SYRACUSE – Making yet another surprising run from a double-digit seed to the Section III Class B championship game was nice, but now, unlike 2020, Bishop Grimes wanted to win it all.
Yet General Brown made sure the Cobras didn’t reach the summit, the no. 2 seed Lions using a sustained second-half run and a stifling defense to defeat Grimes 47-26 in last Saturday’s final at SRC Arena.
Already, the Cobras had, from its no. 13 seed, won four playoff games. It handled Syracuse Academy of Science 53-35 in the opening round a mere four days after losing to those same Atoms late in the regular season.
Then came a double-overtime, 47-44 win at no. 5 seed Homer, followed by a tremendous fourth quarter that put way no. 4 seed Westhill 55-40 and, in the Feb. 27 semifinals, a strong second half that stopped unbeaten top seed Little Falls 49-44.
Only General Brown remained. But the 21-2, state no. 4-ranked Lions had proven just as impressive during its playoff run, routing Chittenango and Oneida and then handling no. 3 seed Marcellus 66-50 in the semifinals.
None of this bothered the Cobras at first. Jenna Sloan and Nayeil Aweil scored the game’s first four points and strong defense allowed Grimes to lead for a large portion of the first quarter.
As the half wore on, though, GB’s size advantage would start to reveal itself. The Lions’ zone defense forced the Cobras outside, and any time Grimes tried to drive, it seemed to lead to a turnover.
On the other end, GB had Emma Dupee score 13 first-half points, matching the Cobras by herself. But it looked like Grimes would get a chance to climb back in it when Dupee went to the bench with her fourth foul late in the third quarter.
Yet that was when the rest of the Lions began to contribute on offense, taking advantage of all the extra possessions it go from the string of Cobras turnovers.
Beginning with Karsyn Field’s steal and layup after Grimes cut the deficit to 23-18, the Lions went on a 16-4 run. Six of the points came from Kori Nichols, who would finish with 13 points to support Dupee’s total of 22 points.
On the Cobras’ side, just three players had field goals. Rosalie Vincent finished with 11 points as Sloan got eight points and Ayeil earned six points.
