Medina tops Barker to near title; Cooper becomes Mustangs career scoring leader

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2018 at 8:37 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jalin Cooper goes in for a layup against Barker defender Nick Brandt during his big 39 point effort this evening that made him the Mustangs all-time career scoring leader. The Mustangs bested the Raiders to maintain a share of the N-O lead.

Medina reduced its magic number for clinching at least a tie for a third straight Niagara-Orleans League title to one by defeating visiting Barker 80-38 this evening as senior Jalin Cooper became the Mustangs all-time career scoring leader.

Improving to 9-2, Medina remains deadlocked with Newfane, a 67-29 victor over host Akron, for the N-O lead with just one game remaining. The Mustangs host Akron Wednesday and Newfane visits rival Wilson on Thursday.

Cooper poured in a career high 39 points to become the Mustangs all-time scoring leader with 1,293 points surpassing the old mark of 1,280 set by Levi Pace during the 2006-7 to 2009-10 seasons. He became the career leader when he scored on a layup with 3:43 remaining in the third period.

Medina’s Brendan Luthart puts up a shot as the Barker duo of Zach Richbart (32) and Nick Brandt (14) try to block.

Alex Allis and Izaiah Rhim both added 8 for the Mustangs as Mason Lewis had 7, Trenton Jones 6, Brendan Luthart 5, Tyler Chinn 3 and Nate Sherman and Jorge Phillips 2 each.

Zach Richbart led Barker with 10 as Austin Sullivan added 7, Nick Brandt 6, Evan Ecker 5, Dan Ober and Malik Smith 4 and Preston Harris 2.

Barker did jump out to an 18-13 first period lead as Brandt and Smith both scored a pair of baskets from close range and Ecker, Sullivan and Richbart chipped in with threes.

Cooper scored 11 of the Mustangs 13 points in the opening stanza.

The Raiders upped the lead to seven, 22-15, early in the second period after a jumper by Richbart and a rebound bucket by Brandt.

However, Medina came battling back with a key 11-0 run to take the lead for good at 26-22. A dunk off a steal by Cooper, a rebound bucket by Rhim and a three by Lewis highlighted that uprising.

The Mustangs maintained a 32-26, lead at the half after a layup by Cooper and a three by Allis.

Medina then broke the game wide open by outscoring Barker 23-4 in the third period to extend the advantage to 25, 55-30, at the three-quarter mark.

Cooper led that uprising with 11 points, including the career record setting layup, as Allis and Luthart both hit threes.

The Mustangs then closed to the win with 25-8 fourth period surge including 10 by Cooper and 6 by Jones.

Newfane 67, Akron 29

Kyle DeVoogel scored 16, Max Weber 15 and Connor Hill 11 to lead Newfane past Akron 67-29.

The Panthers built up a 36-16 half-time advantage.

Wilson 58, Albion 45

Building up as much as a 17 point lead, Wilson (8-3) went on to defeat host Albion 58-45 as Nate Fox scored 16, Steve Frerichs 13, Mac Musall 10 and Jacob Miller 9.

Liam Ward scored 19, Demetrius Gardner 12, Bryce Pritchard 6 and Deyonci Farley 4 for Albion which finishes the N-O season at 6-6.

Wilson led 13-6 after one period, 29-17 at the half and 43-26 after three quarters.