Mustang cagers trim Rams

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Justin Morgan (3) takes a shot over Roy-Hart defenders Andy Xapsos (0) and Justin Heschke (15) during the Mustangs win over the visiting Rams this evening.

Improving to 3-0, Medina downed visiting Roy-Hart 59-45 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball makeup game.

Justin Morgan poured in a game high 21 points, including five threes in the second half, to spearhead the Medina attack. Jason Hellwig added 11 for the Mustangs as Devonte Howard and Tyler Ames both had 8, David Garrow 6 and Dylan Lewis 5.

Justin Heschke scored 13 and Andy Xapsos 10 for Roy-Hart which slips to 1-2 in N-O action. Ben Maynard added 8, Nelson Andrade 6 and Sam White and Chris Anderson 4 each for the Rams.

Rebound buckets by Heschke, White and Anderson helped Roy-Hart grab a 7-5 lead at the end of a low scoring first quarter.

However, Medina answered back with a 17-10 second period scoring surge to move on top to stay.

Howard had a three and a layup and Garrow a three-point play to highlight that uprising as the Mustangs took a 22-17 lead at the half.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Justin Heshke (15) puts up a shot as Jalin Cooper (1) defends for Medina.

A layup and a three-point play off a rebound bucket by Heschke, followed by a jumper by Xapsos, pulled Roy-Hart back to within one at 25-24 midway through the third period.

Staying close, a jumper by Heschke and a three by Maynard then offset a three-point play by Garrow and a rebound basket by Howard to keep the Rams within two at 31-29.

However, Morgan countered with two big threes to close the period vaulting Medina out to an eight point, 37-29 lead at the three-quarter mark.

The Mustangs extended the advantage to 12 at 43-31 early in the final period after a three-point play by Ames and a three by Morgan.

However, Medina could not put a lock on the victory until the final two minutes.

Roy-Hart battled back to within five at 43-38 with five minutes to play after a three by Maynard, a layup by Andrade and two free throws by Xapsos.

A  jumper by White and free throws by Heschke and Xapsos then helped to offset Medina tallies by Lewis, Hellwig and Morgan to keep Roy-Hart within six at 49-43 with under three minutes to go but that was as close the Rams would get.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Tyler Ames (22) shoots over Roy-Hart’s Chris Anderson (22).

Medina countered with a decisive 8-0 run to finally put a lock on the victory.

Hellwig ignited that surge with a layup. Ames then converted a steal by Morgan into a three-point play off a layup and Morgan followed up with another three to give the Mustangs a 14 point, 57-43 lead with just 1:05 remaining.

Medina next visits Wilson and Roy-Hart travels to Akron on Tuesday.