Purple Eagles edge rival Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kenzi Snook grabs a rebound from the Medina duo of Alexa Demmer (22) and Tatianna Maxon (21) during the Purple Eagles home court win over the rival Mustangs this evening.

Avenging an earlier season road loss, Albion downed visiting rival Medina 61-57 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening.

Cami London scored 17 and Leah Pawlak 10 to lead the way for Albion. Kenzi Snook, Julia Knight and Aaliyah Jones each chipped in with 8, Melia Prince 7 and Paige Newton 3.

Alexa Demmer took game high honors with 22 and Honesty Hill had 19 to pace Medina as Ariel Smith added 9, Tatianna Maxon 4 and Sam Heschke 3.

Medina’s Honesty Hill tries to put up a shot as Cami London tries for a block for Albion.

Medina grabbed a slender 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter on a three at the buzzer by Hill who had a total of 8 in the stanza. London netted 7 for Albion during that stretch.

The Purple Eagles answered with a 20-17 second period scoring edge to rally into a narrow 34-33 lead at the half. London scored 10, including a pair of threes, to lead that uprising which also included a pair of baskets by both Snook and Prince.

Hill had two threes and a two, Smith a three and a two and Demmer a three-point play in the period to keep the Mustangs close.

The tight contest was deadlocked at 47-47 at the end of the third period.

Jones hit two threes and Pawlak had a two and a three late to spark the Purple Eagles in the period while Demmer had 9 for the Mustangs.

Medina regained the lead for what proved to be the last time at 49-47 at the outset of the final period on a basket by Smith.

However, Albion answered right back with a key 7-0 run on a three by Pawlak followed by baskets by Jones and Snook to regain the lead for good at 54-49.

A three and a two by Demmer did pull Medina back to within one at 55-54 but the Mustangs could not pull even.

Albion finally put a lock on the win as one basket by Prince and two by Knight put the Purple Eagles back up by six, 61-55, in the final seconds.

Albion improves to 3-7 and Medina slips to 2-8 in N-O action.

Albion’s Melia Prince puts up a shot surrounded by the Medina trio of Sam Heschke, Roswyn Oakes and Honesty Hill. Moving in on the play for Albion is Julia Knight.