Mustangs Split with Mustangs as Middle Schools Duke it Out on the Court

The  battle for "Middle School Bragging Rights" has gone on since became Strongsville's second middle school. To showcase the future Mustang basketball stars, the big Albion vs. match-up was moved to the gym in 2002 and remains the "game to win" on each team's schedule.

You can lose nearly all of your regular season games, but a victory over your intra-city rival will allow you to claim a  successful season. The two Albion teams and the two Center teams went into Wednesday's showdown with a combined record of 35 - 11. The stage was set.

The seventh-grade teams got things rolling and it was early Albion pressure that paid off as the Albion Mustangs took an early 10-3 lead. Center bounced back and tied the game at 16 and 18 points before taking a 22-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Albion came out in the second half and found the basket as they outscored Center in the third quarter 18-7. Center was not about to take this lying down as they put on an 8-0 run of their own to start the final quarter.

With one minute left, Albion held a 3-point lead, 46-43, before Center finally ran out of gas. The final score of the seventh grade game was Albion 53, Center 46.

Center's Zach Kahn led all scorers with 18 points while teammate Jonnie Hopkins tossed in 17. For Albion, it was Sean Aske leading the way with 15 points (and played stellar defense) while Alec McGrath scored 10 for the victors. Center's record drops to 8-5 while the Mustangs of Albion improve to 10-3.

The eighth-grade Mustangs then took center stage. The game began with very conservative efforts by both team offenses as only 7 points were scored halfway through the first quarter. At the halfway point of the game, the teams, although displaying totally different styles, appeared quite even as the score might indicate, 18-16 Center.

As the third quarter began, Center put a number of shots together, including 2 three-pointers, as they went on an 11-0 spurt. Center led after three quarters 33-24. It was at this point of the game that Center's defense took over. As Albion tried to push the ball inside to their playmaker, Alex Barnes, the Center defense collapsed on him.

Albion never recovered as the Center Mustangs took the nightcap 41-26.

Center's Brandon Lorek took scoring honors with 11 points while Nick Hoerig and Tanner Castora had 6 apiece. For Albion, Alex Barnes was the only player in double digits with 10.

 Center's record moves to 10-2 while the Mustangs from Ablion drop their third game of the season against 10 victories.

 The evening showed something else, too: that  Strongsville High School has some talented kids coming its way in a few years.