By Sidney Ziemendorf
Our Thunderwolves basketball teams each had an explosive start to their seasons. Our women’s team is currently 7-4, starting off their season with a huge win over Division II Lackawanna College. With their first region win against Corning Community College, Azriel Hall scored 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting along with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Sophomore Ava Bull added 22 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. The Wolves have a small but mighty roster this year with only ten players. With only three returners from the previous season, they continue to lead the charge as the Thunderwolves take on one of their toughest schedules yet.
According to our school’s website, Maleik Agee was named the 13th head women’s basketball coach in program history on June 12, 2025. Agee now leads the Thunderwolves after spending the last three years as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s basketball programs concurrently. He continues to be a trusted voice in the locker room as he helps his team fight to head back to nationals.
Meanwhile, the men’s team is 6-4, also starting off their season with a win over Lackawanna College in their annual SUNY Niagara Tip-Off Classic. This season, their roster is made up of thirteen players, with only one returner from last year’s squad, Chioke Marshall. Head Coach
Bill Beilein will be going into his 17th year coaching the Wolves. His teams have made the Region III Div. II Final Four on 14 occasions, culminating in five regional championships.
Beilein has high hopes for the rest of their season, but there will be some barriers to break through if they want to give themselves the chance to go back to nationals.
“The team has been going through the process,” said Beilein. “This year’s team is figuring each other out. The process of teaching, implementing, and getting results takes time. While the student-athletes are putting all these things together, they have also been very tested with this year’s schedule, maybe the hardest schedule we have ever had.” He continued to speak on how these experiences will lead to a very battle-tested team.
Each team needs a focus, something to work toward. With such success in previous seasons, there is an expectation and pressure that comes with playing each game. The main goal is to ultimately go undefeated in league play, according to Coach Beilein. “Our focus now is to win our five remaining games, maintain our roster academically into next semester, and then carry on growing from what we have been through.”
Many of our men’s players stand out this season. In the Wolves’ 117-58 win over Corning Community College, Jacob Humphrey scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and drilled three of the team’s nine 3-pointers. SUNY Niagara shot 49-84 (58.3%) from the field,
outrebounded the Red Barons 59-29, and recorded 72 of its points in the paint. The Thunderwolves also had 59 points off the bench.
Our women’s and men’s basketball teams continue to work toward their chance at nationals for the 2025–2026 season.
Spring 2026 
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