Albion girls edge Akron in N-O opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Melia Prince puts up a shot against Akron defenders Kylie Mangione, Cara Swader and Olivia Novak during the host Purple Eagles narrow N-O League opening win this evening.

Opening the league season in exciting fashion, Albion nipped visiting Akron 54-50 in a Niagara-Orleans contest this evening.

Melia Prince scored 7 and Aaliyah Jones and Madison Muckle both hit threes to lead Albion in the decisive final period as Jocelyn Friedl hit three free throws and Leah Pawlak tallied the clinching basket with four seconds remaining.

Price finished with a game high 16 points as Pawlak added 12, Jones and Muckle both had 9 and Friedl 8.

Clara Bogdan scored 11 and Abby Gerstung 10 to lead Akron as Olivia Novak, Cara Swader and Marissa Brege 7 each, Kenadee Jonathan 4 and Kylie Mangione 2.

Albion jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter led as Pawlak had a three and a two and Muckle a three.

The Purple Eagles maintained an 11 point, 28-17, lead at the half as Prince scored 6 and Muckle hit another three in the second quarter.

Akron though battled back in the third quarter outscoring Albion 18-8 to rally back to within one at 36-35. Brege had 7, including a three, Bogdan two threes and Jonathan a three to lead the Lady Tigers rally.

Late in the final period Prince rattled off five points in a row on two baskets and a free throw to give Albion a 51-46 lead.

Akron though closed the gap to within one, 51-50 in the final minute after a three by Bogdan and a free throw by Gerstung but the Lady Tigers could not pull even.

Friedl gave Albion a little breathing room by making a free throw with 19 seconds remaining. Pawlak then locked up the narrow with with a clutch basket with four seconds remaining.

Wheatland-Chili 40, Holley 27
Wheatland-Chili downed host Holley 40-27 in a Genesee Region League game.

Brynn Thomas scored 8 points, Desiree McCormick 5 and Kyla Burne and Ali VanAmeron 4 each for Holley. Hanna Ostrom also had 5 rebounds and 3 steals, McCormick 7 rebounds, VanAmeron 6 rebounds, Burne 4 steals and Thomas 2 steals.

Wilson 41, Springville 28
Wilson downed Springville 41-28 in a non league game as Abbie Faery scored 18 and Rowan Simpson 8.

Leah Pawlak, shown here putting up a shot against Akron defender Clara Bogdan, had the clinching basket in the final four seconds for the Purple Eagles.

Akron’s Olivia Novak goes to the basket as Melia Prince and Leah Pawlak defend for Albion.