Purple Eagles face rebuilding task

Photo by Mike Wertman – Raven White, left, and Chanyce Powell and their Albion teammates are prepping for the Purple Eagles December 2 non league home opener against Cleve Hill.

Youth and inexperience dominate the lineup for the Albion girls basketball squad which is prepping to open the season at home on December 2 with a non league game against Cleve Hill.

Junior Chanyce Powell is the lone returning starter and Raven White the only senior on the Purple Eagles youthful roster. Powell earned first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honors last year as she averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Albion’s graduation losses included the starting quartet of first team N-O All-League honoree Justice Nauden along with Amanda Covis, Sarah Metzler and Savannah Allen.

The Purple Eagles underclassmen dominated roster also includes juniors Emily Blanchard, Nikki Eldred, Celeste Hoffman and Cierra Chudy along with sophomores Caitlynn Snook, Natalie DiCureia, Janae Doty, Elizabeth Baker and freshmen Cierra Newton.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids but were pretty athletic and we have good numbers,” said Coach Lucian Price. “We have strength in numbers. We have good depth.”

Albion, which went 9-5 in N-O competition and 12-10 overall last season, will open the N-O campaign at Wilson on December 15.

Albion’s Schedule:
Dec. 2 – Cleve Hill, 7 p.m.
Dec. 4 – Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 – at Red Jacket, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 – at Batavia, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.
Dec. 18 – at Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.
Dec. 23 – Newfane ,7 p.m.
Dec. 29 and 30 – at Wheatland-Chili Tournament
Jan. 5 – at Barker, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 – at Medina, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 – CSAT, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 – Akron, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 – Wilson, 6 p.m.
Jan. 22 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 – at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 – Barker, 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 – Medina, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 – at CSAT, 6 p.m.
Feb. 12 – at Akron, 5:30 p.m.