Mustangs hold off late Lady Rams rally

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 February 2023 at 9:29 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Rylee VanNostrand puts up a shot over Roy-Hart defenders Kaitlin Mettler (33) and Juliana Buscarino (1) during the Mustangs win over the host Lady Rams this evening.

Turning back a late comeback bid, Medina edged past host Roy-Hart 49-45 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening.

Medina led by 15, 46-31, early in the final period after tallies by Tatyana Baity, Rylee VanNostrand and Stella Poler.

However, Roy-Hart got right back into the game by battling back with a key 10-0 run on two baskets each by Juliana Buscarino and Lila Brigham and one by Alexis Cacciatore to slice the Medina lead to five, 46-41, with 48 seconds to go.

Medina interrupted that run with a what proved to be the game winning basket by VanNostrand for a 48-41 Mustangs lead.

Roy-Hart answered back with baskets by Buscarino and Kaitlin Mettler to cut the deficit to three, 48-45, but the Lady Rams could get no closer as a free throw by Baity gave Medina a four point, 49-45, lead in the final 10 seconds.

VanNostrand finished with a game high 27 for Medina as Baity and Honesty Hill each had 6, Nevaeh Moss 5, Poler 3 and Dani Williams 2.

Mettler scored 15 and Buscarino 10 to lead Roy-Hart as Makenna Elsenheimer and Brigham both added 6, Alexis Cacciatore 5, Juliana Terwilliger 2 and Madison DiNeri 1.

Medina built up leads of 15-4 after the first quarter and 26-17 at the half as VanNostrand scored 16 in the half.

The Mustangs maintained a 15 point, 42-27, advantage at the three-quarter mark as VanNostrand tallied 7 and Baity 4 in the third period.

That set the stage for a hectic final period as Roy-Hart outpointed Medina 18-7 but saw the comeback bid fell just short.

Medina is now 4-6 and Roy-Hart 2-9 in N-O action.

Newfane 40, Albion 35
Trailing 29-24 after three quarters, Newfane rallied with a big 16-6 fourth period scoring surge to down visiting Albion 40-35.

Sienna Bowers scored 12 and Anna Chunco 11 to lead the way for Newfane which is now 5-5 in N-O action.

Madison Hughson scored 11 and Skoi Sanders Smith 6 for Albion which is now 5-6.

Wilson 51, Akron 35
Defending champion Wilson clinched at least a tie for the N-O title by downing runner-up Akron 51-35.

Wilson is now 10-0 and Akron 8-2 with two games remaining.