Medina posts key win over rival Albion to hold on to one game N-O lead

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ronnie Koonce (11) blocks a shot attempt by Albion’s Tommy Mattison during the host Mustangs win over the rival Purple Eagles this evening.

Taking charge in the third quarter, front-running Medina downed visiting rival Albion 65-50 this evening to maintain a one game lead in the Niagara-Orleans League title race.

Dylan Lewis scored 18 on six threes, while Jalin Cooper tallied 12 and Justin Morgan 10 to spearhead the attack for Medina which improves to 11-1 in N-O competition.

Tyler Ames added 7, Daryl Haynes and Brad McPherson 6, Johnny Salone 3, Jared Zinkievich 2 and Ronnie Koonce 1 for the Mustangs which remain a game ahead of 10-2 Roy-Hart which downed Newfane 65-59.

Brady Meakin shared game high scoring honors with 18, also on six threes, to lead Albion which slips to 5-7.

Kory Reynolds added 13, Evan Pappalardo 12, Manwell Taylor 5 and Tommy Mattison 2 for the Purple Eagles.

Medina’s Jared Zinkievich shoots over Albion defender Kory Reynolds.

Leading by a slender one point, 25-24, margin at the half, Medina put together a big 20-8 third period scoring surge to break the contest open by a 45-32 score at the three-quarter mark.

Lewis hit three threes and Morgan one to highlight that Mustangs uprising which also featured 8 points by Cooper on two jumpers, a rebound bucket and a slam dunk off a turnover.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs extended the advantage to 19, 58-39, with 3:30 remaining in the final period. Threes by Morgan and Haynes, along with layups by Ames and Cooper, highlighted that key run.

Albion’s Evan Pappalardo puts up a shot against Medina defender Justin Morgan.

Albion had grabbed an 8-6 lead at the end of a low scoring opening period as Meakin hit a pair of threes.

The lead then sea-sawed back-and-forth seven times in the second period before Medina emerged with a narrow 25-24 lead after Lewis’s third three of the quarter and a pair of free throws by Ames.

Meakin hit two threes and Pappalardo one in the quarter for Albion whose last lead was at 21-20.

The Purple Eagles next host CSAT on February 9.

Medina closes the N-O season with road games at Akron and CSAT next Tuesday and Thursday.

Albion’s Tyler Rotoli tries to drive between Medina defenders Daryl Haynes (12) and Dylan Lewis (5).

Roy-Hart 65, Newfane 59

Roy-Hart stayed in the thick of the title race just one game off the pace by downing visiting Newfane 65-59 to improve to 10-2.

Andy Xapsos scored 18, Justin Heschke 15, Jake Bruning 12 and Chris Anderson 9 to set the pace for Roy-Hart. Heschke also grabbed off 22 rebounds and Anderson 10.

Max Weber scored 24 and Kyle DeVoogel 16 for Newfane which slips to 5-7.

Roy-Hart held leads of 17-11 after one period, 26-24 at the half and 44-36 at the three-quarter mark.

Barker 59, Wilson 58

Nate Luckman hit a three with just 1.3 seconds remaining to lift Barker to a thrilling 59-58 win over Wilson.

The Raiders had pulled to within two at 58-56 on a jumper by Kyle Secore with 1:30 remaining.

Mike Snell scored 19, Luckman 14 and Eddie Wasnock 12 for Barker which improves to 5-7.

Ryan Bradley scored 19 and Jonah Miller 11 for Wilson which slips to 7-5.

Wilson led 34-29 at the half and 45-43 after three quarters.