Hornets down Mustangs in non league contest

A late comeback bid fell short as Medina dropped an 82-71 decision to host Oakfield-Alabama in a non league boys basketball game this evening.

Trailing by 15, 74-59, with less than three minutes to go Medina put together an 11-1 run to slice the deficit to five, 75-70, with 1:10 remaining. That rally included a two and a three by Preston Woodworth, a layup by Jerrell Nealy and a pair of free throws by Cole Callard.

However, the Mustangs could get no closer as the Hornets closed with a 7-1 run, all from the free throw line, to lock up the win.

Gavin Armbrewster scored 19, Avery Watterson 18, Brady Williams 13, Mason Watterson 9 and John Cianfrini 8 to lead the way for the Hornets which improve to 3-3.

Woodworth took game high honors with 23 for Medina as Nealy had 16, Callard 11, Christian Moss 8, Kolton Fletcher 6, Jayzon Wills 4, Avion Johnson 2 and Gordan Young 1.

Medina did jump out to a 12 point, 18-6, lead at the outset as Woodworth scored 6, Nealy 5, Callard 4 and Fletcher 3.

Oakfield-Alabama though answered with a 13-5 run to close the quarter and slice the Medina lead to four, 23-19.

Keeping the momentum, the Hornets went on to outpoint the Mustangs 18-12 in the second quarter to take a 37-35 half-time lead and 24-15 in the third period to extend the advantage to 11 at 61-50.

Avery Watterson scored 11 for the Hornets over the middle two periods as Mason Watterson had 7, Armbrewster and Williams 6 each and Cianfrini 5.

Keeping rolling, the Hornets built the lead to 15, 74-59 late in the final quarter and then turned back a late Mustangs rally to notch the win.

Now at 1-5, Medina will next host Kenmore East at 12:30 p.m. Monday in a non league make-up game.