Even when it climbed all the way to a state Class AA championship in 2019, the West Genesee boys basketball team was far from perfect, taking a handful of defeats before its memorable post-season run.
Though the stakes were lowered in 2021 and no post-season would take place, the Wildcats were bent on completing a season without anyone beating them – and came within a few seconds of pulling it off.
Only in the last moments of the last game Saturday afternoon did WG get caught, by Fayetteville-Manlius, in a 60-59 classic on the Hornets’ home floor.
When they had first met Feb. 26 in Camillus, the Wildcats prevailed 56-43, but immediately found the rematch tougher as it was held to seven points in the first quarter.
Though WG did find its rhythm the rest of the half, F-M did enough on the other end to take a 28-27 lead to the break.
They played on even terms in the third quarter, but early in the final period it appeared the Wildcats were gaining control, inching in front 49-44 midway through the frame.
But led by a senior group who went 2-18 a couple of seasons ago, F-M fought back once more, moving within one, 59-58, and as time wound down, with WG pressing to prevent any sort of play, James Madill escaped the trap and passed it to Trevor Roe, who converted.
Still, the ending was nervous. A full-court Wildcats pass found its way to Max Dennington, who had a shot to win it – but it went off target.
Adam Dudzinski paced WG with 18 points, and things were balanced behind him. Christian Cain had 11 points, with James Tully getting nine points as Christian Amica had eight points and Jack Dalgety got seven points.
F-M put four players in double figures, with Jack Nucerino matching Dudzinski’s total of 18 points. Roe and Josh Michel both had 11 points, with Luke Davidson adding 11 points.
Before all this, WG handled Cicero-North Syracuse 72-59 last Tuesday in a game that was even more lopsided than the final score.
C-NS, who lost 53-44 to the Wildcats early in February, entered the rematch having won five in a row and sporting a 7-2 record.
But it was Senior Night and Dudzinski was determined to leave a mark – which he did by netting nine first-quarter points to help the Wildcats go on an 11-3 run to take the lead for good.
That margin held until, in the last second of the half, Christian Amica hit a rebound basket, little imagining that it would ignite an 18-0 run that went deep into the third quarter.
What made it more impressive was that Dudzinski, who finished with 21 points, mostly ceded his production to his teammates as it clamped down on defense while showing crisp execution on the other end.
Amica and Tully each finished with 13 points, with Dennington close behind as he got 11 points. Cain had six points as Luke Paragon (17 points) and Noah Wieczorek (15 points) led C-NS.
Up against Corcoran on Thursday night, the Wildcats inched closer to perfection, prevailing 76-65 in a game tougher than the 74-42 romp WG had against the Cougars in mid-February.
Over the course of the second and third quarters, the Wildcats outscored Corcoran 36-27, gradually assuming control despite 24 points from Cougars Amir Reeves as Owen Burns and Avion Granger got 11 points apiece.
Like he had done so many times this season, Dudzinski led the way, pouring in 29 points on shots from all ranges.
Dalgety, kept quiet against C-NS due to early trouble, roared back to form here with 19 points as Amica finished with 12 points and Cain gained six points.
All that was left was that trip to F-M – which ended in heartbreak, though by finishing 10-1, WG still had the best record of any Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division side.
