Medina girls rally late to edge past Alden

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Tatianna Maxon is congratulated by her coaches and teammates after scoring the winning basket in the Mustangs come-from-behind one point victory over visiting Alden this evening.

Putting together a clutch fourth quarter scoring surge, Medina rallied to nip visiting Alden 48-47 in a non league girls basketball game this evening.

Trailing by 10, 43-33, at the end of the third quarter, Medina rallied to earn the narrow victory with a big 15-4 fourth period scoring run.

The Mustangs opened the decisive final period with an 11-0 run to rally into a 44-43 lead with three minutes remaining.

A run of seven straight points by Alexa Demmer on a three and two baskets ignited that rally. Tatianna Maxon followed up with a jumper and then Demmer scored on a layup off a steal for the go ahead basket.

Another layup off a steal by Samantha Heschke put Medina back up 46-45.

Alden took what proved to be its last lead at 47-46 on a basket by Kara Partell.

The last basket and the last lead change though belonged to Medina as Maxon hit a jumper with eight seconds remaining for the game winning basket and a 48-47 Mustangs lead.

Demmer finished with a game high 23 and Heschke 15 to lead Medina as Maxon had 8 and Harmoni Wilson 2.

Partell scored 13, Jillian Ulrich 12 and Anya Holzman and Abby White 9 each for Alden which is now 10-7.

Alden led 18-10 at the end of the first period and 32-23 at the half. Heschke scored 12 and Demmer 7 in the opening half for the Mustangs.

Medina, which improves to 8-9, next visits Akron for a Niagara-Orleans League game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Medina’s Alexa Demmer keeps the ball from going out of bounds and passes to Roswyn Oakes.