Both Lake Shore and Hamburg moved on to Class A semifinals after playoff-opening home court wins on Saturday (Feb. 23) afternoon.

In Class A-1, top-seeded Hamburg defeated Sweet Home 52-36 behind 19 points from junior forward Kendra Quinn-Moultrie. Fellow forward Taylor Wolf, a third-year varsity senior, added 11 points. Junior guards Kaley Reardon and Ally Salerno contributed nine points and six points, respectively.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 18-1 on the season, move on to meet Williamsville East for a third time this season in a semifinal on Wednesday (Feb. 27) 8 p.m. at Clarence. A win would get Hamburg back to the finals Saturday, March 2 at Niagara County Community College in a possible rematch with Section VI champion Grand Island.

Senior leaders Miranda Aikin and Michaela Stepniak led Lake Shore in a 47-31 win over Amherst in Class A-2. Aikin finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, while Stepniak added six points, eight rebounds, four steals. The guards only turned the ball over three times between the two.

Also enjoying a big game for second-seeded Lake Shore was sophomore Melanie Linsmair, who finished with 15 points, 11 of coming at the foul line. Alie Jimerson and Shayla Scanlan also gave the Eagles solid minutes. Jimerson was relentless on defense for the Eagles, and Scanlan was tough on the boards. Sophomore Darian Evans and Lindsay Gearhat continued to play tough under the basket.

The Eagles play Cheetowaga in the semifinals on Wednesday (Feb. 27) 6 p.m. at Kenmore West for the right to move on to the championship game in A-2 on Saturday, March 2 at NCCC. Lake Shore could potentially meet Hamburg in the Class A cross-over final on Tuesday, March 5 at NCCC.

Section VI Girls Playoffs Schedule/Results

Class B-1 Pre-Quarterfinal (Tues., Feb. 19)

8-Eden 40, 9-Burgard 27

Class AA Pre-Quarterfinal (Thurs., Feb. 21)

7-Frontier 53, 10-Clarence 41

Class D Pre-Quarterfinal (Thur., Feb. 21)

8-Forestville 49, 9-North Collins 17

Class A-1 Quarterfinals (Sat., Feb. 23)

1-Hamburg 52, 8-Sweet Home 36

Class A-1 Quarterfinal (Sat., Feb. 23)

2-Lake Shore 47, 7-Amherst 31

Class B-1 Quarterfinal (Sat., Feb. 23)

1-Olean 64, 8-Eden 12

Class AA Quarterfinal (Tues., Feb. 26)

2-Lockport 38, 7-Frontier 34

Class A-1 Semifinal (Wed., Feb. 27) at Clarence

1-Hamburg vs 4-Williamsville East

Class A-2 Semifinal (Wed., Feb. 27) at Ken West

2-Lake Shore vs. 6-Cheektowaga

Class A-1, A-2 Final (Sat., March 2) noon/2 p.m. at NCCC