Rams rally late to edge past Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Dan Aquilina battles for a rebound with Medina’s Preston Woodworth (4) and Justin Pitts (5) during the Rams narrow win over the visiting Mustangs this evening.

Snapping a season opening six game losing streak, Roy-Hart put together a clutch closing rally to nip visiting Medina 63-60 in a Niagara-Orleans League game this evening.

Trailing 56-52, Roy-Hart rallied to outscore Medina 11-4 over the final three minutes to claim the narrow win.

Baskets by Brayden Ricker and Dan Aquilina pulled Roy-Hart even at 56-56 with 2:10 remining.

Roy-Hart’s Rem Albee puts up a shot against Medina defender Christian Moss.

A basket by Jerrell Nealy put Medina back up for what proved to be the final time at 58-56 but Ricker quickly pulled the Rams even at 58-58 with a layup at the 1:15 mark.

A bucket by Rem Albee put the Rams up 60-58 with 45 seconds to go but the Mustangs pulled even one last time on a layup by Nealy with 30 seconds remaining.

Roy-Hart finally regained the lead for good at 61-60 on a free throw by Albee with 21 seconds remaining. Albee then tacked on two clutch free throws with nine seconds to go to close out the 63-60 Rams win as the Mustangs could not get off a good final shot.

Aquilina finished with a game high 26 points and Albee 18 to lead the Rams as Ricker added 8, Jayden Swygert 6, Jackson Webber 2 and Jackson West 1.

Nealy led Medina with 25 as Preston Woodworth added 11, Justin Pitts 8, Elijah Doxey 6, Cole Callard and Christian Moss 4 and Trevon Shine 2.

Roy-Hart also got off to a fast start grabbing a 20-13 first quarter lead as Aquilina scored 10 and Albee 7.

Medina though came battling back outscoring Roy-Hart 25-15 in the second quarter to rally into a 38-35 halftime advantage. Nealy scored 12 of his 19 first half points in the quarter and Doxey added 6.

The Mustangs maintained a four point, 50-46, lead at the end of the third quarter as Moss had a pair of baskets and Woodworth and Pitts both hit threes.

Baskets by Callard, Nealy and Woodworth kept Medina up 56-52 midway through the final period but Roy-Hart answered with a decisive 11-4 rally to close the game and earn the victory.

The game was the N-O opener for Medina while Roy-Hart is now 1-1 in league action.

Medina’s Christian Moss puts up a shot over Roy-Hart’s Dan Aquilina and Rem Albee.