Albion tops rival Medina to extend win streak

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Luke Bell puts up a shot against Medina defender Preston Woodworth during the Purple Eagles win over the host rival Mustangs this evening.

Making it five wins in a row, Albion downed rival Medina 66-58 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening at Medina.

The Purple Eagles, in avenging an earlier season 63-45 home court loss to the rival Mustangs, improve to 7-3 in N-O action while Medina slips to 5-5. In fact that loss to Medina was Albion’s last N-O setback.

Wesley Olles scored 21 and Tyler Cody 20 to spearhead the offense for Albion as Kwame Riley and Isaiah Riley both added 7, Luke Bell 6 and Nate Gibson 5.

Albion’s Kwame Riley drives against Medina’s Cole Callard.

Jerrell Nealy took game high honors with 22 for Medina as Kolton Fletcher chipped in with 12, Christian Moss 10, Preston Woodworth 9, Cole Callard 3 and Jayzon Wills 2.

Albion jumped out to a 20-9 first quarter lead as Cody hit two threes and Olles and Bell both had a pair of baskets.

The Purple Eagles maintained a nine point, 29-20, advantage at the half as Kwame Riley had a three and a two during the low scoring second quarter.

Medina did rally back to within five, 31-26, at the outset of the third period after a pair of baskets by Fletcher and two free throws by Callard.

However, Albion answered right back with a big 14-0 run to close the period and move back out to a 19 point, 45-26 lead. Olles had 8 points and Cody 4 to lead that uprising. Three fast break layups, two by Olles and one by Tyler, two off turnovers, capped that big surge.

Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles extended the lead to 27, 56-29, early in the final period as threes by Gibson, Isaiah Riley and Cody highlighted the 11-3 run.

Medina though made the finish interesting as the Mustangs capitalized on an Albion lineup change to gain momentum. The Mustangs put together a 15-0 run to cut the deficit to 12, 56-44. Nealy tallied 7 and Moss 4 to lead that uprising.

With the starters back in, Albion got a big three-point play by Olles to end that big Mustangs run.

Medina did cut the deficit to seven, 62-55, and then to six, 66-58, in the final seconds but could get no closer. Nealy tallied 16 and Fletcher 8 in the final stanza to lead the Mustangs comeback bid.

The Purple Eagles used three free throws by Cody, two by Isaiah Riley and one by Olles in the final minute to put a lock on the win. Cody had a total of 8 points, and Olles and Isaiah Riley 5 each in the final period for the Purple Eagles.

Medina’s Christian Moss reaches to take a rebound away from Albion’s Tyler Cody.

Wilson 66, Barker 41
Wilson stayed tied with Albion for second place at 7-3 by defeating Barker 66-41.

Aidan Neumann poured in 28 to lead the Lakemen as Shamus George had 16 and Ryan Hough 9.

Anthony Taliaferro had 11 for Barker.

Newfane 46, Roy-Hart 44
Newfane (2-8) nipped Roy-Hart (2-7) 46-44 as Camlo Flowers scored 13 and Mac Capen 12.

Dan Aquilina and Erique Powell both scored 12 for Roy-Hart.

N-O Standings
Akron 9-1, Albion 7-3, Wilson 7-3, Medina 5-5, Barker 2-7, Roy-Hart 2-7, Newfane 2-8.

N-O Girls Basketball
Wilson (9-2) defeated Barker 0-9) 46-14 and Akron (7-2) bested Albion (3-8) 57-46 in N-O girls contests this evening.

A dozen girls scored for Wilson led by Abbie Faery with 9 and Bella Thrush 8.

Jordyn Kinne had 7 for Barker.

Paige Newton scored 9, Aaliyah Jones, Kenzi Snook and Leah Pawlak 8, Melia Prince 7 and Julia Knight 6 for Albion.

N-O standings
Newfane 9-2, Wilson 9-2, Akron 7-2, Roy-Hart 5-4, Albion 3-8, Medina 2-8, Barker 0-9

G-R Boys Basketball
Alexander 69, Holley 56
Destin Kuyal scored 17, Avante Walker 14 and Vinny Golisano 12 for Holley in the 69-56 Genesee Region League loss to Alexander.

Pembroke 37, Kendall 32
Vinnie D’Agostino scored 9, CJ D’Agostino 7 and Jonas Rhodes 6 for Kendall in the 37-32 G-R loss to Pembroke.

Kendall led 22-19 at the half.