A Lakers boys basketball team is guaranteed to reach the March 1 Section III Class B semifinal at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall.
Whether it’s no. 4 seed Cazenovia, or no. 5 seed Skaneateles, will get determined by next Wednesday night’s quarterfinal showdown at Buckley Gym, which followed Friday’s opening round where Cazenovia needed Ryan Henderson’s hot hand to fend off the no. 13 seed Phoenix Firebirds and prevail by a 52-49 margin.
Going into the game, there was reason to feel wary. Phoenix had come to Buckley Gym and played the Lakers tough two weeks earlier, on Feb. 4, and though Cazenovia won, 59-55, the Firebirds had made an impression.
What’s more, Phoenix had tuned up for this game by routing another Class B playoff participant, Solvay, 66-45 last Tuesday night, and that got the Lakers’ full attention.
It was close from the outset, the Firebirds mostly matching baskets with Cazenovia and only trailing, 15-13, through one period.
Through the game’s middle stages, as each side found it difficult to provide consistent offensive production, Henderson took charge, hitting on all kinds of shots, including four 3-pointers. This helped the Lakers stretch out its lead to 39-30 with one period left.
Phoenix was far from done, though. Led by Zach Sisera, who had 19 points, and Connor Haney, who added 15 points, the Firebirds closed the gap throughout the fourth quarter, moving within one, 50-49, as time wound down.
But with 14.7 seconds left, Henderson, fittingly, hit two big free throws, and when Phoenix could not get a tying 3-point attempt off, Cazenovia’s season lived for at least one more round.
All told, Henderson had 31 points, a career high. He got just enough support, too, as Kevin Ridings (eight points), Jake Shaffner (seven points) and Evan Cornell (six points) accounted for the rest of the Lakers’ production.
As this went on, Skaneateles, the no. 5 seed, was rolling past no. 12 seed Holland Patent 76-57 in its opening-round game, setting up the Laker clash that will determine who faces Westhill or South Jefferson in the sectional semifinals on Sunday.
The two split their regular-season meetings, Skaneateles prevailing 68-60 on Dec. 12, Cazenovia claiming the rematch 56-51 on Jan. 13.
