Trojans turn back late Mustangs rally

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jayzon Wills goes in for a layup against West Seneca East defender Brady Murdoch during the Mustangs loss to the visiting Trojans this afternoon.

A fourth quarter comeback bid fell short as Medina dropped a 73-64 decision to visiting West Seneca East in a non league game this afternoon.

Trailing by 17, 53-36, Medina got back into the game by opening the final period with a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to five, 57-52, with 4:30 remaining.

Two threes by Jerrell Nealy ignited that rally which also included a two and a three by Kolton Fletcher.

However, East answered right back with a pair of slam dunks by Craig Leslie, the second coming off a turnover, which triggered an 8-0 run vaulting the Trojans back out to a 13 point, 65-52 lead.

The Mustangs did rally back to within six twice, first a 67-61 after a basket by Christian Moss and a three by Preston Woodworth, and again at 70-64 after another three by Woodworth, but could get no closer.

Leslie finished with a game high 27 to lead the Trojans as Brady Murdoch added 20 and Maxwel Czora 15.

Nealy led Medina with 23 as Fletcher added 12, Moss 11 and Woodworth and Jayzon Wills 9 each.

Medina grabbed a 17-14 first quarter lead but East opened the second period with a big 14-0 run to take an 11 point, 28-17 advantage. Two threes by Czora sparked that uprising.

The Mustangs though answered back with an 11-0 run on buckets by Fletcher, Wills, Nealy and Moss and a three by Woodworth to pull even at 28-28.

Medina would not regain the lead though as East reclaimed a 33-28 half-time advantage after a three and a layup off a steal both by Leslie.

The Trojans then used a 20-8 third period scoring edge to move out to a 17 point, 53-36 lead and the Mustangs could get no closer than 5 down the stretch.

Medina will next host Roy-Hart on Friday in the Mustangs Niagara-Orleans League opener.

Allegany-Limestone 70, Barker 39
Jumping out to a 22-3 first quarter lead Allegany-Limestone went on to down host Barker 70-39 in a non league game this afternoon.

Owen Harris scored 16 and Logan Murrell 10 to lead Barker.

Medina’s Preston Woodworth drives around East’s Maxwel Czora.