Mustangs oust Bulldogs in sectional opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 March 2021 at 9:09 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Tyler Chinn tries for a layup against Alden defender Jacob Barker during the Mustangs home court sectional win over the Bulldogs this evening.

Clearing post season hurdle No. 1, top seeded Medina bested visiting No. 8 Alden 68-48 this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B2 basketball playoffs.

Medina will now host No. 4 seed Niagara-Orleans League foe Newfane in the semifinals on Wednesday. Newfane downed No. 5 Depew 70-45.

Tyler Chinn scored a game high 21 and Joe Cecchini 18 to lead the offense for Medina as Jarin Rhim added 8, Dontae Rhim 6, Brian Fry and Matt Henning 5 each, Christian Drisdom 3 and David Berry 2.

Matthew Hay scored 15 and Jacob Baker 14 to pace Alden.

Matt Henning puts up a shot for Medina as Alden’s Matthew Hay tries for a block.

It was a close contest until late as Medina held a slender 8 point, 47-39 lead in the opening minute of the final period.

However, the Mustangs finally broke the contest wide open by putting together a huge 18-3 scoring burst over the next four and a half minutes to race away to a commanding 23 point, 65-42, advantage with just 2:25 remaining.

A three-point play off a layup and a three by Chinn followed by threes by Jarin Rhim and Cecchini ignited that decisive scoring surge.

Medina held a narrow 16-14 lead at the end of the opening period. Cecchini had a three and two layups and Chinn and Jarin Rhim two baskets each in the early going.

The Mustangs then used a 20-11 second quarter scoring edge to extend the lead to 11, 36-25, at the half.

Chinn spearheaded that uprising with 11 points on a three, a jumper and three spinning layups. Cecchini, Jarin Rhim and Henning each chipped in with a three during that stretch.

Medina maintained an 11 point, 47-36, advantage at the three-quarter mark as Cecchini, Drisdom and Fry all hit threes in the third period.

A three by John Watson did pull Alden back to within 8, 47-39, in the opening minute of the final stanza but the Bullldogs would get no closer as the Mustangs countered with a deciding 18-3 scoring explosion to put a firm lock on the win and advance to the semifinals.

Newfane, 70, Depew 45

Zach Snow scored 20 and Sam Capen 19 to lead Newfane past Depew 70-45 as Deuce Capen and Jeremy Foltz each chipped in with 7.

Up 34-25 at the half and 43-31 after three quarters. the Panthers pulled away to the victory by erupting for 27 points in the final stanza.

Akron 42, Springville 35

No. 6 seed Akron downed host No. 3 Springville 42-35 as Mitchell Holtz scored 15 and Adam Metz 11 to lead the Tigers. Holtz had five threes and Mietz three.

Akron will now visit No.2 Lackawanna on Wednesday in the other B2 semifinal.

Roy-Hart advances in Class B3

No. 6 seed Roy-Hart has advanced to the semifinal round of the Class B3 playoffs as the Rams scheduled Tuesday evening quarterfinal opponent, No. 3 Allegany-Limestone, has had to withdraw from the sectionals.

Girls Class B2 Quarterfinals

Top seeded City Honors downed visiting No. 8 Newfane 70-22 in the quarterfinal round of the girls Class B2 sectional playoffs.