So it’s 2009, not 2008, but the Marcellus boys basketball team’s predicament is exactly the same to the one it faced a year ago.
The Mustangs are in the Section III Class B-1 semifinals to face Bishop Grimes. When faced with this scenario in ’08, Marcellus could not come through, a 65-51 defeat that has driven the team in green ever since.
For the sequel, Marcellus carries the no. 2 seed and an 18-3 record. Grimes has the no. 3 seed and a 17-4 mark — and has won 11 consecutive games, a similar hot streak to what it used last winter to eventually win the B-1 title. The two teams split regular-season meetings, each winning on the road.
To continue this path of familiarity, the survivor here will face Westhill or Skaneateles in next Friday’s B-1 final at Manley Field House.
Marcellus had little trouble getting to this point in Friday’s B-1 quarterfinal, bringing its defense to bear in a 59-32 romp over no. 7 seed Homer.
Though a bit shaky at times in the first half, the Mustangs still slid ahead of the Trojans 27-18. Then, to make sure it got clear, Marcellus increased the defensive pressure and held Homer to a handful of field goals the rest of the way.
Dan Heil hit four 3-pointers on the offensive end, leading the Mustangs with 16 points overall. Will Nolan had 11 points, while Scott Cotter had 10 points. Zach Barbaro added six points. Kevin Hartnett, with 20 points, accounted for much of Homer’s meager offense.
