Purple Eagles top Rams; Mustangs gain share of N-O lead as Tigers down Panthers

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 2 March 2021 at 8:40 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Damion Lattimer puts up a shot against Roy-Hart defenders Aiden Petrie and Rhett Goodwin during the Purple Eagles win over the host Rams this evening.

Making it four wins in a row, Albion posted a 72-46 victory over host Roy-Hart this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game.

With the victory Albion improves to 4-2 and moves to within a game of first place in the suddenly very tight N-O title race.

Four teams are now within a game of first place after Akron knocked Newfane from the ranks of the unbeaten by a 50-31 margin and Medina downed host Wilson 60-44.

Roy-Hart’s Jon Gillings goes up for a shot as Elijah Lloyd defends for Albion.

Medina and Newfane are now tied for first place at 5-1 at the halfway point of the N-O season with Albion and Akron both just a game off the pace at 4-2.

Bailey Blanchard and Damion Lattimer each scored 15 and Christian Doty 11 to lead the way for Albion as Jahmeek Riley added 9, Tyler Gibson and Tony Freeman 5 and Chris Shabazz, Elijah Lloyd and Greg Thompson 4 each.

Aiden Petrie took game high honors with 17 and Rhett Goodwin had 13 to lead Roy-Hart as Gavyn Boyle added 5, John Conley 3 and Jon Gillings, Bryan Baes, Vincent Buscarino and Brandon Masters 2 each.

Albion jumped out to a 15 point, 24-9 first quarter lead as Doty had two threes and a jumper, Blanchard a three and a layup and Shabazz a pair of baskets.

The Purple Eagles maintained a 16 point, 38-22, advantage at the three-quarter mark as Lattimer scored nine in the second period.

Roy-Hart did come battling back by opening the third period with a 14-3 run to slice the deficit to just five at 43-38. Goodwin had a three and a jumper and Petrie a pair of layups to lead that Rams rally.

However, Albion answered back with a key 10-0 run to close the period and regain a 15 point, 53-38, advantage heading into the final quarter. Freeman had a three, Riley a layup off a steal and Lattimer a layup and a rebound bucket during that key uprising.

The Purple Eagles then put a firm lock on the victory by opening the final period with a 15-6 run to roar away to a 17 point, 68-41 lead.

Medina 60, Wilson 44

Pulling away in the third quarter, Medina went on to defeat host Wilson 60-44.

Leading 29-21 at the half, the Mustangs outscored the Lakemen 19-9 in the decisive third period to take a 48-30 advantage into the final period.

Tyler Chinn scored 18 and Brian Fry 14 to lead the way for Medina as Jarin Rhim, Joe Cecchini and Christian Drisdom each added 7,  Dontae Rhim 4 and Matt Henning 3. Chinn also had 6 assists and 6 steals and Fry 6 assists.

Michael Miller led Wilson with 12.

Akron 50, Newfane 31

Mitchell Holtz scored 19, Adam Mietz 11, David Kalinowski and Jake Mazza 7 each and Josh Mazza 6 to lead Akron to a key 50-31 victory over previously unbeaten Newfane.

N-O Standings: Medina 5-1, Newfane 5-1, Akron 4-2, Albion 4-2, Barker 1-5, Roy-hart 1-5, Wilson 1-5.

Albion’s Tyler Gibson drives in for a layup as Rhett Goodwin and Brandon DeNeri defend for Roy-Hart.