Mustangs face key week in N-O title quests

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – In the thick of the Niagara-Orleans League title races, both the Medina boys and girls teams face key contests this week against Wilson and Newfane. The girls squad also has a make-up game at Albion. Here in earlier season action Medina’s Emily Kams drives against Wilson’s Shea Munnikhuysen and the Mustangs Mason Lewis goes against Newfane’s Thorne Geise.

It will be a decisive week for both the Medina boys and girls basketball teams in their quest to claim Niagara-Orleans League titles.

The defending champion Medina boys squad, which is undefeated at 8-0 in N-O action, will host their top two challengers in third place Wilson (6-3) on Tuesday and second place Newfane (7-1) on Thursday, both at 6:30 p.m.

Earlier in the season the Mustangs posted key road wins over the Lakemen (52-44) and the Panthers (77-65).

The Medina girls team, which is looking to rebound from its first league loss of the season (54-52 at Roy-Hart) is currently tied with defending champion Wilson in the loss column but is three games back in the win column. Wilson is currently at 9-1 and Medina at 6-1.

Medina handed Wilson its only league loss earlier in the season with a 61-56 home court victory.

The Mustangs face a most challenging week, all on the road, as they visit Wilson on Tuesday, Albion (4-4) in a make-up game on Thursday and then Newfane (5-4) on Friday.

Earlier in the season, the Mustangs defeated the Purple Eagles 48-45 and the Lady Panthers 55-37.

Wilson can clinch at least a tie for an eighth straight N-O title with a win over Medina as after that the Lakewomen have only one more league game, at home against Albion on February 14.

However, after this busy three game week, Medina still has a pair of N-O home games the following week, against Barker on February 14 and Akron on February 15 to round out the league season.

N-O Standings
Boys Basketball: Medina 8-0, Newfane 7-1, Wilson 6-3, Barker 4-4, Roy-Hart 3-6, Akron 1-8, Albion 1-8
Girls Basketball: Wilson 9-1, Medina 6-1, Newfane 5-4, Albion 4-4, Akron 4-5, Barker 1-7, Roy-Hart 1-8

Weekly Schedule
Monday
Boys Basketball: Byron-Bergen at Holley, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: RAC at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday
Boys Basketball: Wilson at Medina, Lyndonville at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Barker at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Medina at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Attica, Kendall at Elba, Roy-Hart at Albion, 7 p.m.

Wednesday
Boys Basketball: Attica at Holley, Elba at Kendall, 7 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball: Newfane at Medina, Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Medina at Albion, Elba at Lyndonville, Byron-Bergen at Holley, Wheatland-Chili at Kendall, 7 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball: Barker at Albion, Lyndonville at Elba, Holley at Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Akron at Roy-Hart, Albion at Barker, Medina at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.