Purple Eagles top Raiders to even record

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Jahmeek Riley reaches for a rebound over Barker’s Joey Brandt during the Purple Eagles win over the host Raiders this evening.

Gaining the .500 mark at 2-2, Albion posted a 62-54 victory over host Barker this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game.

Bailey Blanchard scored a game high 26 points to lead the way for Albion as Jahmeek Riley added 9, Christian Doty and Tyler Gibson 8 each, Chris Shabazz 7 and Damion Lattimer and Shakarion Drisdom 2 each.

Barker’s Brad Cantrell drives around Albion defender Zach Coleccechi.

Brad Cantrell led Barker with 21 as Joey Brandt added 11, Devonte Hill 7, Steven Class 6, Nicholas Guevara 4, Cole Ecker 3 and Nathan Meza Ray 2.

Barker did jump out to a 16-8 first quarter lead as Brandt and Cantrell both had a pair of baskets and Ecker a three.

However, Albion got right back into the game by opening the second quarter with a 16-3 run to rally into a 24-19 lead.

Two threes by Doty helped ignite that uprising which also included a three, a rebound bucket and a layup by Blanchard.

Threes by Cantrell and Class helped the Raiders regain a 31-30 lead late in the period but Gibson answered with a three for Albion to give the Purple Eagles a narrow 33-31 lead at the half.

The Purple Eagles quickly extended their lead to nine, 40-31, at the outset of the third quarter after a three by Gibson, a jumper by Blanchard and a layup off a turnover by Doty.

Albion maintained a seven point, 46-39, lead at the three-quarter mark.

The teams then traded scores for most of the final period but the Raiders, which are now 1-4, could get no closer than eight.

Blanchard hit two threes and Riley had a pair of layups down the stretch to help the Purple Eagles hold the advantage.

Albion next hosts Akron and Barker visits Newfane on Saturday.

Albion’s Chris Shabazz puts up a shot against Barker defender Steven Class as Damion Lattimer supports.

Akron 60, Roy-Hart 50

Jake Mazza scored 17, David Kalinowski 14, Josh Mazza 13 and Adam Mietz 11 to lead a balanced attack for Akron as the Tigers downed Roy-Hart 60-50.

Aiden Petrie scored 16, Rhett Goodwin 12 and Brandon DiNeri 11 for Roy-Hart which trailed 30-19 at the half.

Akron improves to 3-1 and Roy-Hart, which next hosts Medina on Saturday, slips to 1-3.

Newfane 52, Wilson 29

Hitting seven threes along the way, N-O leading Newfane roared out to a 34-12 half-time lead and went on to defeat rival Wilson 52-29 to improve to 4-0.

Zach Snow and Jeremy Foltz each scored 12 for the Panthers while Michael Miller had 8 for Wilson which drops to 1-4.