Panthers post key N-O win over Mustangs

Medina’s chances to repeat as Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball champions took a big hit this evening as Newfane posted a 59-42 victory over the visiting Mustangs.

The victory puts Newfane in sole possession of second place at 6-3 jut a half game behind front-running 6-2 Roy-Hart as Medina drops to 6-4 and two games off the pace in the loss column with just two games remaining.

Evan Myers scored 16, Brady Harrington 14 and Landon Braman 10 to lead the way for Newfane.

Joe Cecchini tallied a game high 17 and Jarin Rhim had 11 to pace Medina.

Deadlocked at 11-11 at the end of the first period, Newfane took a slender 20-18 lead at the half.

Cecchini scored 11, including three threes in the half to keep Medina close.

Newfane went up by as many as 13 (33-20) midway through the third period and maintained a 10 point, 38-28, advantage at the three-quarter mark.

Myers scored 7 and Harrington 6 in the third period for the Panthers while Rhim netted 7 for the Mustangs.

Medina did open the final period with a 9-2 run on two layups by Anthony Bowman, a three by Cecchini and a jumper by Robert Arnold to slice the deficit to just three, 40-37, with 4:30 remaining but the Mustangs could get no closer.

The Panthers answered the challenge by putting together a decisive 19-3 run to close the game as six players contributed to that scoring burst.

N-O Standings: Roy-Hart 6-2, Newfane 6-3, Medina 6-4, Barker 4-5, Wilson 4-6, Akron 3-5, Albion 2-6