Blue Devils down Purple Eagles in semis

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kory Reynolds puts up a shot over Batavia’s Antwan Odom during the Purple Eagles loss to the Blue Devils this evening in the semifinals of the Batavia Lions Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.

Moving on top to stay with a second period scoring burst, Batavia went on to defeat Albion 60-43 this evening in the opening round of the Batavia Lions Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.

Trailing 21-17 early in the second period, Batavia closed the stanza with a key 9-0 run, including 6 by Antwan Odom, to regain the lead for good by a 26-21 margin at the half.

Albion’s Chase Hall goes up over Batavia’s Andrew Francis for a shot.

The Blue Devils then used a 15-7 third period scoring edge to extend the lead to 13, 41-28, at the three-quarter mark. Tee Sean Ayala had two threes and Odom three baskets to lead that uprising.

Batavia went on to lead by as much as 21, 57-36, in the final period.

Ayala finished with a game high 21 on 7 threes as Odom added 16.

Lamar Chambers scored 19 and Kory Reynolds 16 to spark Albion as Tanner Ferris added 4 and Chase Hall and Demetrius Gardner 2 each.

Batavia jumped out to an 11-4 lead at the outset as Ayala had three quick threes.

Albion though answered back with a 10-0 run, including back-to-back threes and a layup off a steal by Chambers, to take the lead for the first time at 14-11.

Reynolds tallied 9 and Chambers 8 to account for all of Albion’s scoring in the period which finished deadlocked at 17-17.

The Purple Eagles regained the lead for what proved to be the last time at 21-17 at the outset of the second period after a jumper by Reynolds and a layup off a steal by Chambers.

However, the Blue Devils countered with a 9-0 run to close the period and regain the lead for good 26-21 at the half.

Batavia will now face city rival Notre Dame in the championship game at 8 p.m. Thursday while Albion will take on Niagara-Orleans League foe Roy-Hart in the consolation contest at 6:30 p.m. Notre Dame downed Roy-Hart 47-41 in the other semifinal.

Albion’s JaQuess Harrison drives against Batavia defender Alesso LaRock.