Still possessing the top spot in the state Class A rankings, the Jamesville-DeWitt girls basketball team tested itself again by venturing to New York City – or, more specifically, the Bronx – for the Mecca Tournament.
The Red Rams did so with an increased purpose beyond defending that no. 1 ranking. A month earlier, when it went to the Diamond State Classic in Delaware, J-D suffered its lone defeat of the season, to Ursuline, and though it won the ensuing two games, it wanted a different outcome here.
It did so, staring with lastFriday night’s opening round, where the Red Rams faced the hosts from Monsignor Scanlan, and after a slow start gradually found its rhythm, eventually earning a 60-49 victory over the Crusaders.
Scanlan led, 10-8, through one period, but that advantage did not last long. J-D used a strong second-quarter push to gain a 25-22 halftime lead, and all through the second half it thwarted all of the Crusaders’ comeback attempts, instead building its own margin.
Meg Hair and Julia Kelner each produced 15 points, with Jamie Boeheim close behind as she earned 13 points. Carly O’Hern hit two of J-D’s three 3-point shots (Kasey Vaughan had the other) and finished with 10 points.
J-D would now take on St. Mary’s, from Long Island, in Saturday’s championship game. Here, the Rams’ defense would make the biggest statement, shutting down the Gaels for long stretches and pulling away to earn a 58-36 victory and the first-place trophy.
Each side made plenty of baskets in an active first quarter, where J-D took a 17-13 lead. But then the second period started, and the Rams’ pressure got to St. Mary’s, leading to turnovers, baskets on the other end and a 19-6 run.
From there, J-D nursed that comfortable margin. Again leading the offense, Hair produced 17 points. Close behind her, O’Hern had 14 points, with Kelner grabbing 10 points and Boeheim contributing eight points.
Back from the Bronx, J-D would make a much shorter road trip to Mexico Tuesday and then finish the regular season with back-to-back home games against Fulton Friday and Cortland on Feb. 9.
