Purple Eagles edge past Lakemen

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Manwell Taylor drives against Wilson defender Jonah Miller during the Purple Eagles narrow win over the visiting Lakemen this evening.

Surviving a big fourth quarter scare, Albion nipped visiting Wilson 61-58 this evening in the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball season opener for the Purple Eagles.

Up by 12 late in the third period, Albion fell behind by three late in the final stanza but rebounded to score the game’s final six points on baskets by Kory Reynolds, Brady Meakin and Manwell Taylor to claim the narrow victory.

Taylor finished with a game high 18 points, Meakin 13, Tommy Mattison 10, Reynolds 8, Chase Hall 7 and Evan Pappalardo 5.

Jonah Miller led Wilson with 16 as Ryan Bradley, Andrew Eames and John Carney 10 each and Alex Fox 9.

Wilson jumped out to a 15-14 first period lead as Miller hit two threes and Connor Seeley one.

Albion bounced back to grab a 31-27 lead at the half sparked by three straight layups off turnovers late in the second period, two by Taylor and one by Mattison.

Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles boosted their advantage to 12, 46-34, late in the third period and maintained a 10 point, 49-39, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Meakin hit two threes in the period as Taylor added three baskets and Mattison two.

Albion’s Kory Reynolds puts up a shot over Wilson defenders Jonah Miller (50) and Andrew Eames (32).

However, Wilson came storming back to outscore Albion 19-6 over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter to rally into a three point, 58-55, lead.

Bradley scored 8 points, Miller 5 and Carney 4 to lead that Lakemen rally.

Albion though weathered the storm to close the contest with a game winning 6-0 run.

A bucket by Reynolds started that rally and Taylor followed up with a layup off a steal to put Albion back on top to stay at 59-58 with 43 seconds to go. Taylor followed up with a fast break layup to make it 61-58.

Wilson did get one last possession but the Lakemen could not get off a good shot.

Wilson is now 1-1 in N-O action.

Albion next hosts Roy-Hart and Wilson entertains CSAT on Friday.

Roy-Hart 62, CSAT 53
Andy Xapsos scored 29, Justin Heschke 13 and Chris Anderson 12 to lead Roy-Hart past CSAT 62-53.

Anderson scored 10 points in the first quarter to spark Roy-Hart out to a 19-12 lead.

The Rams went on to hold leads of 31-22 at the half and 40-36 at the three-quarter mark.

Heschke then scored 11 points and Xapsos went 7 of 8 from the free throw line to key a 22-17 fourth quarter scoring edge which locked up the win for the Rams.

Tapestry 83, Medina 70
Tapestry built up leads of 21-16 after one period, 43-34 at the half and 64-51 at the three-quarter mark in route to posting an 83-70 non league wn over host Medina.

Jalin Cooper scored 27 for Medina as Tyler Ames netted 12 and Daryl Haynes and Justin Morgan 11 each.

Medina next visits Barker at 6:30 p.m. Friday in an N-O League game.