Medina Journal-Register — In a tight battle Albion edged past host rival Medina 57-53 Friday in a clash of two teams seeking victory No. 1 on the young Niagara-Orleans League season.

Freddie Koester poured in a game high 28 points, Marquise Riddick added 16 and Tre Allport 11 to spearhead the Albion attack.

“They came to play tonight,” Albion coach Charlie Croff said. “We stuck to the game plan. We slowed the game down and took away their transition game.”

Lonnie Taylor scored 17, Dan Brown 12 and Ryan Thompson 10 for Medina.

Medina got off to a red hot start getting three threes from Thompson and one each from Brown and Jason Hellwig in the first four minutes for a 17-9 lead.

However, Albion rallied back to within two, 19-17, at the end of the period and the conest was tight the rest of the way. Riddick netted nine and Koester six to pace the Purple Eagles in the early going.

Albion then used a 15-8 second period scoring edge to rally into a 32-27 half-time advantage. Koester tallied eight and Allport hit a three to spark that surge.

Keeping the hot hand, Koester then erupted for 12 points in the third period to keep Albion on top 46-39 at the three-quarter mark. Taylor countered with 10 during that stretch to keep Medina close.

Getting two baskets from both Taylor and Brown and a three from Hellwig Medina did close to within one late but Albion got a big three from Riddick and then free throws from Koester and Allport to put a lock on the win.

Albion is now 1-3 and Medina 0-4 in N-O action.

CSAT 46, Barker 44

BARKER — Jumping out to a 19-8 first quarter lead, Barker saw CSAT battle back to claim a narrow 46-44 victory and remain unbeaten at 4-0 in N-O action.

The victory, combined with Newfane’s 75-68 win over Roy-Hart, gives CSAT sole possession of first place. Newfane, Roy-Hart and Wilson, a 46-19 victor over Akron, are all deadlocked for second place at 3-1.

Darnell Carson scored 14 to lead CSAT which rallied into a 23-23 tie at the half and then into a 33-30 lead at the three-quarter mark.

Jacob Haight scored 24 for Barker which slips to 1-3.

Akron 46, Wilson 19

AKRON - Jumping out to leads of 14-3 after one quarter and 24-9 at the half, Akron went on to defeat Wilson 46-19 to improve to 3-1.

The loss drops Wilson to 1-3.

Newfane 75, Roy-Hart 68

MIDDLEPORT — Clicking on a school record 14 threes, Newfane bested previously unbeaten Roy-Hart 75-68 leaving both teams at 3-1 in N-O action.

Reid Weber scored 22, including six threes, and Connor Sears 20, including two threes to spearhead the Newfane attack.

Brab Bobbitt scored 21, Blake Copella 16 and Ryan Farewell and Alex Stoddard 11 apiece for Roy-Hart.

Newfane jumped out to a 25-14 first period lead and went on to hold leads of 35-30 at the half and 59-46 at the three-quarter mark.