Purple Eagles rally falls short against Lady Lancers

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Sarah Metzler puts up a shot against Elba’s Bri Pangrazo during the host Purple Eagles loss to the Lady Lancers this evening.

A huge comeback bid fell just short as Albion dropped a 52-43 decision to visiting Elba this evening in a non league girls basketball game.

Trailing by as many as 16 midway through the third period, Albion came storming back into a tie with three minutes to go but could not grab the lead.

Alyssa Bogue scored six of her 12 points in the final three minutes to put Elba back on top to stay.

Kelsey Bezon poured in a game high 22 points for Elba including four three-point baskets.

Sarah Metzler scored 14 and Chanyce Powell 11 for Albion. The Purple Eagles which played without starter Kelsee Soule, who was injured in last week’s game against Batavia, also had Justice Nauden tally 7, Emily Blanchard 5, Mandi Covis 4 and Savannah Allen 2.

“I was really proud of how they reacted,” Albion Coach Lucian Price said. “We had the injury and we got down in the first half but they showed a lot of character in coming back like that. And it wasn’t just one person, they all worked together. Hopefully this will give them some confidence.”

Powell hit two quick buckets to give Albion an early 4-2 lead but turnovers and cold shooting plagued the Purple Eagles the rest of the half as Elba rallied into leads of 9-4 after one quarter and 27-14 at the half.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Emily Blanchard puts up a shot for Albion against Elba defender Jennifer Pedro.

Bezon scored 10 points, including two threes, and Alex Reigle five, including a three. to lead the Lady Lancers 18-10 second quarter surge.

Elba stetched its advantage to 16, 37-21, midway through the third period before Albion began to rally.

Albion caught fire to close the period with a 13-4 to cut the deficit to 41-34 at the three-quarter mark.

Metzler had two lay-ups to cap that uprising which also included a three by Blanchard, a lay-up by Allen and a jumper by Nauden.

Keeping the momentum, Albion opened the decisive final stanza with a 9-2 run to rally into a 43-43 tie.

A three-point play by Powell ignited that run which also included two free throws by Covis, a jumper by Blanchard and was capped off by a tying lay-up by Metzler.

However, the Purple Eagles could not forge ahead.

Weathering the storm, Elba answered with a 9-0 run to claim the victory. Bogue had three baskets and Bezon a three during that decisive run.

Now at 0-2, Albion next visits Akron Friday in the Niagara-Orleans League opener.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Mandi Covis (12) drives against Elba’s Haley Brown.

Pembroke 43, Kendall 36
A comeback bid likewise fell just short for Kendall as the host Lady Eagles dropped a 43-36 decision to Pembroke in a Genesee Region League game.

Trailing by as many as nine, Kendall rallied into a 33-33 tie with three minutes to go on two free throws by Tania Arellano but the Lady Eagles could not take the lead.

Taylor Kingsbury had 12 points and 13 rebounds on the night for Kendall as Arellano added 10 points and Shelby Reis 8.

Kendall is now 1-1 and 2-2 overall.