As of now, the Canastota girls basketball team continues in the same exalted path of its 2008-09 predecessors, working through an undefeated regular season.
The Raiders’ defense was the featured attraction of =Monday’s game at Sauquoit Valley, where it led from start to finish in a 46-28 victory over the Indians.
Setting the tone right away, Canastota held Sauquoit to just four points in the first quarter. Though the Indians hung around, only trailing 19-14 at the half, the Raiders steadily got clear in the second half by making sure the hosts didn’t convert much, with just even points in each of the last two periods.
Alicia Hibbard, with 15 points, and Shea Foster, with 13 points, combined to match Sauquoit’s entire production. Hibbard and Foster dominated on the glass, too, with Hibbard adding 17 rebounds and Foster 10 rebounds as both got double-doubles. Alexis Havens earned 10 points, including both of her team’s 3-pointers.
A night later, the Canastota boys basketball team went to Cooperstown and nearly staged a miraculous rally before taking a 61-60 defeat to the Redskins.
From a tightly played first quarter, Cooperstown appeared to take charge in the second period, outscoring the Raiders 20-11. Steadily, that margin grew until, at the start of the fourth quarter, Canastota trailed 54-40.
Forced to press, the Raiders caused some turnovers and got some baskets on the other end, gradually eating away at the Redskins’ margin. Right at the end, Canastota pulled within a point — but could not quite win it.
Billy Marsh led the rally and finished with 19 points. Greg Zupan was close behind, earning 15 points, while Jeff Merrell earned nine points. Keith Casolare and Josh Garcia each had six points. For Cooperstown, Jeremiah Ford had 23 points and Kyle Liner added 18 points.
