Mustangs nip Flyers in home opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jerrell Nealy puts up a shot over Maryvale defender Eric Hayes during the Mustangs narrow win over the visiting Flyers this evening.

Medina’s home opener turned out to be a down to the wire thriller this evening as the Mustangs nipped Maryvale 53-51 in a non league contest.

Trailing 49-48, Medina rallied into the lead at 51-48 on a three by Preston Woodworth with 35 seconds remaining.

However, Maryvale answered with a pair of clutch free throws by Jacob Goins to retie the game at 51-51 with 29 seconds to go.

The Mustangs finally regained the lead for good at 53-51 on a layup by Jerrell Nealy with 12 seconds remaining.

Woodworth then blocked a last second Flyers shot to preserve the narrow win.

Nealy finished with a game high 29 and Woodworth 11 as Christian Moss added 7, Kolton Fletcher 3, Carlos Doval 2 and Hadrian Batista 1 as the Mustangs improve to 5-0.

Goins finished with 18 and Eric Hayes 12 to lead the Flyers which are now 3-1.

Nealy scored 10 quick points in the opening quarter as Medina jumped out to a 15-9 lead.

The Mustangs maintained slender one point, 26-25 lead at the half as Nealy tallied 8 in the second quarter.

Putting together a 13-3 run to open the second half, Maryvale rallied into a nine point, 38-29, advantage midway through the third period sparked by threes by Goins and Kevahni Moore.

Medina though answered back with an 8-0 run to close the period and slice the deficit to just one at 38-37. as Woodworth had a two and a three to key the rally.

The Mustangs pulled even twice late in the final stanza, first at 45-45 on a free throw by Moss and again at 47-47 on a basket by Moss before finally regaining the lead at 51-49 on Woodworth’s third three of the evening.

That set the stage for the hectic final half minute which in rapid succession saw the Flyers retie at game at 51-51, Nealy score what proved to be the game winning basket and Woodworth lock up the victory with a block of a last second Flyers shot.

Medina next returns to Niagara-Orleans League action on Friday hosting Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m.

Medina’s Jayzon Wills drives to the basket against Maryvale’s Jacob Goins.