In what has become an annual tradition, the Westhill boys basketball team becomes gracious hosts when its one-time head coach, Todd Widrick, pays a visit with his Cazenovia Lakers.
And in a tradition just as established, the Warriors always win these reunions — as it did last Monday night, a 59-46 decision where all of Westhill’s best qualities were on display.
Not even three weeks after it lost at Buckley Gym Jan. 15, when Chris Nourse took over down the stretch, Westhill made sure Nourse and his teammates would not get such a chance again.
Finding an early offensive groove, the Warriors grabbed a 19-13 edge and would find a way to outscore Cazenovia in every quarter of play.
By halftime, the margin was 32-23, and it didn’t vary from that margin the rest of the way as every possible Laker surge was met with a Warrior answer on the other end. And Westhill did all this without a big effort from Dan Ross, who had just five points.
Matt Noonan’s late-season offensive surge continued, as he led the Warriors with 14 points. Mike Stirpe gained 13 points, with Dan Gasapo adding seven points. Tom Trendowski and Jake Burgess earned six points apiece.
Nourse still led all individuals with 15 points, but no one, other than Bryan Wight (10 points), gave Nourse much help. Westhill’s defense did a particularly strong job on guards Cody Ash and Trent Widrick, holding them to five points apiece.
Westhill plays Homer and Solvay to close out the regular season as Cazenovia faces games against DeRuyter, Bishop Grimes and Hannibal before the Section III Class B playoffs start next week.
