Bulldogs hold off Purple Eagles late rally

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Luey Castro drives to the basket against Albion’s Kyle Radder during the Bulldogs win over the host Purple Eagles this evening.

A big fourth quarter comeback bid fell just short as Albion dropped a narrow 54-49 decision to visiting Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.

Trailing by 19, 52-33, after three quarters, Albion got right back into the game by erupting for a huge 16-0 scoring surge over the first seven minutes of the final period.

The Purple Eagles got threes from Wesley Olles and Kyle Radder along with a three-point play by John Eibl and baskets by Tyler Cody, Blake Preston and Isaiah Riley to slice the deficit to just three, 52-49, with 49 seconds to go.

However, the Purple Eagles could get no closer as the Bulldogs finally put a lock on the win on two clutch free throws by Logan Murrell with four seconds remaining.

Barker also got off to a fast start racing out to a 19-10 first quarter lead as Luey Castro scored 12 and Murrell 7.

Castro tacked on 8 more points and Murrell 6 in the second period as Barker increased its advantage to 20, 37-17, at the half.

The Bulldogs maintained a 19 point, 52-33, lead at the thee-quarter mark, a lead which proved to be just enough to hold off the Purple Eagles dramatic fourth quarter comeback bid.

Castro finished with 25 and Murrell 21 to set the pace for Barker. Aidan Mescall, Isaac Monaco, Owen Harris and Donovan Hefferon each chipped in with 2.

Olles and Preston both scored 10 to lead Albion as, Cody had 8, Rader and Brody Vercruysse 6, Eibl 5 and Seth Krenning and Riley 2 each.

In avenging a slender one point, 57-56, home court loss earlier in the season, Barker improves to 3-6 in N-O action as Albion slips to 1-8.

Logan Murrell goes in for a layup for Barker ahead of Albion defender Tyler Cody.

Albion’s Brody Vercruysse makes a pass over the head of Barker’s Luey Castro.