Albion girls win low scoring season opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Honesty Little puts up a shot against Alden defenders Shelby Kersten (33) and Grace Pastuszynski (23) during the Purple Eagles season opening win over the visiting Lady Builldogs this evening.

Surviving three ice cold shooting quarters, Albion downed visiting Alden 20-16 this evening in a non league season opening girls basketball game.

Albion jumped out to an 11-3 first quarter lead but managed a total of just 9 more points the rest of the way on three field goals and three free throws.

Albion’s Brylie Hapeman looks to pass around Alden defenders Emerson Bartsch (20) and Allie Petschke (1).

Brylie Hapeman, Sarah Gregori and Lexi Wolck each scored 5 points for Albion as Paige Derisley and Honesty Little both added 2 and Tess Pettit 1.

Shelby Kersten led Alden with 5 points.

A layup and a three by Hapeman along with layups by Gregori, Wolck and Little sparked Albion out to the 11-3 first quarter lead.

However, the lid went on the basket the rest of the way for the Purple Eagles.

Second period field goals by Gregori and Derisley were enough to keep Albion up 15-8 at the half.

A layup by Wolck three minutes into the third quarter proved to be the Purple Eagles only field goal of the period but it was enough to keep Albion up 19-14 at the three-quarter mark.

Alden did cut the deficit to 20-16 early in the final stanza but could not score again as the Purple Eagles held on for the narrow win despite going 0 for 19 from the field in the final stanza.

Albion next visits Elba at 7 p.m. Friday in another non league contest.

Albion’s Paige Derisley drives around Alden’s Haley Tyburski.