Mustangs to host familiar foe in B2 semi

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Newfane’s Michael Carmer goes up to defend against a shot by Medina’s Jarin Rhim during the Mustangs recent home court league win over the Panthers. Medina will now host Newfane in the Section VI Class B2 semifinals on Wednesday.

It will be a very familiar matchup as top seeded Medina hosts No. 4 seed Niagara-Orleans League rival Newfane in the Section VI Class B2 basketball semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The teams split a pair of home court victories during the league campaign. Newfane won the first meeting 64-44. Medina avenged that loss in the rematch by a nearly identical score of 62-46, a win which at that time clinched at least a tie for the N-O title for the Mustangs.

Both teams used big fourth quarter scoring bursts to claim home court wins in the quarterfinals on Monday.  Medina put together a big 18-3 run down the stretch to key a 68-48 win over No. 8 Alden. Newfane exploded for 27 points in the final stanza to lock up a 70-45 victory over No. 5 Depew.

Both teams are led offensively by a trio of double figure averaging scorers. For the Mustangs Tyler Chinn is averaging 17.9, Brian Fry 13.4 and Joe Cecchini 10.0. For the Panthers Jeremy Foltz is averaging 13.0, Sam Capen 11.9 and Zach Snow 10.9.

Wednesday’s other B2 semifinal will have No. 6 Akron at No. 2 Lackawanna.

The championship game is scheduled for Friday on the court of the highest remaining seed.

Medina is seeking its first berth in the sectional finals since 1977 while Newfane has played in the championship game three of the last four years. The Panthers lost to Allegany-Limestone 54-45 in last year’s B2 final. Prior to that the Panthers lost to Olean in the B1 final in 2018 and to East Aurora in the B1 title contest in 2017.