Medina tops Gowanda in B2 quarterfinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 February 2017 at 9:01 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jalin Cooper puts up a layup as Matt Dodolek defends for Gowanda. The action took place during the Mustangs sectional win over the visiting Panthers.

Medina’s Vincent Montague looks to pass as Jarmani Benton defends for Gowanda.

Big scoring bursts in each of the first two quarters keyed top seeded Medina to a 69-48 victory over visiting No. 8 Gowanda this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B2 boys basketball tournament.

Johnny Salone scored 23, Jalin Cooper 13 and Tyrellis Atkins 11 to lead the Mustangs attack as Izaiah Rhim chipped in with 9, Mason Lewis 7 and Vincent Montague and Brendan Luthart 3 each.

Jarmaini Benton scored 19 and Matt Dodolek 13 to lead Gowanda.

Improving to 17-4, Medina advances to the March 2 B2 semifinals at Buffalo State College against No. 4 Health Sciences a 70-54 winner over No. 5 Middle Early College.

Medina jumped out to a 19-6 lead at the outset on three layups by Salone, a three and a layup by Lewis, a rebound bucket and a layup off a turnover by Rhim and a layup and a rebound basket by Cooper.

Gowanda did stay within 9, 24-15 early in the second period after two buckets by Benton and one by Dodolek but the Panthers would get no closer.

However, Medina answered right back with a decisive 16-2 run to break the contest open.

Atkins hit a pair of three to highlight that uprising which also included two layups by Salone, a jumper by Rhim and a layup by Lewis as the Mustangs moved out to a commanding 23 point, 40-17, lead.

Atkins had a total of 8 and Salone 7 in the period which ended with Medina up by 23, 42-19.

Salone then scored all 8 of Medina’s third period points as the Mustangs maintained a 23 point, 50-27, advantage at the three-quarter mark.

Cooper tallied 8 down the stretch, including a pair of dunks, as the Mustangs led by as much as 27 at 66-39.