Blue Devils turn back Eagles rally

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 January 2019 at 10:09 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s John Rath drives in for a basket against Attica defender Marco Magarelli during the host Eagles loss to the Blue Devils this evening.

A big second half comeback bid fell short as Kendall dropped a 67-55 decision to visiting Attica this evening in a Genesee Region League game.

Dawson Nelson scored 20, Devon Henderson, 13 and Marco Magarelli 11 to lead the offense for Attica.

John Rath took game high honors for Kendall with 21 as Nate Warters added 16 and Derek Edick 12.

Kendall’s Nicholas Spellan drives by Attica defender Ayden Goll.

Up 14-8 after one period and still by only six, 22-16, three minutes into the second period, Attica closed the stanza with a big 14-2 run to open up what looked to be a commanding 18 point, 36-18 half-time advantage.

Henderson scored 7 and Nelson and Magarelli 5 each to spark the Blue Devils in the second period.

However, Kendall came battling back putting together a 21-11 third period scoring edge to to cut the deficit to eight, 47-39, at the three-quarter mark.

Rath scored 10 to lead that uprising including back-to-back threes to ignite it and a three-point play to close it. Warters and Edick both added 4 points in the stanza.

Keeping the momentum, the Eagles then used a  14-7 scoring burst to open the final period slicing the deficit to just one at 54-53 with four minutes to go.

Rath had a three and four free throws, Edick a three and a jumper and Warters a layup off a steal to key that rally.

However, the Eagles could not pull even as the Blue Devils answered with a key 9-0 run, including 6 by Nelson and a three by Magarelli, to regain command by 10 at 63-53  and put a lock on the win.