Purple Eagles, Raiders open strong

Albion outlasted host Elba 74-69 in a non league season opening boys basketball game this evening earning new Purple Eagles coach Brennan Meakin a victory in his debut.

Barker also scored a season opening non league victory rallying past host Kendall 62-56.

In other non league openers, Holley dropped a narrow 56-51 decision at Northstar and Roy-Hart lost 65-48 at Tonawanda.

Manny Thompson scored 18 points, Des Blackmon 17, Ryan Fannin 9 and Connor Barleben 8 to lead the attack for Albion.

Blackmon scored 10 points in the decisive final quarter which also saw Thompson go 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

“Down the stretch we owned the rim,” said Meakin. “And we hit our shots when we were open. We had a very balanced attack.”

Albion, which next visits Burgard Wednesday, led 34-31 at the half.

Barker 62, Kendall 56
Jacob Haight scored 13 of his game high 19 points to spearhead a 21-11 Barker fourth quarter scoring edge which rallied the Raiders past host Kendall 62-56.

Mitch Luckman added 16 points and Bryce Moeller 11 for the Raiders.

Devin Appleton had 13 points, including three three’s, and Will Condo added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for Kendall which led 16-10 after one quarter, 34-28 at the half and 45-41 at the three-quarter mark.

Northstar 56, Holley 51
Joe DeFelice scored 13 points, Josh Porter 11, Ian Penders 10 and Corey Winter 8 points and 10 rebounds for Holley in the narrow loss at Northstar.

“We hung in there but our youth and inexperience showed in the fourth quarter,” said Hawks Coach Matt Hennard.