Albion girls edge past rival Medina

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Leah Pawlak, who had the game winning three, puts up a shot here ahead of Medina defender Caliyah St. Louis. The host Purple Eagles scored a narrow 55-53 win.

Staying in the thick of the league title chase, Albion nipped visiting rival Medina 55-53 in a key Niagara-Orleans girls basketball game this evening.

Trailing 53-52, Albion rallied to claim the slender victory in dramatic fashion on a clutch three by Leah Pawlak with 26 seconds remaining.

Albion improves to 4-1 heading into Friday’s key contest at undefeated (4-0) defending champion Wilson.

Melia Prince scored 15, Pawlak 13 and Jocelyn Friedl 12 to lead Albion’s balanced attack as Aailyah Jones added 9, Brianna Lewis 4 and Semaj Miller 2.

Caliyah St. Louis took game high honors for Medina with 20 as Alexa Demmer added 15, Sam Heschke 10, Emberlyn Oakes 4 and Autumn Cornelius and Harmoni Wilson 2 each.

Albion jumped out to a 14-8 lead at the outset as Pawlak scored 6 and Friedl 4.

Medina though answered with an 18-1 run to close the period and rally into an 11 point, 26-15 advantage. St. Louis had 7 and Heschke 6 to lead that rally.

The Mustangs maintained a six point, 33-27, lead at the half but the Purple Eagles came battling back in the third quarter with 15-6 scoring edge to regain a 42-39 lead. Friedl scored 6 as Prince and Pawlak both tallied 4 to lead that comeback.

That set the stage for a decisive sea-saw fourth quarter.

Medina pulled back into a 44-44 tie on a three by St. Louis but Albion answered with a 6-0 run including two baskets by Jones and one by Prince to go back up 50-44 with 3:30 remaining.

The Mustangs in turn answered back with a 9-0 run to regain the lead for what proved to be the last time at 53-50. Demmer had two baskets and a three and Wilson a basket to key that rally.

The last rally and the win though belonged to the Purple Eagles.

Two pressure free throws by Prince pulled Albion to within one at 53-52 and Pawlak followed up with the dramatic game winning three.

Medina is now 1-3 in N-O action heading into Friday’s home game against Akron at 5 p.m.

Akron 52, Roy-Hart 39
Clara Bogdan scored 14, Abby Gerstung 12 and Olivia Novak 10 to lead Akron past Roy-Hart 52-39.

Adella Dukes scored a game high 22 and Millie Owens added 9 for Roy-Hart.

Newfane 54, Barker 33
Newfane earned its first N-O win by downing Barker 54-33.

Emma Johnston led Newfane with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Elise Monaco led Barker with 14 points.

N-O Standings: Wilson 4-0, Albion 4-1, Akron 3-1, Roy-Hart 2-2, Medina 1-3, Newfane 1-3, Barker 0-5.

Medina’s Alexa Demmer puts up a shot against Albion defender Aaliyah Jones.

Albion’s Melia Prince grabs a rebound from the Medina duo of Roswyn Oakes and Tatianna Maxon (21).