Do You Remember: Albion’s first Section VI basketball championship

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 March 2015 at 12:00 am

Contributed Photo  – Craig Anderson was a key member of Albion’s 1972 Section VI championship squad which nipped Salamanca in overtime to claim the Class B2 title.

Saturday, Albion ended a 43 year sectional title drought by defeating Maryvale 65-57 to capture the Section VI Class B1 championship.

The Purple Eagles first, and only other Section VI title, was earned by even a closer margin when Albion trimmed Salamanca 67-66 in overtime to win the Class B2 championship at Erie Community College in 1972.

It took a driving layup by Vic Hughes with just seven seconds to go in the overtime period to earn Albion the thrilling victory.

The Purple Eagles had pulled to within one on a pair of clutch free throws by Craig Anderson with 20 seconds remaining. Anderson also grabbed off a clutch rebound off a Salamanca missed free throw with 10 seconds to go, and passed to Hughes who raced three-quarters of the court for the game winning layup.

Hughes finished with a total of 19 points, Anderson 17, Dave Stackwick 14, Earl Townsend 8 and Charlie Bond 7.

Salamanca led 32-25 at the half but Albion used a 17-13 third quarter scoring edge to cut the deficit to three, 45-42. The Purple Eagles then outpointed the Warriors 19-16 in the final period to knot the score at 61-61 and send the contest into overtime.

Coach Larry Graham’s Albion squad, which had captured the Niagara-Orleans League title with a perfect 12-0 record, opened sectional competition by defeating Falconer 60-43 in the quarterfinals. Stackwick scored 15 and Hughes 12 to lead the Purple Eagles.

Albion then defeated Alden 76-68 in the semifinals at Buffalo State as Hughes tallied 21, Stackwick 19 and Anderson 16. Stackwick made good on 15 of 18 attempts from the free throw line and Anderson grabbed off 25 rebounds.