Only in the middle of December did action pick up for the Baldwinsville boys basketball team, as it looked to build up momentum and wins in the bank before a pair of important CNY Counties League match-ups.
The Bees hosted Carthage last Tuesday night, a game that was played on even terms most of the way, save for a lopsided second quarter that went in the Bees’ favor and allowed it to go on and beat the Comets 68-59.
Right from the outset, the pace was quick, and B’ville didn’t mind, inching to a 19-15 lead by the end of the first quarter. Then the big move was made, with the Bees’ defense turning stingy and Carthage continuing to struggle to top the hosts.
When they reached the break, B’ville led 39-26. The Comets would make runs throughout the second half, led by Raishun Richardson, who poured in a game-high 21 points as Ben Peluso and Marvin Richardson got 13 points apiece.
B’ville would prevail, though, thanks to superior depth. David Cerqua, who hit four 3-pointers, and Jacob Marshall led the way, each with 15 points, with Casey Pluff adding 11 points. All told, 11 different Bees registered on the scoreboard as Matt Dickman and Chris Taylor, with seven points apiece, led that group.
On Thursday night, B’ville was supposed to have its first road game of the season, at Rome Free Academy against a Black Knights team off to its best start in years, sporting a 4-1 record with its lone blemish a loss to Henninger and wins over Cicero-North Syracuse and New Hartford in the books, not to mention a 100-point performance against Whitesboro on Dec. 9.
But winter weather hit, postponing the B’ville-RFA game. All of this gave the Bees plenty of time to ponder things as league play would start with a short trip Tuesday night to Liverpool (who had struggled to an 0-3 start), followed two nights later by a visit from Henninger.
