Mustangs top Panthers in N-O opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jared Zinkievich puts up a shot over Newfane’s Kyle DeVoogel during the Mustangs Niagara-Orleans League season opening win over the visiting Panthers this evening.

Ignited by a quick, ball hawking defense, Medina put together a big 41-21 scoring surge over the middle two periods to key a 65-57 victory over visiting Newfane this evening in the Niagara-Orleans League season opener.

Tyler Ames scored a game high 21 points to lead Medina as Jalin Cooper netted 16, Daryl Hayes 13, Jared Zinkievich 8, Mason Lewis 3 and Justin Morgan and Ronnie Koonce 2 each for the Mustangs. Ames also grabbed off 15 rebounds and Cooper 12.

Chad Gilson tallied 14, Zach Lajoie and Max Weber 8 and Kyle DeVoogel 7 to lead the way for Newfane.

Ames, a 6-7 senior, had the hot hand inside for Medina scoring 9 quick points in the first period on 4 layups and a free throw to help the Mustangs grab a 16-14 lead.

Utilizing a very effective pressing defense to force turnovers and key a fast break offense, the Mustangs then scored repeatedly on layups during a 25-14 second quarter surge to open up a 41-28 advantage at the half.

Hayes scored 11, including three threes, during that stretch which also included 6 free throws by Cooper along with two layups by Ames and once each by Koonce and Zinkievich.

Medina’s Mason Lewis goes in for a layup against Newfane defender Max Weber.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs ball hawking defense continued to fuel the offense during a 16-7 third period uprising which upped the advantage to a commanding 22 points, 57-35, at the three-quarter mark.

Ames had three more layups, Cooper a rebound bucket and a jumper, Haynes a layup and Zinkievich a rebound bucket during that stretch.

Back-to-back threes by Lewis and Cooper then extended the Medina advantage to 27, 65-38, early in the final stanza.

Medina, which next hosts Tapestry in a non league game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, is now 2-2 overall.

Newfane is 1-1 in N-O action.