Mustangs open N-O League title defense with victory over rival Purple Eagles

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Mason Lewis drives for a layup against Albion defender Hunter Webster during the Mustangs home court win over the Purple Eagles this evening.

Steadily pulling away, Medina opened defense of its Niagara-Orleans League basketball title with a 61-40 win over visiting rival Albion this evening.

Jalin Cooper scored a game high 19 and Brendan Luthart 11 to lead the Medina attack as Izaiah Rhim added 9, Mason Lewis 8, Brian Fry 6, Jorge Phillips 4 and Nate Sherman and Tavian Rhim 2 each.

Deyonci Farley tallied 14 and Bryce Pritchard 13 to lead Albion as Demetrius Gardner had 7 and Liam Ward and Hunter Webster 3 each.

Jorge Phillips puts up a shot for Medina over Albion defender Shyheim Jakes.

Medina jumped out to a 13-10 first period advantage, a lead the Mustangs would not relinquish.  A three and a three-point play by Lewis led the way in the early going.

The Mustangs extended the lead a bit to seven, 27-20, at the half as Cooper made three layups and Luthart hit a three during that stretch.  Gardner scored 5 and Pritchard made a 3 to keep Albion close.

Three more layups and a dunk by Cooper, followed by another three by Luthart, upped the Medina advantage to 14, 39-25, with three minutes to go in the third period.  The Mustangs maintained a 10 point, 40-30, lead at the three-quarter mark.

The Mustangs then broke the contest open for good with a 10-3 scoring spurt over the first four minutes of the final period to stretch the advantage to 17, 50-33, A three and a fast break layup by Luthart capped off that key uprising.

A three by Izaiah Rhim and a layup by Phillips ballooned the lead to 21, 57-36, with two minutes to go to close out the win.

Now at 1-3 overall, Medina next faces St. Francis at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s of Lancaster in a non league contest.

The evening’s other scheduled N-O contest, Akron vs. Wilson was postponed.

Demetrius Gardner puts up a shot for Albion against Medina defender Brendan Luthart.

Albion’s Liam Ward puts up a shot ahead of Medina defenders Tavian Rhim (13) and Jorge Phillips (22).