Albion cagers outlast Oracle

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Clayton Stanton (31) puts up a shot over Darius Embry (3) of Oracle during the host Purple Eagles victory over the Phoenix this evening.

Surviving a bit of a scare down the stretch, Albion posted an 81-72 victory over visiting Oracle of Buffalo this evening in a non league game.

Up by 18, 61-43, at the outset of the fourth quarter, Albion saw Oracle erupt for a turnover aided 18-2 scoring burst to rally back to within two at 63-61 with three and a half minutes to go. Kenneth White tallied 8 and Jemel Woods 4 to lead the Phoenix surge.

However, Albion answered that challenge with a clutch 18-11 scoring surge to close out the game and lock up the win.

A pair of layups by Des Blackmon ignited that rally. Clayton Stanton followed up with two big rebound buckets and a pair of layups and Kory Reynolds a layup to more than offset two threes and a jumper by Oracle’s Woods. A layup off a steal by Manny Thompson then capped off the decisive rally giving the Purple Eagles a 79-69 lead.

Stanton finished with 22, Blackmon 13, Gary Moore 12 and Alex Bison 11, Austin Loyd added 7, Thompson 5, Manwell Taylor and Reynolds 4 each and Brady Meakin 3 for the Purple Eagles.

White took game high honors with 23 and Woods tallied 18 for Oracle.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Austin Loyd (2) puts up a shot over Shaker Bridges (1) of Oracle.

Albion jumped out to a 24-17 first quarter lead as Moore netted 7 and Blackmon and Bison 6 each. Blackmon had two threes during that stretch and Meakin one at the buzzer.

The Purple Eagles maintained a 38-34 lead at the half on a late layup by Taylor and a three-point play by Stanton.

Albion then put together a big 23-9 third period scoring surge to open up what looked to be a commanding 18 point, 61-43, advantage.

The Purple Eagles got point product from seven different players during that stretch including 7 by Stanton, 4 by Moore, 3 each by Bison and Blackmon and 2 each by Loyd, Reynolds and Taylor.

However, Oracle put together a big 18-3 run to open the final period and make the stretch run exciting.

Improving to 2-1, Albion next visits Wilson Friday to open the Niagara-Orleans League season.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Gary Moore (15) goes for a rebound against Shaker Bridges (1) of Oracle.

Oakfield-Alabama 75, Barker 50
Jumping out to a 27-12 first quarter lead, Oakfield-Alabama went on to defeat visiting Barker 75-50 in a non league game.

Christopher Sweeney had 21 points and Tom Callaghan 11 for Barker which trailed 43-24 at the half.

Barker next hosts Akron Friday to open the N-O season.