Maryvale ousts Medina in B1 semi

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 March 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jason Hellwig goes between Maryvale defenders Matt Mason (30) and Marcus Ford (14) during the Mustangs loss to the Flyers this evening in the Section VI Class B1 semifinals at Buffalo State College.

Unable to get untracked offensively, No. 3 seed Medina dropped a narrow 46-43 decision to No. 10 Maryvale this evening in the Section VI Class B1 semifinals at Buffalo State College.

Maryvale jumped out to a 13-9 first period lead as Andrew Crombie scored 9 of his game high 15 points during that stretch for the Flyers.

Two threes by Dylan Lewis were Medina’s only baskets during the opening period.

Maryvale maintained a seven point, 27-20, lead at the half and extended the advantage to 12, 34-22, early in the third period after a three by Crombie and a rebound bucket by Mike Kelleher.

Medina though did come battling back with a 13-5 run to cut the deficit to four at 39-35 with 2:40 to go in the period. Back-to-back threes by Justin Morgan capped that uprising which also included a three by Devonte Howard and a rebound bucket by Jalin Cooper.

Medina’s Jalin Cooper (1) tries to shoot over Maryvale’s Matt Mason (30).

Medina stayed within seven, 44-37, at the three-quarter mark after a rebound bucket by Cooper but saw the offense stall out down the stretch.

Unable to capitalize on Maryvale’s nearly seven minute long scoring drought to open the final period, Medina managed just three points during that stretch.

Howard hit a jumper 50 seconds into the period to make it 44-39, but it would be five more minutes before the Mustangs could score again, on a free throw by Cooper, which cut the deficit to four, 44-40.

Matt Mason answered with a layup with 1:19 remaining for Maryvale’s only points of the final period to up the Flyers lead to 46-40.

Medina’s Dylan Lewis (5) goes in for a layup past Maryvale defenders Ray Blackwell (50) and York Brown (31).

Medina did cut the deficit to three, 46-43, with 1:08 remaining on a three by Morgan but the Mustangs could not score again.

Maryvale will now face No. 4 Albion, a 62-54 victor over No. 1 Burgard in the other semi, in the championship game at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at Buffalo State.

Cooper finished with 12 points to lead Medina as Morgan added 9, Howard 8, Lewis 7, Jason Hellwig 5 and Brennan Zinkievich 2.