For some odd reason, the Bishop Ludden girls basketball team always seems to be on target whenever it confronts Skaneateles.
The same kind of hot shooting that helped the Gaelic Knights to an easy win over the Lakers on Dec. 14 resurfaced last Thursday night in the rematch in Geddes, where Ludden’s accuracy from beyond the arc led to a 57-44 win.
Playing for the first time in a week, the Gaelic Knights were fresh, energetic and eager to try and chase down Cazenovia atop the OHSL Liberty division standings — though those other Lakers stayed in front with a 67-36 rout of Marcellus.
It helped that freshman Ashley Cianfriglia and senior Molly Byrne kept getting open for 3-point shots. Between them, Cianfriglia and Byrne hit on five 3-pointers in the first half alone, forming the foundation for a lead that grew as large as 17 before the Gaelic Knights went to halftime ahead 35-20.
While this was going on, Ludden used full-court defensive pressure to make Skaneateles work for every inch of space on the court. Sometimes, the Lakers would break that press and get easy baskets, but the energy expended to get those looks would take a toll.
Not once in the second half did Skaneateles move within single digits. Late in the third quarter, the margin went to 11, 41-30, but Cianfriglia hit two more 3-pointers and all but put the Lakers away.
All of Cianfriglia’s 15 points came from those five treys, and the Lakers couldn’t concentrate on her because Byrne was up to her usual high standard, leading both sides with 19 points. Michelle Roesch (eight points) and Bella Knapp (seven points) made solid contributions, too.
For the Lakers, Caryn Crary had 14 points, with Brittany LaVaute adding 10 points. Staci Dudden and Alexis Jones got nine points apiece.
At 10-4 on the season (6-3 league), the Gaelic Knights have three non-league games this week, including a battle with Corcoran, from the Class AA ranks, and a Sunday game against Rochester Mercy.
