Legends outlast Mustangs in triple overtime

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jerrell Nealy puts up a shot against Lancaster defender Brady Majchrowicz during the Mustangs wild triple overtime loss to the visiting Legends this evening.

In a triple overtime thriller, Lancaster outlasted host Medina 104-97 this evening in the Mustangs non league home opener.

Trailing by 10, 69-59, Medina rallied to send the contest into overtime knotted at 71-71 by closing the final period with a key 12-2 run.

A game tying layup by Cole Callard with 18 seconds remaining capped off that decisive rally which also included a basket and a three-point play by Jerrell Nealy, a three by Preston Woodworth and a rebound basket by Christian Moss.

Christian Moss puts up a shot for Medina as Ashton Sikora defends for Lancaster,

The Mustangs then built up an 8 point, 83-75, lead in the first overtime period as Woodworth hit a three and Moss, Jayzon Wills and Kolton Fletcher all chipped in with baskets.

However, the Legends came battling back to close the period with an 8-0 run retying the wild contest at 83-83 and forcing a second overtime. A free throw by Ashton Sikora with only three seconds to go pulled the Legends even.

Scoring slowed down in the second overtime period as each team managed only 5 points. A basket by Nealy pulled Medina even at 88-88 sending the marathon contest into what proved to be a decisive third overtime.

Medina stayed within two, 99-97 in the decisive overtime on baskets by Callard, Wills and Nealy.

Lancaster, which is one of only three Class AAA schools in Section VI,  finally pulled away for good with a 5-0 run to close out the win on three free throws by Sikora and a basket by Ryan Hartwig who had a total of 10 points in the four minute period.

Justin Hartwig finished with a game high 32 for the Legends as Ryan Hartwig had 29 and Sikora 22.

The Mustangs had five players in double figures as Nealy tallied 25, Woodworth 21, Callard 19, Moss 14 and Wills 10. Fletcher also had 5 and Avion Johnson 3.

Medina jumped out to a 17-13 first quarter lead as Woodworth hit two threes and Johnson one as Nealy had a three-point play.

The Mustangs maintained a 7 point, 31-24, lead midway through the second period but Lancaster closed with a big 17-0 run to rally into a 41-31 lead at the half.

Down by 15, 46-31, early in the third period, Medina got back into the game by putting together a big 17-4 run to rally back to within two at 50-48. Woodworth, Callard and Nealy each scored 5 points to lead that rally.

Lancaster though moved back out to a 59-50 lead at the end of the quarter. The Legends maintained a 10 point, 69-59 advantage in the fourth period before the Mustangs came battling back with a clutch 12-2 run to knot the contest at 71-71 sending the contest into what would be a three overtime battle.

Medina will next host Kenmore East in another non league game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Medina’s Kolton Fletcher goes in for a layup as Ashton Sikora defends for Lancaster.