Medina girls rally late to nip Kendall

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Je’ne Brown shoots over Kendall defender Rachael Bakutis during the Mustangs come-from-behind win over the visiting Lady Eagles this evening.

Putting together a late rally Medina edged past visiting Kendall 38-36 this evening in a non league girls basketball game.

Trailing by six, 34-28, with four minutes remaining, Medina came battling back with a clutch 9-0 run to rally into the lead for good.

Two free throws by Molley Gross followed by a basket by Je’ne Brown ignited the Medina comeback.

Maddie Williams followed up with her third three of the evening to rally the Mustangs into the lead for good at 35-34 with just 42 seconds remaining.

Allison Bensley tacked on two clutch free throws upping the Mustangs advantage to 37-34.

Kendall did cut the deficit back to one at 37-36 on two free throws by Taylor ReQua but could get no closer.

Another free throw by Williams in the final two seconds closed out the Medina win.

Medina’s Molley Gross battles for a rebound with Kendall’s Maya Rutland.

Williams finished with a total of 12 points, Brown 11, Bensley 10, Gross 4 and Maddie Winters 1. Brown also grabbed off 12 rebounds.

Lizzie Rath took game high scoring honors for Kendall with 14 as Daniela Volkmar netted 8, ReQua 7, Maya Rutland 5 and Lyndsay Wright 2.

Kendall jumped out to a 14-9 first period lead as back-to-back threes by Volkmar and ReQua followed by two baskets off turnovers by Rath and one by ReQua keyed a 12-0 run by the Lady Eagles.

Two second quarter buckets by Rath helped Kendall maintain a five point, 21-16, advantage at the half.

Kendall extended its lead to as much as nine, 28-19, midway through the third period after a three by Volkmar and a basket off a turnover by Maya Rutland.

Kendall’s Taylor ReQua puts up a layup past Medina defender Molley Gross.

Medina though rallied back to within three, 30-27, at the three-quarter mark as Williams and Bensley both hit threes.

Back-to-back baskets by Rath early in the fourth quarter put Kendall up by six, 34-28, but Medina answered with a decisive 10-2 run over the final four minutes to rally into the win.

Medina is now 3-2 and Kendall 2-4.

The Mustangs next host Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League game at 6:30 p.m. Friday while the Lady Eagles next host Wheatland-Chili in a Genesee Region League contest on December 21.

Kendall’s Lizzie Rath drives by Medina defender Allison Bensley.