CENTRAL NEW YORK – Having made its way to no. 21 in the state Class B rankings, the Chittenango boys basketball team continued to gain momentum in its last game of 2022.
The Bears met Section II’s Schalmont Tuesday in the Rome Free Academy Showcase, again leaning heavily on the trio of Alex Moesch, Ty Kelly and Ryan Moesch to beat the Sabres 84-67.
Amid a torrid pace, Chittenango built a 41-31 advantage by halftime, and didn’t get rattled even when Schalmont pulled within range, 60-55, by the end of the third quarter.
Leading the late getaway, Kelly had 25 points, most of it from six successful 3-pointers. Ryan Moesch and Alex Moesch both converted twice outside the arc as Ryan had 24 points and Alex 23 points. Brendon Barnard added six points.
Back home, Chittenango’s girls basketball team hosted its own holiday tournament, which began Tuesday with a 37-25 defeat to Mexico.
The Tigers outscored the Bears 10-3 in the second quarter to gain control, and were carried by Alyssa Ingersoll, whose 26 points topped the entire Chittenango roster. Mia McReynolds (10 points) and Alazayah Smith (seven points) accounted for most of the Bears’ production.
A day later, in the consolation game against Jordan-Elbirdge (who lost to Phoenix in the other opening-round match-up), the Bears lost 53-24, unable to recover from a first quarter where the Eagles outscored them 21-5.
Mexico won a thrilling title game 43-41 over Phoenix, the Tigers, who play Cazenovia early next week, improving its overall record to 7-1 as Ingersoll, with 18 points, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
