In recent years, the Skaneateles boys basketball team had seen its gradual rise to the top of the OHSL Liberty division thwarted by, among others, Hannibal, who used tough league play as the springboard to three consecutive Section III Class B titles.
Those days are gone now, as clearly evidenced by the Lakers taking the Warriors apart in a 76-31 rout to open the 2009-10 season.
Skaneateles went 13-9 a season ago, falling to Westhill in the Class B-1 semifinals, but has a wealth of veteran players back this winter.
By stark contrast, Hannibal saw all five starters depart, the core of a championship dynasty that included Tyler Baker, Derrick Shoults and Brenden Nollet.
With no one close to that level to replace that group, Hannibal was overmatched from the opening tip. Skaneateles atoned for years of Warrior domination by scoring at will and shutting down Hannibal on the defensive side.
All this amounted to a 53-14 halftime margin, and the lead grew to 72-24 before the reserves took over in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Rice had enough time to post 20 points, one of four Lakers to score in double figures. Brandon Barron had 16 points, with Pat Roberts getting 12 points and Paul O’Donnell adding 10 points. Kyle McQuiggan and Mike Richards had six points apiece.
The Lakers went for two in a row Friday night, at Phoenix, and put together another one-sided romp, dousing the Firebirds 80-37.
Skaneateles got 26 points in the first quarter alone. It cooled off a bit before halftime, but the Lakers still led 41-20 before doubling the margin in the third period, outscoring Phoenix 27-7 to erase any doubts.
Rice improved from his Hannibal showing with 27 points. Meanwhile, Tom Schoener stepped in with 13 points as Barron got eight points. Roberts (seven points), O’Donnell and Justin Sisson (six points each) were close behind as all 11 Laker players that saw action got at least one point.
All this proceeds a pair of big home games this week for Skaneateles, who take on Bishop Grimes Wednesday and archrival Marcellus on Friday night.