Late surge rallies Purple Eagles past Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Seth Krenning puts up a shot against Medina defender Justin Pitts during the Purple Eagles come-from-behind home court victory over the rival Mustangs this evening.

Putting together a big fourth quarter scoring surge, Albion rallied to down rival Medina 50-41 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening at Albion.

Trailing 39-31 at the end of the third quarter, the Purple Eagles came storming back to outscore the Mustangs 19-2 in the decisive final period to claim the victory and avenge an earlier season 64-55 loss at Medina.

Seth Krenning scored 5 points, Blake Preston and Kyle Radder 4 each and Wesley Olles and Isaiah Riley 3 each for the Purple Eagles during that big stretch run. A basket by Preston pulled Albion even at 41-41 with 4:29 remaining and Radder followed up with a bucket with 3:25 to go to put the Purple Eagles on top to stay at 43-41.

Preston finished with 16 and Olles 14 as Radder added 6, Krenning and Riley 5 and Jon Eibl and Tyler Cody 2 each.

Justin Pitts took game high honors with 17 for Medina as Jerrell Nealy added 8, Cole Callard 6, Trevon Shine 5, Preston Woodworth 3 and Roosevelt Mitchell 2.

Preston scored 8, including a pair of threes, in the opening quarter to spark Albion out to a 10-4 lead.

However, the Mustangs answered back with a big 21-6 second quarter scoring edge to rally into a 25-16 half-time advantage, Pitts scored 10, including a pair of threes, to lead the Mustangs during that stretch which also included threes by Shine and Woodworth.

Medina maintained a 39-31 lead at the three-quarter mark as Callard hit two threes and Nealy had a pair of baskets in the third period.

The decisive final stanza though was all Albion as five players contributed to the point production during the Purple Eagles big rally.

Albion, which next hosts Warsaw in a non league contest at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, is now 2-9 in N-O action.

Medina, which next hosts Barker at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, is now 3-7 in N-O action.

Albion’s Isaiah Riley drives to the basket ahead of Medina defender Elijah Doxey.

Newfane 65, Roy-Hart 38
Undefeated (11-0) defending champion Newfane clinched at least a tie for the N-O title by posting a 65-38 win over visiting Roy-Hart.

Nate Snow scored a game high 30 and Landon Braman added 13 to lead the Panthers.

Dan Aquilina was high with 19 for Roy-Hart which slips to 4-6.

Newfane will next visit runner-up Akron (10-1) on Tuesday in the N-O finale for both teams which will determine if the league will have a solo champion or co-champions.

Barker 60, Wilson 44
Luey Castro scored 19 and Logan Murrell 18 on six threes to lead Barker to a 60-44 win over Wilson. Aidan Mescall and Owen Harris both added 8 for the Bulldogs which improve to 4-6 in N-O competition.

Blake Martin scored 16 and Aidan Neumann 15 for Wilson which slips to 3-8.

Medina’s Preston Woodworth goes in for a layup against Albion defender Wesley Olles.