Mustangs surge past Raiders; Panthers nip Purple Eagles in N-O openers

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 January 2022 at 8:30 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Anthony Bowman puts up a shot against Barker defender Luey Castro during the Mustangs win over the host Raiders this evening.

A big scoring surge to close the third quarter keyed Medina to a 59-37 win over host Barker this evening as the Mustangs opened defense of their Niagara-Orleans League title.

Barker grabbed a 30-28 lead early in the third quarter after back-to-back threes by Nathan Meza Ray.

However, Medina answered back with a huge 20-0 scoring burst to close the period and rally into a commanding 48-30 lead heading into the final period.

A layup by Anthony Bowman followed by back-to-back layups off turnovers by Jarin Rhim ignited that decisive uprising which also included two more baskets by Rhim, one each by Bowman, Cayden Lilleby and Amari Soule and a three by David Berry.

Bowman finished with a game high 22 to lead Medina as Joe Cecchini had 13, Rhim 8, Soule 7, Lilleby 4, Berry 3 and Robert Arnold 2.

Brad Cantrell scored 14 and Meza Ray 12 to pace Barker as Aidan Voss added 4 and Steven Class, Luey Castro and Mason Allee Castro 2 each.

Medina had jumped out to a 13-9 first quarter lead as Bowman had two rebound buckets and a jumper and Soule a layup off a steal and a three.

Barker did rally into a 22-21 lead late in the second period after a 13-4 run including 9 by Cantrell. The Mustangs though regained a slender 23-22 lead at the half on a layup off a turnover by Bowman.

An eight point scoring run by Meza Ray, including a layup and two threes, briefly put the Raiders back on top at 30-28 early in the third period but the rest of the quarter belonged to Medina as the Mustangs big 20-0 scoring surge broke the contest wide open.

Medina next hosts Akron on Friday and Barker visits Wilson on Thursday.

Newfane 47, Albion 44
A three by Nate Snow with 44 seconds to go snapped a 44-44 tie and earned Newfane a 47-44 win at Albion in the N-O opener for both teams.

Ben Dickinson scored 15 and Snow 11 for Newfane.

Aquil Gaffney scored 16 and Shakarion Drisdom 11 for Albion.

Newfane led 9-8 after one quarter and 26-18 at the half. The contest was deadlocked 34-34 at the three-quarter mark.

Brad Cantrell puts up a shot for Barker as Joe Cecchini defends for Medina.