Through its own strong work — and some welcome outside help — the Bishop Ludden girls basketball team moved back to the top of the OHSL Liberty division standings.
As the Gaelic Knights were winning 56-31 at Skaneateles last Tuesday night, first-place Westhill took a 39-30 defeat at Phoenix, erasing the one-game lead the Warriors had on Ludden in the league standings.
For its part, the Gaelic Knights, playing without Michelle Roesch in the lineup, bolted out to a 17-6 lead on Skaneateles, then stayed patient until a 24-9 third-quarter outburst decided matters.
Ashley Cianfriglia, with 15 points, led a balanced attack as she and Kayla Kibling (11 points) both hit on three 3-pointers. Kristen Ryan picked up nine points, with Lauren Roy and Bella Knapp earned eight points apiece.
To keep that share of first, Ludden had to beat Hannibal Friday night — and late spurts in each half allowed the Gaelic Knights to get past the Warriors 49-36.
The Gaelic Knights trailed 9-8 as the second quarter, but went on a 16-6 run to take control. Even when Hannibal pushed back in the third period, Ludden matched baskets, then wore down the Warriors in the fourth quarter, holding them to four points.
More than half of the Gaelic Knights’ points came from nine 3-pointers — three from Cianfriglia as she finished with 15 points, and two each from Kibling and varsity newcomer Megan Granteed. Kibling and Knapp also hit on 3-pointers.
Bishop Ludden’s boys basketball team played for the first time in a week and showed a little rust against Mexico, but took over in the third quarter to beat the Tigers 63-40.
Neither side dazzled in the first half, and the Gaelic Knights only carried a 21-20 lead to the locker room. But that changed in the third quarter as Ludden turned up defensive pressure, forced turnovers and got baskets on the other end in a 22-5 outburst.
Jared Littlejohn led the Gaelic Knights with 16 points. Dennis Kelly picked up nine points, while Omar Osbourne and Corey Hunter got six points apiece. John Rooney (who announced that he would play baseball at Siena next fall) added five points.
Looking to avenge a Dec. 11 home defeat to Cortland, the Gaelic Knights went on the road Friday night – and again could not solve the riddle of the Purple Tigers in a 52-45 defeat.
It began to turn in the second quarter when Ludden, clinging to a 12-11 lead, only got six points, allowing Cortland to move out in front 24-18. Though the pace assured that the Purple Tigers would not get away, the Gaelic Knights still could not catch up.
Littlejohn finished with 14 points, as Corey Hunter (11 points) also hit double figures. Rooney had seven points and Casey Ganley six points. Cortland featured Jeff Brown, who had 16 points, and Brandon Babcock, who gained 14 points.
Ludden (8-6) is back home Friday for a boys game against Chittenango, two days after the girls Gaelic Knights have a non-league home contest against Rome Free Academy.