Purple Eagles down Mustangs in N-O opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 January 2023 at 8:25 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Blake Preston puts up a shot over Medina defenders Cole Callard (4) and Aiden Pitts (3) during the Purple Eagles league opening win over the host Mustangs this evening.

Pulling away in the third quarter, Albion rolled to a 67-38 victory over rival Medina in the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball season opener this evening on the Medina court.

Leading by a narrow six point, 30-24, margin at the half, Albion erupted with a 21-6 third period scoring burst to break the contest wide open.

Amari Jones scored 8, including two threes, and Javon Jones and Blake Preston both had 4 to lead that uprising as the Purple Eagles took command by a 51-30, margin at the three-quarter mark.

Albion led by as many as 35, 66-31 midway through the final quarter.

Amari Jones finished with a game high 20 points, including six threes, as Preston netted 15, including three threes, Aquil Gaffney 10, Javon Jones 8, Nick Harling and Dylan Narburgh 4, Sh’Kwe Riley 3, John Eibl 2 and Nick Radder 1.

Aiden Pitts led Medina with 11 as Justin Pitts had 8, Jerrell Nealy 6, Roosevelt Mitchell, Cole Callard and Jason Beyer 4 each and Cayden Lilleby 1.

Neely scored 6 in the opening period to help Medina take a 12-8 lead.

However, Albion answered with s 22-12 second period scoring edge to take the lead for good by a 30-24 margin at the half. Two late threes by Amari Jones and one by Preston helped cap off that key Purple Eagles surge.

Albion next hosts Barker and Medina visits Akron at 6:30 p.m. Friday.