Tigers free throw shooting bests Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Cole Callard puts up a shot as Akron’s Donny Kreher tries to block during the visiting Tigers win over the Mustangs this evening.

Sharp free throw shooting down the stretch helped Akron lock up a 61-54 win over host Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League game this evening.

Akron made 10 of 13 from the foul line in the decisive final stanza with 9 of the Tigers final 12 points coming from the line.

Drew Romesser scored 10 points, including two threes and 4 of 4 from the foul line, and Trace Hill netted 7, including a three, a two and 2 of 2 from the line, to lead the Tigers down the stretch.

Romesser finished with a game high 29, including 7 threes as Ben Gerstung added 11, Blake Gerstung 10, Hill 9 and Donny Kreher 2.

Aiden Pitts led Medina with 20 as Cayden Lilleby had 15, Justin Pitts 11, Jerrell Nealy 4 and Cole Callard and Roosevelt Mitchell 2 each.

Medina jumped out to an early 11 point, 19-8, lead as Justin Pitts hit two threes and Lilleby and Aiden Pitts 1 each.

However, Romesser answered with three straight threes to close the period and pull Akron back to within five at 22-17.

Two second quarter threes by Aiden Pitts helped keep Medina up by four, 30-26, at the half.

Akron though used a 14-10 third period coring edge, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line, to rally into a 40-40 tie at the three-quarter mark.

There were three lead changes early in the final period before the Tigers regained the lead for good at 54-48 after a pair of threes by Romesser and two free throws by Ben Gerstung.

Akron is now 4-3 and Medina 1-7 in N-O action.

Akron’s Ben Gerstung tries to put back a rebound shot surrounded by the Medina trio of Cayden Lilleby (2), Jerrell Nealy (35) and Roosevelt Mitchell (55).