CENTRAL NEW YORK – What happened over the course of last week would go a long way in determining if the Chittenango boys basketball team could maintain its perfect mark all the way to February – and it could not.
At 9-0 and no. 17 in the state Class B rankings, the Bears were tested at 7-1 Marcellus last Tuesday night, even trailing in the fourth quarter before a strong finish produced a 65-55 win over the Mustangs.
All through the first half, Chittenango stayed out in front, buoyed by Alex Moesch’s ability to produce baskets and an effective full-court press. Yet Marcellus netted five straight points at the end of the second quarter to cut its halftime deficit to 29-24
Even more impressive was the 13-0 run Marcellus put together late in the third period as it got hot from the perimeter and turned a 12-point deficit into a 41-40 advantage with one quarter left.
However, the Bears’ pressure produced turnovers and baskets on the other end, especially from Moesch, who finished with 26 points. And when Marcellus tried to answer, a pair of big 3-pointers by Bryce Bishop stifled the comeback.
Ty Kelly, with his 15 points, offered ample support as Bishop got 11 points and Ryan Moesch eight points. Four Marcellus players hit double figures, with Will Burnett and Pat Louer both netting 13 points, Austin Voss 11 points and Will Kershaw 10 points.
Only on Saturday, when Chittenango had to face Class AA contender Fayetteville-Manlius, did the Bears’ 10-game win streak end, the Hornets prevailing 58-49 win in a contest that combined the routine with the occasionally spectacular.
From the outset, the Hornets controlled the tempo, never letting the Bears run as it wanted, and jumped out 17-7. Chittenango made up ground in the second quarter, only to see F-M’s Trevor Roe sink a three-quarters-court shot at the buzzer to extend F-M’s margin to 34-26 at the break.
All through the second half, the Hornets effectively turned back Chittenango despite 17 points from Kelly and 14 points from Alex moesch. on the other end, Roe worked his total to 23 points and Luke Davidson got 21 points.
Aiming for a big win of its own, Cazenovia met another 7-1 team, Skaneateles, last Tuesday, and in this Lakers clash the visiting Lakers got close at the end, but settled for a 58-56 defeat.
Skaneateles limited Cazenovia to eight points in the first quarter and jumped out in front, essentially spending the rest of the game doing all it could to hang on.
A.J. Rothfeld, with 15 points, again paced Cazenovia. Ben Bianco (13 points) was close behind as Peter McCole and Tom Insel had eight points apiece, Tanner Ackermann adding seven points. Jude Pascal led Skaneateles with 20 points.
Another close loss followed on Friday, Cazenovia falling to Institute of Technology Central 48-44 as the Eagles outscored the Lakers 31-19 in the second and third quarters. Rothfeld still had 18 points, with Insel adding nine points and Ackermann getting eight points.
Cazenovia’s girls basketball was 5-1, and still state-ranked at no. 19, when it went to Marcellus last Thursday night. But a three-week layoff was quite evident early, and the Lakers never recovered in a 60-34 defeat.
Having not played since Dec. 22, Cazenovia saw Marcellus jump out 18-5 on them, then continued to add to that margin the rest of the way.
Carleigh Szalach was held to five points as only Anna Edwards, with 11 points, hit double figures. Hannah Ruddy had six points as Katie MacLachlan paced the Mustangs with 19 points.
Rebounding in a big way on Saturday, Cazenovia handled state Class D no. 7-ranked Hamilton 59-27 as Szalach, all by herself, outscored the Emerald Knights, earning 28 points. Szalach and Hadley Schug hit eight three-pointers between them, Schug finishing with 17 points.
The Chittenango girls moved to 4-6 on the season last Thursday by toppling Hannibal 38-30. Hailee Foran, with 10 points, paced the Bears as Mia McReynolds got eight points. Allison Soulier and Brooke Soulier had six points apiece.
