CENTRAL NEW YORK – Maybe the best thing which happened to the Skaneateles boys basketball team was taking that Dec. 20 defeat in Cortland.
In the three games that followed the Lakers beat a trio of non-league foes by double-digit margins, starting with its 77-43 romp over General Brown Dec. 23 where Jack Peenstra had 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Then came back-to-back games later that week at Utica’s Nexus Center, starting Dec. 27 with Skaneateles taking on Holland Patent and rolling past the Golden Knights 76-61.
A potent Lakers attack established a 41-32 margin during an active first half, then kept adding to that total with Peenstra piling up 18 rebounds to go this his 20 points, four assists and three blocks.
Reid Danforth also had 20 points, tacking on seven rebounds and five assists. Joe Delmonico continued to step up with 19 points, four blocks and five rebounds as Finlay Coyne added eight points.
A day later it was Lowville whom Skaneateles would beat, this one a 68-55 game where, to break it open, the Lakers outscored the Red Raiders 46-25 over the course of the second and third quarters.
Danforth finished with a team-high 18 points. Peenstra, with 17 points, was close behind. Brody Loi earned six of his 11 points at the free-throw line as Shea Musso added eight points.
For the most part Westhill rested during the holiday break, but played Dec. 28 at Utica’s Nexus Center and worked it way past New Hartford 62-45.
Protecting its state no. 9 Class A ranking Westhill was superb on defense throughout the first three quarters while it amassed a 45-29 lead on the Spartans.
Again steering the offense, Eli Prince finished with 29 points, including four 3-pointers. Trevor Young had 12 points, Jackson Goodness nine points and Jack Hayes eight points.
Solvay took part in the Onondaga Tournament where, in the Dec. 27 opening round the Bearcats got its first win of the season by a score of 57-48.
Solvay jumped out 21-8 in the opening period and kept the lead from there, with Cameron Cappetta’s 13 points leading a well-balanced offense. Chris Nichols had 12 points as Aaron Trendell (11 points) also hit double figures.
Moving to the Dec. 28 final against Beaver River, the Bearcats lost 61-49, unable to overcome 31 points from the Beavers’ Kade Schneider as an 18-6 second quarter made the ultimate difference. Nichols got 19 points, but no other Solvay player hit double figures, Trendell getting closest with nine points.
Jordan-Elbridge played in the Phoenix Tournament where, in the Dec. 27 opening round, it lost 64-51 to the host Firebirds, who took charge with a 21-12 second-quarter push after the Eagles got an early lead.
Preston Murray gave J-E 19 points, with Nolan Brunelle adding 14 points and Lewis Vincent getting 10 points. Phoenix got balanced scoring from Tallen Prior (16 points), Edward Kelly (15 points) and Eli Bailer (12 points).
At least J-E turned it around in the consolation game smashing Hannibal 80-43. The Eagles built a 71-34 lead through three quarters as Brunelle, discovering some of his best form, poured in 34 points, including four 3-pointers. Murray finished with 21 points and Vincent earned 17 points.
