The Hillbillies improved to 3-0 on the young season while picking up the team’s first league win of the year against the Falconer Golden Falcons, 58-55 in overtime, in a Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 game Friday night at Fredonia High School.

Falconer (2-1, 0-1) led 13-7 after the first quarter as Fredonia (3-0, 1-0) struggled to hit shots. Only one 3-pointer and one 2-pointer fell for the Hillbillies in the opening frame, as the team split four free throw attempts evenly.

“The reason we didn’t play our best is that’s a really good basketball team in Falconer,” Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando said. “… We were lucky to come out of here with a win tonight. That’s a very, very good basketball team that’s going to be a force to be reckoned with as the season goes on.”

Fredonia made up ground with a 12-point second quarter as the Golden Falcons only scored five points in the frame. The second half was tightly contested as each team had 46 points to its name with a minute to go.

Falconer's Roger Markham (1) drives toward the basket during Friday’s CCAA Division 1 boys basketball game against Fredonia at Fredonia High School. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

The Hillbillies could not close the game out in the final minute, with several missed shots from the field, along with three missed free throws. Still, Fredonia regrouped in overtime and put up 12 points in the extra period to come away with the win, including eight free throws on nine attempts.

“Now we’ve been in a tough situation. … I think we learned quite a bit tonight,” Bertrando said.

Ashton Putney led the way for Fredonia with a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Luca Gullo added 12 points and Malachi Hall had 11 points.

“The guys who finished the game did an excellent job. The guys who started the game and got us on a run before halftime did an excellent job. … I’m proud of all these guys,” Bertrando said.

Roger Markham led Falconer with a stellar performance of 35 points on 13 made field goals. No other member of the team has more than 8 points on the night.

“Roger Markham is an elite player. He’s a three-level scorer. We threw just about everything we had at him tonight and we still couldn’t stop him,” Bertrando said. “The kid is dynamic. He’s explosive. He’s a top player in Western New York. He’s difficult to coach against, but as a spectator, man is he sure fun to watch.”

Falconer’s valiant effort in defeat proved the jump up to CCAA Division 1 is warranted. Bertrando was happy to see such a competitive league game early in the season between two talented teams.

“We’ve got the toughest league in Western New York. I’ll put our league up against anyone,” Bertrando said. “… When you bring in the defending B2 sectional champion, with a lot of the pieces that they had last year that are now better, that makes it a no-night-off league.”