Mustangs to host Steelers in B2 title contest

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Dontae Rhim and his Mustang teammates will host Lackawanna Friday evening in the Section VI Class B2 championship game.

Looking to end a 50 year long playoff title drought, top seeded Medina will host No. 2 Lackawanna in the Section VI Class B2 championship game at 7 p.m. Friday.

Medina’s last, and to date only, Section VI championship came in 1971 when the Mustangs downed then Niagara-Orleans League rival Starpoint 83-74. And it has been some 44 years since Medina last reached the sectional finals in 1977 when the Mustangs lost to Fredonia 69-44.

In fact, all five of Medina’s previous sectional final appearances came within an 11 year span from 1967 to 1977. That stretch also saw the Mustangs bow in the finals to Depew in 1967 (74-63), to Starpoint in 1970 (58-54) and to Alden in 1973 (59-49).

Lackawanna is seeking its first sectional title since 2011 when the Steelers downed Newfane 58-35 in the Class B1 final.

Medina and Lackawanna both had close calls in the semifinals. The Mustangs outlasted No.4 N-O rival Newfane 64-55 in overtime and the Steelers nipped Akron 47-43.

Both teams enter the game riding lengthy winning streaks as the 13-1 Mustangs have won 10 in a row and the 12-2 Steelers have taken eight straight.

Leading the Medina offense are Tyler Chinn who is averaging 17.7 points per game, Brian Fry (13.0  ave.), Joe Cecchini (10.1 ave.) and Jarin Rhim (7.8 ave.).  Rhim had a season high 15 in the semi win over Newfane including the Mustangs first 10 in the decisive overtime period.

Sophomore Julienn Clement leads Lackawanna with a 14 point per game average as junior Archie Saeed is averaging 9 and junior Ajiah Turner 8.  Clement and Saeed each scored 10 and Turner 8 in the semi win over Akron.

This will be just the third time Medina has faced Lackawanna in the sectionals. The Steelers won the previous two meetings downing the Mustangs 80-39 in the 2002 quarterfinals and 62-49 in the 1995 semifinals.