High school notes: East Aurora boys soccer coach Kevin Beale honored

News staff report

Coming off the Class B state championship, East Aurora boys soccer coach Kevin Beale has been named the small schools regional coach of the year by the United Soccer Coaches association.

Beale was named the New York small schools coach of the year and then beat out coaches from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island for the regional honors and is now a nominee for the national honors that will be announced in mid-December.

Beale led his team to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B championship with a 2-1 victory against Spackenkill in the state final.

East Aurora (22-0-1) earned its first state title in three trips to the final. The other trips were in 2008 and 2015.

The Blue Devils became only the fourth Section VI team to win a boys soccer championship. Holland (Class C co-champions in 1982), North Collins (Class D in 1994) and International Prep (Class D in 2014) also won state titles.

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Beale has led his teams to 14 sectional titles, four Far West Regional titles and more than 400 wins in his 27 seasons. He surpassed 400 career victories early in the season.

NT needs football coach

Ben Bunker will not be renewed to return for a fourth season as North Tonawanda’s football coach, he announced on social media, citing what he was told was a lack of “care” and “support” for the program.

Bunker had a record of 5-23 at his alma mater. He is a 2009 graduate.

“Anybody that knows me, knows that could not be farther from the truth,” Bunker wrote in the post. “And I’ve sacrificed time away from family to be with these student-athletes throughout a year-round program, all while navigating the first year of being a parent. I guess I did not show my care for a group I considered my second family well enough.”

BSN Sports Showcase

BSN Sports has been added as title sponsor to the highly anticipated Private vs. Public Showcase in girls basketball Dec. 23 at St. Mary’s in Lancaster.

The schedule features four games, Lewiston-Porter vs. Nichols at 11 a.m.; Randolph vs. Sacred Heart at 1 p.m.; Southwestern vs. St. Mary’s at 3 p.m.; and defending Monsignor Martin champion Nichols against Lancaster, which won the Class AA title last season and plays in Class AAA this season.

Buffalo Sciences ends skid

After an 0-15 season, the Buffalo Science girls basketball team opened the 2023-24 campaign with a 44-7 victory against International Prep this week.

Chyna White had 16 points and Brionna Bevill posted 10 points and 12 rebounds.

It was the Wolverines’ first victory since Jan. 20, 2022.

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