Panthers roll past Purple Eagles to share N-O League basketball championship

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2020 at 9:00 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Bailey Blanchard puts up a shot as Sam Capen and Connor MacAvoy defend for Newfane during the host Panthers key win over the Purple Eagles this evening.

Earning a share of a second title in three years, runner-up Newfane romped to a 66-40 victory over visiting front-running Albion this evening to claim a share of the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball championship.

The Panthers and Purple Eagles finish the N-O campaign deadlocked for the crown at 9-3.

Newfane had shared the title with Medina during the 2017-18 season while this marks the first N-O championship for Albion since the Purple Eagles shared top honors with Starpoint during the 1998-99 campaign.

Newfane’s Garrett Srock puts up a rebound shot as Albion’s Anthony Freeman tries to block.

Garrett Srock provided the big offensive firepower for Newfane as he exploded for 34 points including 24 in the first half (click here to see a rebound buzzer beater to end the first half).

Zach Snow and Connor MacEvoy both chipped in with 7 for the Panthers as Sam Capen had 6, Josh Everett 5, Jeremy Foltz 4, Deuce Capen 2 and Michael Carmer 1.

Deyonci Farley led Albion with 14 (click here to see a layup by Farley) as Damion Lattimer added 8, Bailey Blanchard 6, Anthony Freeman 5, Liam Ward 4 ad Kevin Hillman 3.

Jumping out to an 8-0 lead at the outset, Newfane took an 18-9 lead at the end of the first period.

Srock, who sparked that surge with 13 points, kept the hot hand in the second quarter scoring 11 more points to help the Panthers take a 33-20 lead at the half.

Albion did cut the deficit a bit to eight, 25-17, midway through the second quarter after two layups by Farley an a rebound bucket by Blanchard but that proved to be as close as the Purple Eagles would get.

The Panthers answered with a three by Snow and a pair of buckets by Srock to take the 13 point lead at the half.

Newfane then broke the contest wide open in the third quarter outscoring Albion 20-7 to race away to a commanding 26 point, 53-27, advantage at the three-quarter mark.

Srock scored six in the period which also featured threes by Everett, Foltz and Snow.

In avenging an earlier season 53-45 road loss to the Purple Eagles, the Panthers led by as many as 29, 64-35, in the final period.

Final N-O Standings: Albion 9-3, Newfane 9-3, Medina 8-4, Wilson 7-5, Akron 5-7, Roy-Hart 4-8, Barker 0-12