Purple Eagles post win over Rams

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Clayton Stanton (31) puts up a shot against Roy-Hart’s Chris Anderson (22) during the Purple Eagles win over the visiting Rams this evening.

Leading by a narrow four point margin midway through the final period, Albion closed with an 11-3 run to claim a 57-45 victory over visiting Roy-Hart this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game.

Roy-Hart stayed within four at 46-42 after a three by Andy Xapsos and a layup by Justin Heschke before Albion counted with the decisive stretch run.

The Purple Eagles victory clinching scoring burst included two layups by Des Blackmon, a jumper by Clayton Stanton along with 2 free throws each by Gary Moore and Austin Loyd and one by Manwell Taylor.

Loyd finished with 16, Tommy Mattison 13 and Blackmon 11 to lead the way for Albion. Stanton added 7, Moore 5, Alex Bison 4 and Taylor 1 for the Purple Eagles.

Xapsos finished with a game high 29 for Roy-Hart as Heschke netted 8, Ben Maynard 6, Nelson Andrade 4 and Sam White and Zach Srock 2 each.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Andy Xapsos looks to drive past Albion defenders Tommy Mattison (1) and Austin Loyd (2).

Back-to-back threes by Moore and Blackmon earned Albion a 18-14 lead at the end of the first period.

Roy-Hart did pull even at 18-18 at the outset of the second period after a layup off a turnover by Heschke and a layup by Xapsos but the Rams could not regain the lead.

Albion answered with 9-0 run, including a three and two free throws by Loyd, to open up 27-18 lead. Loyd had a total of 9 points in the period and 12 in the half.

Roy-Hart did cut the deficit back to four, 31-27, at the half after a jumper, two free throws and a three by Xapsos but the Rams would get no closer. Xapsos had a total of 18 in the opening half.

Mattison had a three along with a layup and a rebound bucket in the third period to help keep the Purple Eagles up by seven at 42-35 at the three-quarter mark.

Tallies by Xapsos and Heschke did keep Roy-Hart within four midway through the final period before Albion finally pulled away for good as Blackmon, Moore, Stanton, Loyd and Taylor all contributed points.

Both teams are now 1-1 in N-O action.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Middleport but damage to the Roy-Hart court caused by a roof leak caused the contest to be switched to Albion.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Austin Loyd (2) and Clayton Stanton (31) look to block a shot by Roy-Hart’s Nelson Andrade (5).