Mustangs top Panthers to clinch N-O title tie

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Johnny Salone goes up between Newfane defenders Brandon Gross (14) and Sam Auernhamer (21) during the Mustangs key home court win over the Panthers this evening which clinched at least a tie for the Niagara-Orleans League title.

Pulling away in the second half, defending champion Medina posted a 80-51 victory over visiting runner-up Newfane this evening to clinch at least a tie for a second straight Niagara-Orleans League championship.

The victory boosts the Mustangs N-O record to 10-0 and a two game lead with only two games remaining (at Barker and at Akron next week) while Newfane slips to 8-2.

Leading by only 8, 41-33, early in the third period, the Mustangs put together a huge 21-2 scoring surge to close the period and race away to a commanding 27 point, 62-35, advantage.

Jalin Cooper had 9 points including a three-point play, two layups and a slam dunk, to spearhead that decisive uprising which also included a four-point play by Alex Allis, 4 free throws by Izaiah Rhim, a three by Brendan Luthart and a jumper off a turnover by Johnny Salone.

Medina’s Tyrellis Atkins puts up a shot as Albert Kramp defends for Newfane.

Back-to-back layups by Rhim and Luthart, followed by a three-point play by Rhim, ballooned the lead to 34, 69-35 at the outset of the final period.

Cooper finished with a game high 23 as Salone had 13, Rhim 12, Tyrellis Atkins 9, Luthart 7, Allis 6, Vincent Montague and Tyler Howard 3 and Jorge Phillips 2.

Max Weber had 19 to lead Newfane whose offense was hampered when scoring leader Kyle DeVoogle left the game with an ankle injury late in the second quarter. Brandon Gross added 10, Chad Dunbar 6, Al Kramp 4, DeVoogel and Andrew Boudeman 3, Caleb Russell and Sam Auernhamer 2.

Medina grabbed a narrow 16-14 lead at the end of the opening quarter as Cooper and Atkins both tallied 4 and Howard had a three-point play.

The Mustangs extended the lead to 12, 39-27, at the half as Cooper erupted for 10 points in the second quarter with Salone and Luthart both adding 4 and Atkins a three.

Newfane pulled back with within 8, 41-33, early in the third period after tallies by Russell, Weber and Dunbar but the Panthers would get no closer.

Medina answered back with the decisive 21-2 run to break the contest wide open by 27, 62-35, at the three-quarter mark.

Roy-Hart 54, Akron 42

Brendon Hess scored 15, DJ Davis 14, Jacob Bruning 12 and Eric Fitch 11 to sparked Roy-Hart (4-7) to a 54-42 win at Akron (1-9).

Nelson Logan scored 12 and Derek Holtz 10 for Akron.

Jalin Cooper slams home one of his three dunks for the Mustangs.