Purple Eagles complete sweep of Raiders; Rams top Tigers to hold N-O lead

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Shakarion Drisdom drives in for a layup ahead of Barker’s Luey Castro during the Purple Eagles win over the host Raiders this evening.

Completing a home and home series sweep within a span of 48 hours, Albion bested host Barker 71-62 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.

In the other N-O games, Roy-Hart downed host Akron 50-46 to improve to 8-2 and maintain a one game lead over 7-3 Newfane which defeated rival Wilson 54-40.

Making it four wins in a row, Albion which also trimmed Barker 51-47 at home on Wednesday, improves to 4-6 in N-O action while Barker is 4-7.

Jahmeek Riley scored 20, Shakarion Drisdom 15 and Caleb Fox 10 to lead the attack for Albion. Tyler Gibson added 9, Javon Jones 6, Ozzie Matos and Jay Ashby 4 and Aquil Gaffney 3 for the Purple Eagles.

Nathan Meza Ray took game high honors with 22 for Barker as Brad Cantrell added 13, Luey Castro 10, Steven Class 9, Aidan Mescall 5 and Aidan Voss 3.

Albion jumped out to a 24-11 first quarter lead as Riley erupted for 14, including five baskets from close range and a three, and Fox hit back-to-back threes.

Barker though came battling back in the second quarter with a 24-16 scoring edge as Cantrell scored 9, including a three and a three-point play, and Meza Ray 7 on a three and four free throws.

However, the Purple Eagles maintained a five point,40-35, lead at the half on a late three by Drisdom and a layup by Ashby. Drisdom had a total of 9 in the period on two threes and a thee-point play.

Meza Ray hit back-to-back threes early in the third period to pull Barker within three, 46-43, but the Raiders could get no closer.

Albion kept a five point, 54-49, lead at the three-quarter mark as Riley scored 6 and Fox 4 in the third period.

The Purple Eagles quickly opened up an 11 point, 60-49, advantage at the outset of the final period on back-to-back layups off turnovers by Drisdom and Jones followed by another layup by Jones.

Barker did pull back to within five, 64-59, on a layup by Cantrell but Albion answered with a layup by Drisdom and two free throws by Gibson to regain a 68-59 lead with just 1:21 remaining. Barker could get no closer tan 8 after that.

Jahmeek Riley puts up a shot for Albion as Aidan Mescall (20) and Steven Class (13) defend for Barker.

Roy-Hart 50, Akron 46
Aidan Petrie scored 20, Brandon DiNeri and Vinny Buscarino 9, Jamel Johnson Jr. 8 and Don Beyer 4 for Roy-Hart while Jack Fowler scored 15 and Trace Hill 9 for Akron.

Trailing 14-12 after one period, Roy-Hart rallied into a 31-24 half-time advantage as Petrie scored 12 and Buscarino 6 in the second period. DiNeri had hit three threes in the opening quarter to keep the Rams close.

N-O Standings: Roy-Hart 8-2, Newfane 7-3, Medina 6-4, Albion 4-6, Barker 4-7, Wilson 4-7, Akron 3-7.

Barker’s Steven Class (13) and Camren Szafranski (15) battle with Albion’s Aquil Gaffney for a rebound.