Purple Eagles surge past Rams

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kory Reynolds (22) goes over Roy-Hart’s Andy Xapsos (0) for a layup during the Purple Eagles 69-52 win over the host Rams this evening.

Getting point production from nine different players, Albion posted a 69-52 victory over host Roy-Hart this evening to improve to 5-4 in Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball competition.

Des Blackmon scored 13, Gary Moore 11 and Tommy Mattison 10 to lead Albion’s balanced attack. Austin Loyd chipped in with 9, Manny Thompson 8, Kory Reynolds 7, Manwell Taylor and Alex Bison 4 and Evan Pappalardo 3 for the Purple Eagles.

Chris Anderson scored 14, Andy Xapsos 12 and Justin Heschke 11 for Roy-Hart which slips to 2-7. Ben Maynard added 7, Aaron Metz 4 and Nelson Andrade and Sam White 2 each for the Rams.

Roy-Hart’s Sam White (13) puts up a shot as Kory Reynolds (22) tries for a block for Albion.

Albion jumped out to a 13-9 first period lead as Mattison and Moore both hit threes and Thompson added a pair of late layups.

Anderson had all three of Roy-Hart’s field goals in the period to keep the Rams close.

Moore put together an eight point run at the outset of the second period on a three, a three-point play and a jumper to quickly up Albion’s advantage to 12 at 21-9.

However, Roy-Hart answered right back with a 14-5 run to close the period and rally back to within three, 26-23, at the half. Xapsos scored eight points to key that rally which also included buckets by Metz and Anderson.

Albion’s Gary Moore (15) tries to take the ball away from Roy-Hart’s Chris Anderson (22).

Albion stretched the lead back to as much as 13 late in the third period and maintained a nine point, 49-40, lead at the three-quarter mark.

Reynolds had seven points, including a three-point play, to lead the Purple Eagles in the third as Mattison, Loyd and Blackmon all hit threes.

The Purple Eagles then finally broke the game open for good by putting together a 10-2 run to start the final period.

Blackmon spearheaded that uprising with a jumper and two layups as the Purple Eagles pulled away to a 17 point, 59-42, advantage with 5:20 remaining and the Rams could get no closer than 11 after that.

Blackmon scored eight and Loyd six down the stretch for the Purple Eagles.

Albion next visits Newfane and Roy-Hart hosts Medina on Friday.

Roy-Hart’s Chris Anderson (22) goes over Albion’s Manny Thompson (14) for a shot.