Albion girls edge Maryvale in B1 opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 25 February 2020 at 10:04 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertmn – Albion’s Honesty Little goes up for a shot between Maryvale defenders Alana Falter and Christie McGee-Ross during the host Purple Eagles sectional win over the Flyers this evening.

A late scoring burst earned No. 8 Albion a 53-45 win over visiting No. 9 Maryvale this evening in the opening round of the Section VI Class B1 girls basketball playoffs.

Leading 46-43, Albion outscored Maryvale 7-2 in the final half minute to claim the win.

A free throw and a layup off a steal by Kendall Derisley ignited that late surge and Aly Knaak followed up with a pair of free throws and a layup to lock up the victory. Knaak had a total of 8 points in the decisive final stanza.

Aly Knaak puts up a shot for Albion.

Paige Derisley finished with 17 (click here to see Paige make a 3 point shot), Honesty Little 14 and Aly Knaak 10 for Albion as Kendall Derisley added 8 and Ryan Olles and Maya Knaak 2 each.

Christie McGee-Ross took game high honors with 30 for Maryvale.

Albion grabbed a narrow 13-11 lead at the end of the opening period as Paige Derisley had a three and a jumper, Kendall Derisley a three, Little a rebound bucket and Aly Knaak a layup.

The Purple Eagles maintained a 25-20 lead at the half as Paige Derisley hit two late threes.

Little then had a big 9 point third period, including two rebound baskets and a thee-point play, to help keep Albion up by five, 38-33, at the three-quarter mark.

Two layups by Aly Knaak and one each by Little and Paige Derisley kept Albion up by six, 46-40, late in the final period.

Tallies by McGee-Ross and Alana Falter pulled Maryvale back to within three, 46-43, but the Flyers could get no closer.

Albion turned back the challenge as a free throw and layup off a steal by Kendall Derisley gave the Purple Eagles a little breaking room and two free throws and a layup by Aly Knaak closed out the win.

Albion, which improves to 8-12, next visits undefeated (20-0) top seeded City Honors in the quarterfinals on Friday.

In a Class B2 opener, No. 7 Buffalo Arts downed No. 10 Roy-Hart 50-37.