Tigers dash Mustangs’ title hopes

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 February 2015 at 12:00 am

Purple Eagles, Lakemen, Panthers win

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Justin Morgan (3) takes the opening tap in for a layup over Akron’s Chaunce Hill (3) during the Mustangs home court loss to the Tigers this evening.

Avenging an earlier season 29 point loss (76-47), Akron upended host Medina 61-54 this evening to dash the Mustangs hopes of claiming a share of the Niagara-Orleans League title.

The loss drops Medina to 10-3 and out of title contention. With just one game remaining the Mustangs are now two games behind Wilson (12-1) which locked up outright possession of the N-O championship with a 42-33 victory over visiting Roy-Hart.

Trailing by five, 48-43, Akron put together a big 18-6 scoring burst down the stretch to claim the win in the sea-saw contest which saw no less than 15 lead changes.

Medina’s Devonte Howard (23) battles with Akron’s Caleb Martin (55) for position.

Akron opened the final stanza with a 10-2 run to rally into the lead at 53-50. Caleb Martin led that spurt with six points on two layups and a pair of free throws.

Medina did answer back with back-to-back baskets by Jalin Cooper and Justin Morgan to regain the lead for what proved to be the last time at 54-53. with 2:05 remaining.

The Mustangs though were unable to score again over the final two minutes as Akron closed with an 8-0 run.

A layup by Gates Abrams put Akron back on top to stay for good at 55-54 and Chaunce Hill followed up with a key layup off a steal to make it 57-54 with 1:30 remaining. Two free throws by Abrams with 18 seconds to go, which made it 59-54, then put a lock on the win.

Abrams finished with a game high 18 points, Martin 14, Sundown 11 and Justin Schmid 8.

Jason Hellwig led Medina with 17. Dylan Lewis and Cooper both added 8, Morgan 7, Brennan Zinkievich and David Garrow 6 each and Devonte Howard 2 for the Mustangs.

Medina’s Jalin Cooper (1) makes a pass ahead of Akron defender Larson Sundown (10).

Medina grabbed a narrow 22-18 lead at the end of the first quarter as Hellwig and Lewis both had a three and a layup, Zinkievich two threes and Garrow a rebound bucket and a layup.

The Mustangs held a slender two point 32-30, lead at the half as Hellwig had three baskets in the second quarter as did Sundown for Akron.

The third quarter, which saw three ties and four lead changes, finished with Medina up by five at 48-43 after a late 10-3 run. Cooper had a layup and a rebound bucket, Lewis a three and Hellwig a layup during that run.

The Mustangs though could not build on the lead as Akron came battling back down the stretch to outscore the Mustangs 18-6 and claim the win and improve to 7-5.

Medina will close out the N-O season at home against CSAT at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Medina’s Dylan Lewis (5) puts up a shot past Akron’s Gates Abrams (23).

Albion 69, CSAT 64
Albion boosted its N-O record to 8-5 with a 69-64 win at CSAT which slips to 6-6.

Alex Bison scored 22 to lead the way for Albion. Tommy Mattison added 14, Des Blackmon 11, Clayton Stanton 10, and Austin Loyd 8 for the Purple Eagles.

Breaking away from a 21-21 tie at the end of the first quarter, Albion used a 21-12 second period scoring edge to open up a 42-33 lead at the half. Bison scored 12 in the period including a pair of threes.

CSAT did rally back to within two, 55-53, at the three-quarter mark but Albion used a 14-11 scoring edge in the final stanza to earn the win. Mattison and Blackmon both hit big threes down the stretch for the Purple Eagles.

Wilson 42, Roy-Hart 33
Wilson used a balanced attack including 13 by Kyle Bradley, 9 by Evan Shank and 8 each by Joe Littere and Jarret Johnston to earn a title clinching 42-33 win over visiting Roy-Hart.

The Lakemen led 21-13 at the half and 35-27 after three quarters.

Andy Xapsos scored 16 for Roy-Hart which slips to 3-10.

Newfane 69, Barker 63
Jumping out to a 17-3 first quarter lead, Newfane went on to defeat Barker 69-63 to improve to 4-9 in N-O action.

Kyle Burdick scored 25 to pace Newfane as Tyler Jordan added 10, Chad Gilson and Kyle Guerriera 9.

Nate Luckman took game high honors for Barker with 29, 22 of which came in the final period. Thomas Callaghan and Joshua Mead both chipped in with 10 for the Raiders.