Merry Acres, Albany Middle split crosstown basketball doubleheader

ALBANY — Albany Middle won the football bragging rights this fall. Merry Acres needed only a few minutes Monday night to make clear those victories wouldn’t carry much weight in its gym.

The Braves swarmed the Indians with full-court pressure, Princeton Atkins and Candler Williams found their shooting touch, and Merry Acres rolled to a 53-23 boys basketball victory.

Albany still left with something to celebrate. In the girls game, the Lady Indians weathered a Merry Acres comeback before holding the Lady Braves scoreless in the fourth quarter for a 31-13 win.

The split gave the young basketball season an early dose of Albany’s eastside-westside rivalry, with each school finding a different way to take command.

For the Merry Acres boys, it began with making Albany work for every bit of breathing room.

The Braves’ defense kept the Indians off balance and struggling to get shots away. At the other end, Atkins wasted little time finding his range. One 3-pointer put Merry Acres ahead 7-1. Another helped stretch the lead to 12-1.

When Williams connected from deep early in the second quarter, the advantage reached 17-1. Albany was still searching for an offensive rhythm while the Braves were settling comfortably into theirs.

The Indians began finding points as Merry Acres rotated players, but the return of the Braves’ starting five brought another Williams 3-pointer and a 22-7 lead.

Atkins saved his longest shot for the final seconds.

From just beyond half court, he launched a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that sent Merry Acres into halftime ahead 25-8. The Braves had spent the half making shots difficult for Albany; Atkins finished it by making a difficult one himself.

There was no opening for an Indians comeback after the break. Merry Acres pushed its lead to 41-16 through three quarters and maintained control to the finish.

Atkins and Williams scored 14 points apiece. De’Haven Frazier led Albany with eight, and Christian Watson added six.

While the boys established their advantage early, the Lady Indians had to regain control after Merry Acres threatened to turn their game around.

Albany led 8-4 at halftime, but Jennelisa Thomas supplied the spark the Lady Braves needed. She hit one third-quarter 3-pointer, then another, helping Merry Acres close within 15-13.

Suddenly, a game Albany had been leading was one possession from changing hands.

The Lady Indians responded by tightening their defense and finding offense from several players. Katlyn Mathis connected on a 3-pointer early in the fourth as Albany pulled ahead 20-13.

Merry Acres never scored again.

Albany’s fourth-quarter shutout allowed the Lady Indians to turn that two-point scare into an 18-point victory. Mathis finished with 10 points, Ana Simpson added nine and Rishonna Butler contributed seven.

Thomas led Merry Acres with six points, her two 3-pointers providing the Lady Braves’ biggest lift before Albany closed the door.