Lancers edge past Purple Eagles

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 January 2020 at 6:21 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kevin Hillman puts up a shot against Elba defenders Collin O’Halloran and Jaykob Belluscio during the Purple Eagles loss to the host Lancers this afternoon.

A last ditch rally fell just short as Albion dropped a narrow 53-50 decision to host Elba this afternoon in a mid season non league clash between two league front-runners.

Trailing by eight, 45-53, with less than 20 seconds to go Albion came battling back to make the finish exciting.

The Purple Eagles rallied back to within three, 53-50, after a three by Liam Ward with 18 seconds remaining and a layup off a turnover by Chris Shabazz with 10 seconds to go.

However, Albion was unable to capitalize on a couple of late Elba missed free throw opportunities as the Purple Eagles came up empty on their final two trips down the court enabling the Lancers to claim the narrow win.

Elba’s Colton Dillon looks to shoot as Liam Ward and Damion Lattimer defend for Albion.

Colton Dillon scored 19, Jaykob Belluscio 11 and CJ Gottler 9 to spearhead the offense for Elba which currently shares the Genesee Region League Division 2 lead with Lyndonville at 4-1.

Collin O’Halloran and Zach Marscell both added 6 and Jayden Hughes 2 for the Lancers.

Deyonci Farley shared game high honors with 19 for Albion which is currently tied for the Niagara-Orleans League lead with Newfane at 5-0.

Kevin Hillman and Bailey Blanchard both chipped in with 7, Ward 5, Shabazz 4, Anthony Freeman and Eljah Lloyd 3 and Damion Lattimer 2 for the Purple Eagles.

The two teams played to a 12-12 deadlock at the end of the first period as Blanchard hit a tying jumper for Albion at the buzzer.

Elba then put together an 18-12 second period scoring surge highlighted by threes by O’Halloran, Marsceill and Gottler to take a six point, 30-24, lead at the half.

Albion though came battling back with a 15-2 run to open the third period and rally into a seven point, 39-32, lead.

Blanchard had a jumper and a three during that rally which also included threes by Farley and Lloyd and a jumper by Shabazz which capped it off.

However, Elba quickly cut the deficit back to two, 39-37, by scoring the final five points of the period on a three by Gottler and a jumper by Dillon.

The Lancers went up 42-39 at the outset of the final period on another three by Gottler and a layup by Belluscio.

Farley though answered right back for Albion with a jumper and then a three to give the Purple Eagles what proved to be their last lead at 44-42 with 5:45 remaining.

Elba finally regained the lead for good at 53-45 by putting together a decisive 11-1 run which included a three and two layups by Dillon along with a pair of layups by Belluscio.

That eight point lead then proved to be just enough as the Lancers survived the Purple Eagles last ditch rally attempt to gain the slender win.

Girls Basketball
Newfane 45, Medina 33
Building up a 24-11 halftime advantage, Newfane went on to defeat visiting Medina 45-33 this afternoon in an N-O League make-up game.

Hannah Hambruch and Lauren Boudeman each scored 11 and Rachel Chunco 9 to lead the way for Newfane which improves to 4-1 in N-O action.

Nodia Osby scored 9 and Anya Bloom 8 for Medina which slips to 0-5.