all-time leading scorer with 1,661 points, the win means she will be making her first trip to the sectional finals. “My mom gave me a big speech before the game,” Wanzer said. “She said you don’t want to have any regrets. This is a big game and you’re gonna think about it the rest of your life and you don’t want any regrets.” The Tigers will attempt to win their first A-2 title since winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and ’10. They fell to Grand Island in the crossover title game both years. Down most of the game the Tigers stuck with their system, both offensively and defensively, as they chipped away at the Eagles lead. “It was definitely our defense. Sticking with our defense that coach had told us to play,” said Wanzer. “Just being aggressive. I know Leah (Shutts) had a few really good steals. Getting to the free throw line and getting shots when the clock was stopped really worked in our favor.” While it took a team effort to stop Lake Shore, there is no denying that Wanzer hit some clutch shots down the stretch including a bucket that put Amherst up 48-47 which gave them a lead they would not give up.

“I don’t think she came off the floor so that in of itself should tell you what kind of player she is,” Amherst head coach Mike Chatelle said. “That was our message as we left the locker room. No matter what happens make sure you can walk off the floor and be proud of your effort.” Camryn Sullivan (seven points) had 10 of the Lady Tigers 36 team rebounds while Leah Shutts added 10 points. The Huskies, who won Class B-1 last season, raced to a 10-2 lead thank to some early buckets by Pfeiffer, but the Bulldogs were able to close the gap in the second quarter as Olean held a 23-21 lead at the half.

But 3’s from Sara and Gabby Pfeiffer ignited an 11-0 run to open the second half and the Huskies never looked back.

“It means a lot. I do it for the seniors. I need them as much as they need me,” Sara Pfieffer said. “They know I’m gonna step up at the right time, and that’s what I did for them. It’s just a great feeling to be able to say yeah, I did this for the seniors.”

Gabby Pfeiffer and Gabby Carpenter had 10 points apiece for Olean, which had six, 3’s as a team.

Kendall Mills, who drained a 3-pointer with the final shot of her scholastic career, exits in the No.3 slot of the Lady Bulldogs all-time scoring chart. The Bulldogs finished 19-3 overall and unbeaten (14-0) champs of the NFL.

After the game long time head coach Jack Blanch, who had taken a three year break before returning three seasons ago, put the final score in perspective for his heartbroken team. In his first two season’s back Blanch went through some medical issues, including a stroke last year. This season Jack’s health was good, but his mom Theresa was not well. She passed away last week. Blanch said the support, love and kindness that his team has given him over these three years speaks volumes of their character and of the kind of women they will grow up to be.

“This was just a game,” Blanch said. “The kind of character you’ve shown and how you’ve carried yourselves over these three years, those are the things that matter in life.”