After suffering through four straight defeats high-level OHSL Liberty division, the Solvay girls basketball team finally broke through. It took some strong play in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats were able to beat Skaneateles 37-34 on Friday night. Steadily, Solvay worked its way to a 21-17 halftime lead. But Skaneateles, like the Bearcats in search of a first win, caught up and tied it, 27-27, going into the final period. Knowing what it needed to do, Solvay tightened its defense and held the Lakers to seven points the rest of the way, doing just enough on the other side to prevail. Tessa Pucello, with 14 points, and Amanda Bigness, with 12 points (all from four 3-pointers), accounted for most of Solvay’s offense. In defeat, Emily Call led Skaneateles with 15 points. As this was going on, the Solvay boys basketball team was at home, running into Skaneateles and absorbing a 68-49 defeat. Skaneateles was riding a large wave of momentum after key OHSL Liberty wins over Marcellus and Westhill, both games where they came from behind in the fourth quarter to prevail. Here, it proved different. Skaneateles roared out to a 26-6 first-quarter lead, and though Solvay cut the margin in half to 39-29 with a strong second-period showing, it could not move closer. Still, Dan Aiello had 13 points, while John Savo and T.J. Fazio each had eight points. Kevin Rice led the way for the Lakers, earning 22 points. Both Solvay teams face Jordan-Elbridge early next week, and the girls Bearcats will play in the Fabius-Pompey Tournament on Dec. 28 and 29.