Nichols downs Albion in tourney contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Elisabeth Baker puts up a shot as Scotia Snyder tries to block for Nichols. The action took place during the Purple Eagles loss to the Lady Vikings this evening in the consolation game of the Lockport Tournament.

Pulling away for good with a big scoring burst to close the third period, Nichols went on to defeat Albion 58-32 this evening in the consolation game of the Lockport Tournament.

Trailing by 11, 26-15, at the half, Albion rallied back to within six, 27-21, early in the third period after threes by Janae Doty and Natalie DiCureia.

Albion’s Sierra Newton shoots as Olivia McKnight and Allison McCluskey defend for Nichols.

However, the Purple Eagles would get no closer as Nichols answered with a decisive turnover aided 18-4 scoring surge to end the period and regain a commanding 20 point, 45-25, advantage.

Back-to-back threes by Isabella Russo and Scotia Snyder helped ignite that uprising  which also included two more baskets by Snyder along with two buckets by TaNia Cunningham.

Imani Dockery led Nichols’ balanced attack with 16 as Russo and Cunningham both had 12 and Snyder 10.

Doty scored 10 and Sierra Newton 8 to pace Albion as Baker added 6, DiCureia and Cassidy Wolcott 3 and Brylie Hapeman 2.

Nichols jumped out to a 14-7 first period lead and maintained a 26-15 advantage at the half.  Dockery tallied 7 and Russo and Cunningham 6 each for the Lady Vikings during that stretch.

Albion next begins Section VI Class B1 playoff competition by hosting Olean at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Sectional VI Playoffs
Niagara-Orleans League teams in the Section VI Class B1 bracket will have Newfane seeded No. 1, Albion No. 4 and Medina No. 10.

Albion will host No. 13 Olean and Medina will visit No. 7 MST Prep in the first round on Tuesday.  Newfane will host the winner of the No. 9 Alden vs. No. 8 Tonawanda game in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

In Class B2 the N-O has Wilson seeded No. 4, Akron No. 5 and Roy-Hart No. 11.

Roy-Hart will visit No. 6 Buffalo Arts and Akron will host No. 12 Health Sciences on Tuesday.  The Akron vs. Health Sciences winner will then visit Wilson on Thursday.

In Class C, Barker is seeded No. 11 and will visit No. 6 Tapestry on Tuesday.