Medina trims Barker; Akron downs Albion in N-O League basketball openers

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Preston Woodworth tries to put up a shot between Barker defenders JJ Prynn and Donovan Hefferon during the Mustangs league opening win over the host Bulldogs this evening.

Moving on top to stay with a big second quarter scoring burst, Medina went on to edge host Barker 70-66 in a season opening Niagara-Orleans League basketball game this evening.

Jerrell Nealy and Preston Woodworth each scored 22 to lead the Medina attack as Christian Moss added 9, Jimmy Dieter 5, Carlos Doval 4, Bryan Santiago-Bautista and Hadrian Batista 3 each and Avion Johnson 2.

Anthony Taliaferro took game high honors with 26 for Barker as Peyton Wagner tallied 12, Carter DerSarkissian 11, Donovan Hefferon 9 and JJ Prynn 8.

Taliaferro scored 8 in the opening quarter to help Barker jump out to a 15-10 lead.

However, Medina answered back with a big 26-12 surge in the decisive second period to rally into a 36-27 halt-time advantage.

Nealy had three threes, Woodworth a three, a three-point play and a basket and Moss two baskets and a three-point play to lead that Mustangs uprising.

Barker though battled back to within four, 49-45, at the end of the third period.

All five starters contributed baskets to that Bulldogs rally including a two and a three by DerSarkissian and a pair of baskets by both Wagner and Prynn.

Medina’s Carlos Doval drives to the basket against Barker’s Carson Schwab.

Nealy and Woodworth both hit threes for the Mustangs during that stretch.

Back-to-back threes by Woodworth quickly put Medina back up by 10, 55-45, at the outset of the final period and Barker could get no closer than three after that.

A three by Taliaferro pulled Barker to within three at 57-54 early in the period but Medina answered back with a free throw by Batista and a basket by Nealy to quickly go back up by six, 60-54.

Late in the period a three point play by Wagner pulled the Bulldogs again to within three at 68-65 but the Mustangs answered with free throws by Dieter and Woodworth to lock up the win.

Akron 81, Albion 66
Akron opened defense of its N-O title with an 81-66 win over visiting Albion as Blake Gerstung scored a game high 29, Derren Brooks 21, Brodie Hill 12 and Ben Gerstung 10.

Tyler Cody scored 25, Elijah Doxey 17, Wesley Olles 12 and Josh Schoeberlein 9 for Albion which trailed 33-24 at the half.

Barker’s Anthony Taliaferro goes to the basket against Medina’s Preston Woodworth.