Mustangs magic number this week is two

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 March 2021 at 10:04 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Tyler Chinn, left, and Joe Cecchini and their teammates face a pair of key home games this coming week as the Mustangs look to lock up both the Niagara-Orleans League title and the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Section VI Class B2 playoffs.

Two is the magic number this coming week for front-running Medina and for two very special reasons as the Mustangs look to not only lock up the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball title but to also claim the top seed for the upcoming Section VI Class B2 playoffs.

Heading into the final week of the N-O season, Medina at 9-1 holds a one game lead over 8-2 Newfane with two games remaining. The Mustangs gained that lead by posting a key 62-46 win over the Panthers this past week.

The Mustangs finish their N-O title quest with a pair of home games against Roy-Hart on Tuesday and Wilson on Thursday while the Panthers visit Barker on Tuesday and then host Akron on Thursday.

A win on Tuesday would clinch at least a tie for the title for Medina while a sweep of the two contests would earn the Mustangs the championship outright.

Medina last won the N-O title outright during the 2018-19 season with a 12-0 record. The last time the Mustangs shared the title was ironically with Newfane during the 2017-18 campaign as both teams finished at 10-2.

A sweep should also lock up the top seed in the B2 sectionals for Medina.

It is a No. 1 seed that is especially valuable this year as because of Covid-19 concerns the sectionals are taking only the top eight teams in each class and there will be no neutral site for the championship games as in the past. Therefore, the higher seeded team will host each round of the playoffs including the championship game.

Albion, which is currently 5-5, will close out the N-O season by visiting Akron on Tuesday and hosting Roy-Hart on Thursday as the Purple Eagles seek a berth in the Class B1 playoffs.

N-O Standings: Medina 9-1, Newfane 8-2, Akron 7-3, Albion 5-5, Roy-Hart 3-7, Wilson 3-8, Barker 1-10.