With an impressive sweep of its division in Binghamton’s Stop DWI Tournament on Dec. 2-3 already in the books, the West Genesee boys basketball team moved on to its home opener and another key test against a fellow Class AA contender.
The home debut came first, with the Wildcats meeting another Section IV opponent, Owego Free Academy, and treating the Indians just like it had Binghamton the weekend before, rolling to a 72-41 victory.
A 17-8 run through the first quarter set the tone, and WG stayed patient, waiting to get away until the second half, when it outscored Owego 38-18 and, more importantly, displayed an increased scoring depth.
Instead of leaning too much on Malik Zachery, who did have 13 points, five assists and three steals, the Wildcats spread it around, with Jack Bova hitting four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points overall.
Up front, Lucas Sutherland matched Zachery’s total of 13 points, adding eight rebounds and three blocks, and Nate Phillips was just as vital, recording a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds while adding six assists and three steals.
Now the Wildcats welcomed Utica Proctor on Friday night, and the two sides engaged in a tense, fast-paced contest, but again the Wildcats had enough on hand to deliver a victory, holding off the Raiders 77-72.
Each of the first two periods saw scoring bursts, with WG inching out in front, 36-34, by intermission. Only in the third period did the Wildcats built a bit of a margin, stretching the lead to 59-51, and that cushion was needed since Proctor cut into that margin in the final minutes.
Zachery led with 20 points, six of them free throws. Bova’s hot outside shooting continued as he drained five 3-pointers and had 19 points overall, while Phillips connected four times beyond the arc on his way to 16 points. Sutherland added eight points as Proctor’s Anthony Giglio got all 21 of his points from seven 3-pointers and Orion Anyango matched that 21-point total.
There are no games this week for the Wildcats, who would practice and prepare for pre-holiday CNY Counties League home games on Dec. 20 against Fayetteville-Manlius and Dec. 23 against Cicero-North Syracuse.
Meanwhile, West Genesee’s girls basketball team continued its own quick start, moving to 2-0 on the season last Wednesday night by venturing to Rome Free Academy and toppling the Black Knights 54-42.
It was close until the second quarter, when RFA’s offense went cold and the Wildcats pounced, holding them to three points. This continued into the third period, with WG’s lead growing to 44-25 before a belated comeback.
Madison Smith led the way, her 17 points including a trio of 3-pointers. Haley Collins contributed nine points, with Mackenzie Smith contributing seven points and Camryn Chawgo adding six points. No RFA player scored in double figures, though Sharifa Taylor (nine points, four rebounds) got close.
WG will take on reigning state Class A champion Jamesville-DeWitt Thursday night.
