Bulldogs hold off big Mustangs rally
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Luey Castro tries to drive between Medina defenders Christian Moss (24) and Cole Callard (13) during the Bulldogs win over the host Mustangs this evening.
Holding off a huge comeback bid, Barker held on for a 64-58 win over host Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.
Trailing by as many as 25 (48-23) early in the second half, Medina battled back to tie the game with two minutes remaining at 58-58 but the last six points and the win belonged to Barker.
A three by Donovan Hefferon put Barker back on top to stay at 61-58. Two free throws by Owen Harris and one by Hefferon then finally put a lock on the win for the Bulldogs.
Barker’s Iron Man Five nearly had all five players hit double figures as Logan Murrell finished with 19, Luey Castro 15, Harris 11, Aidan Mescall 10 and Hefferon 9.
Justin Pitts scored 17 and Trevon Shine and Jerrell Nealy both netted 12 to lead Medina as Cole Callard added 6, Roosevelt Mitchell 3 and Jack Cecchini, Christian Moss, Preston Woodworth and Elijah Doxey 2 each.
Barker jumped out to a 20-11 first quarter lead as Murrell scored 8, including two threes and Castro 6 as Harris and Mescall each chipped in with a three.
The Bulldogs upped the advantage to 17, 40-23, at the half as Murrell tallied 8, including two more threes while Mescall and Harris both chipped in with a three.
In all the Bulldogs hit a total of 12 threes on the evening and the Mustangs 9.
Barker boosted its advantage to 25, 48-23, at the outset of the third period after an 8-0 run which included threes by Harris and Murrell and a two by Mescall.
However, Medina came storming back.
The Mustangs closed the third period with a 17-5 run to cut the deficit to 13, 53-40. Nealy scored eight and Shine hit a pair of threes to key that run.
Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs then outscored the Bulldogs 18-5 over the first six minutes of the final period to rally into a 58-58 tie.
A three by Callard capped off that big uprising which also included two threes and a pair of twos by Pitts and a three by Shine.
The Mustangs though could not take the lead as the Bulldogs moved back on top to stay at 61-58 on a big three by Hefferon. Harris followed up with two clutch free throws and Hefferon one to close out the win and avenge an early season 59-55 home court loss.
Barker is now 5-6 and Medina 3-8 in N-O action.
Barker’s Aidan Mescall looks to pass as Elijah Doxey defends for Medina.
Akron 65, Newfane 53.
Akron claimed a share of the N-O title by downing visiting Newfane 65-53 as the Tigers and Panthers finish the league season as co-champions with identical 11-1 records.
Blake Gerstung scored 14, Ben Gerstung and Trace Hill 13, Brale Abrams 11 and Brayden Lamont 9.
Ben Dickinson scored 15 and Landon Braman 11 for Newfane.
The N-O title is the first for Akron since the Tigers shared the crown with Medina during the 2008-09 season at 13-1.
It is the second title in a row for Newfane as the Panthers claimed the crown outright last season with a 12-0 record.
Roy-Hart 51, Albion 48
Celebrating Senior Night, Roy-Hart nipped visiting Albion 51-48 in another N-O contest.
Two free throws by Rem Albee with five seconds to go helped to lock up the win for the Rams.
Dan Aquilina scored a game high 20 to lead Roy-Hart which improves to 5-6 in N-O action.
Isaiah Riley scored 14 and Kyle Radder and Blake Preston each added 9 for Albion which finishes the N-O season at 2-10.
Medina’s Cam Kenward drives against Barker’s Donovan Hefferon.