Barker girls nip Medina for first N-O victory

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Elise Monaco puts up a shot against Medina defenders Harmoni Wilson and Emberlyn Oakes during the host Lady Bulldogs narrow win over the Mustangs this afternoon.

Snapping a season long 10 league game losing streak, Barker nipped visiting Medina 56-54 in a foul filled Niagara-Orleans girls basketball make-up game this afternoon.

The two teams combined for a whopping 59 free throw attempts.

Barker claimed that elusive first N-O win as Elise Monaco made two pressure free throws with seven seconds remaining to snap a 54-54 deadlock.

Trailing 54-51, the Lady Bulldogs had rallied into the tie after a basket by Monaco and a free throw by Hailey Dodge with 35 seconds remaining.

Monaco finished with a game high 26 points, including 12 of 14 from the free throw line, and Cheyanne Rouse scored 17, including three threes to lead the Lady Bulldogs.  Charlotte Haag added 5 and Dodge and Kaylee Stoll 4 each.

Tatianna Maxon scored 14 and Alexa Demmer 12, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line, to lead Medina as Caliyah St. Louis added 9, Emberlyn Oakes 7, Harmoni Wilson 6, Roswyn Oakes 4 and Autumn Cornelus 2.

Cheyanne Rouse puts up a shot for Medina as Madison Zeiner defends for Medina.

Barker grabbed a slender 15-14 lead at the end of the first period as Monaco scored seven and Rouse and Dodge both hit threes in the early going.

Medina rallied into a narrow 33-30 lead at the half as Maxon scored 6, Demmer 4 and St. Louis hit a three.

Rouse had a big quarter for Barker scoring 10 points including two threes and a three-point play.

The Mustangs maintained a 44-40 lead at the three quarter mark as Demmer and Maxon both scored four in the third period. Monaco had six for the Lady Bulldogs.

Medina’s Autumn Cornelius tries to knock the ball away from Barker’s Hailey Dodge.

Medina maintained a narrow 51-47 lead late in the decisive final period but Barker rallied back into a 51-51 tie with 1:40 remaining after baskets by Stoll and Rouse.

The Mustangs answered with one free throw by St. Louis and two by Wilson to regain the lead for what proved to be the last time at 54-51.

That set the stage for Barker’s decisive rally as a basket by Monaco and a free throw by Dodge knotted the score at 54-54 and Monaco followed up with the two game winning free throws.

In the other N-O make-up contest, Akron knocked defending champion Wilson from the ranks of the unbeaten 46-38.

N-O Standings: Wilson 9-1, Akron 8-2, Albion 7-4, Roy-Hart 5-5, Medina 4-6, Newfane 2-8, Barker 1-10.

Medina’s Tatianna Maxon looks to put up a shot as Cheyanne Rouse (32) and Peyton Bradley defend for Barker.