Purple Eagles edge past host Bulldogs
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Seth Krenning and Barker’s Isaac Monaco battle for a rebound during the Purple Eagles narrow win over the host Bulldogs this evening.
In a tight sea-saw battle down the stretch, Albion nipped host Barker 62-61 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.
Isaiah Riley’s fifth three of the evening with 2:20 remaining provided the 62-61 margin of victory for Albion as neither team was able to find the range in the final two minutes.
Albion tied the game at 56-56 on a three-point play by Kyle Radder. Two tallies by his Purple Eagles teammate Tyler Cody then offset Barker scores by Owen Harris and Jackson Prynn before Riley hit what proved to be the game winning three.
Isaiah Riley finished with 17, Cody 15 and Radder 11 to lead the Purple Eagles as Wesley Olles added 7, Kwame Riley 5, Luke Bell 3 and Nate Gibson and Seth Krenning 2 each.
Anthony Taliaferro took game high honors with 19 for the Bulldogs as Isaac Monaco had 13, Harris 10, Prynn 8, Donovan Hefferon 5 and Michael Kalynycz and Maico Vazquez 3 each.
Albion jumped out to a 22-13 first quarter lead as three straight threes, two by Isaiah Riley and one by Kwame Riley, sparked a key 11-0 run.
Barker though answered with a big 23-10 second period scoring edge to rally into a 36-32 half-time advantage. Monaco scored 9 and Taliaferro 7 to lead that Bulldogs surge.
There were three ties and as many lead changes in the third period which finished deadlocked at 47-47. Radder and Cody both scored 4 for the Purple Eagles during that stretch while Prynn and Monaco had threes for the Bulldogs.
Barker regained a five point, 53-48, lead at the outset of the final period on two baskets by Taliaferro and one by Hefferon.
Albion answered with buckets by Radder and Cody before the Bulldogs took what proved to be their last lead at 56-53 on a three by Hefferon.
Radder’s three point play quickly pulled Albion back even at 56-56 and the lead sea-sawed back and forth with each of the final five scores capped off by Isaiah Riley’s game winning three.
Albion improves to 5-3 in N-O and Barker slips to 2-6.
Barker’s Owen Harris puts up an off balanced shot as Kwame Riley and Nate Gibson move in for Albion.
Wilson 56, Newfane 33
Runner-up Wilson improved to 6-2 in N-O action with a 56-33 win over rival Newfane which slips to 1-7.
Aidan Neumann poured in 29 points and Ryan Hough added 11 to lead the Lakemen.
Medina vs. Akron ppd. until tomorrow
The Akron at Medina game was postponed as the Medina schools were closed due to the weather.
The Mustangs will now host the N-O leading Tigers at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
N-O Standings: Akron 7-1, Wilson 6-2, Albion 5-3, Medina 4-3, Roy-Hart 2-5, Barker 2-6, Newfane 1-7.
Albion’s Tyler Cody grabs a rebound away from Barker’s Anthony Taliaferro.