Huskies oust Mustangs in Class B1 semifinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 February 2018 at 11:21 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jalin Cooper puts up a shot over Olean’s Jack Dwaileebe during the Mustangs loss to the Huskies in the Class B1 semifinal this evening at Buffalo State College. Cooper scored 18 on the night to become the Mustangs single season scoring leader with 468 points.

Unable to rebound from a disastrous opening period, No. 3 seed Medina dropped a 59-45 decision to No. 2 Olean in the semifinal round of Section VI Class B1 boys basketball tournament this evening at Buffalo State College.

Mike Schmidt poured in a game high 26 points, including 11 in the decisive opening stanza, to set the pace for Olean as Matt Droney added 10 and Josh Bihler and Alex Weakfall 9 each.

Medina’s Nate Sherman puts up a shot as Olean’s Matt Droney tries to block.

Jalin Cooper led Medina with 18 to become the Mustangs all-time single season scoring leader. He hit a three to close the third period to break the old record of 458 which he shared with Jim Snyder (1987-89 seasons). He finishes the season with 468 points. He also finishes his career with a school record of 1,383 points.

Brian Fry added 11 for the Mustangs as Izaiah Rhim had 8, Mason Lewis and Nate Sherman 3 and Tyler Chinn 2.

Plagued by a costly combination of 7 turnovers and 0 for 12 shooting from the field, Medina fell behind 18-0 at the outset and never recovered. The Mustangs avoided a shutout quarter as Cooper hit a three at the buzzer.

Threes by Lewis and Fry, along with a jumper by Cooper, did pull Medina back to within nine, 20-11 midway through the second quarter but the Mustangs would get no closer.

Olean closed the period with an 8-3 run, including four by Droney, to move back out to a 14 point, 28-14, advantage at the half.

The Huskies extended the lead to as much as 21, 41-20, with 3:30 to go in the third period after a 9-0 run including a 3 and a 2 by Weakfall.

Threes by Rhim and Cooper did keep Medina within 12, 45-33, at the three-quarter mark but Olean wasted no time in putting the lead back up to 17, 50-33, at the outset of the final period as Droney had a layup and a rebound bucket. The Huskies went on to lead by as much as 20, 57-37, with 3:20 to go in the contest.

Improving to 21-1, Olean next faces No. 4 Newfane for the B1 title at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at Buffalo State.

Medina finishes the season at 11-11.

Medina’s Izaiah Rhim looks to drive by Olean’s Matt Droney.