Purple Eagles edge past rival Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – At left, Wesley Olles puts up a free throw to put Albion  back on top to stay in the closing seconds of tonight’s tense win by the host Purple Eagles.. At the right Albion’s Tyler Cody goes up to block a last ditch three point shot attempt by Medina’s Preston Woodworth.

In a tense sea-saw battle down the stretch, Albion emerged with a narrow 59-56 Senior Night win over rival Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening at Albion.

The lead changed hands no less than six times in the hectic final five minutes, twice in the final 32 seconds.

Trailing by seven, 43-36, early in the final period Medina ignited that wild finish by putting together a key 10-0 run to rally into s 46-43 lead with just under five minutes remaining.

Kendrick Russaw had a three-point play and a rebound basket, Kolton Fletcher a three and Preston Woodworth a rebound basket during that stretch.

Albion though answered back with a 7-0 run, including two baskets and a free throw by Tyler Cody and two free throws by Wesley Olles, to regain a 50-46 lead .

Albion’s Tyler Cody drives in for a layup between Medina defenders Preston Woodworth and Kolton Fletcher (4).

The sea-saw action continued as Medina went back on top 51-50 on baskets by Jerrell Nealy and Woodworth, Albion regained a 53-51 lead on a three-point play by Elijah Doxey with 2:20 remaining and then Medina went back into the lead for what proved to be the last time at 56-53 on a basket by Nealy followed by a three by Woodworth with 32 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for the Purple Eagles final game winning rally by scoring the game’s final five points in the last 24 seconds.

A basket by Doxey cut the deficit to one and Olles followed up with two big free throws to put the Purple Eagles back on top to stay at 57-56 with 21 seconds remaining. Olles then made two more free throws in the final 12 seconds to cap off the narrow 59-56 win.

Doxey finished with 17, Nate Gibson 15, Cody 14, Olles 10 and Adam Burgio 3.

Woodworth took game high honors for Medina with 21 as Fletcher and Nealy both had 9, Russaw 7, Christian Moss and Carlos Doval 3 each and Avion Johnson and Hadrian Batista 2 each.

Medina’s Kendrick Russaw puts up a shot against Albion defender Elijah Doxey.

Albion jumped out to a 17-10 first quarter lead as Gibson tallied 8 and Doxey 5 during that stretch as they each had a three.

The Purple Eagles went on to maintain narrow leads of 24-22 at the half and 38-34 at the end of the third quarter.

A basket by Cody and a three-point play by Gibson upped the Albion lead to seven, 43-36, at the outset of the decisive fourth quarter setting the stage for the hectic, sea-saw finish.

Albion is now 6-5 and Medina 6-4 in N-O action.

The Purple Eagles will next visiting league leading Wilson and Medina will host runner-up Akron on Tuesday.

Akron, Newfane post wins
In the other N-O contests, Akron jumped out to 32-12 half-time advantage in route to posting a 64-40 win over Roy-Hart and Newfane edged Barker 49-45.

Kasey Wheat had 18 and Mac Capen 14 to lead Newfane.

Anthony Taliaferro scored 19 and JJ Prynn 15 for Barker.

N-O Standings: Wilson 10-0, Akron 8-2, Medina 6-4, Albion 6-5, Newfane 4-6, Roy-Hart 1-9, Barker 1-10.

Medina’s Christian Moss drives to the basket as Nate Gibson defends for Albion.