Getting off to a quick start in the 2010-11 season, the West Genesee boys basketball team swept through its season-opening tournament in Sayre, Pa. (near Scranton), looking to improve upon last season’s 5-13 mark.
The Wildcats have a new head coach – Fred Kent, who succeeded Steve Dunham. Kent previously coached at Fulton, and his first game experienced proved a positive one.
First, the Wildcats defeated LaSalle 60-36 on Friday night, overcoming a slow start. WG trailed, 11-7, going into the second quarter, having struggled to find rhythm after missing practice most of the week due to winter weather.
But the Wildcats found its offense in the second quarter, outscoring LaSalle 24-7 to move ahead for good, and after an evenly played third quarter WG’s defense secured the outcome, holding LaSalle to three points in the last period.
Phil Allen led WG with 20 points, with Eric Spencer close behind as he got 15 points. Brian Burns worked his way to nine points and Shaiquan Baggett finished with six points.
A day later, in the finals against Frederick Douglass, the Wildcats had a closer call, but still won by a 61-51 margin. From a 14-14 tie, WG inched out in front in the next two periods, then outscored Douglass 19-14 in the final period to wrap it up.
Eric Spencer, quiet in the opener, stepped out here, his 24 points including seven field goals and 10 successful free throws. Allen picked up seven points with Baggett, Patrick Patnode and Matt Naton gaining six points apiece.
As this went on, West Genesee’s girls basketball team was playing much closer to home, in Baldwinsville’s Bill Middleton Tip-Off Tournament, and came close to earning the championship before falling to the host Bees 42-38 in the championship game.
Having barely missed the playoffs a season ago with a 7-11 mark, WG needed a quick start – and got exactly what it wanted in Friday’s opening round against Henninger, easing to a 48-28 victory over the Black Knights.
It got decided early, as WG clamped down on the defensive side, forcing turnovers that led to baskets and an 18-2 advantage. Though it would cool off, the Wildcats nursed that lead the rest of the game, and unveiled a new possible star.
That would be freshman Melissa Fumano, who posted 14 points. Marie Temara and Kerri Taylor each had six points, while Katie Kolinski and Stephanie Kotula got five points apiece.
WG nearly avoided B’ville – but the Bees’ Liz Giromini hit a buzzer-beating shot near half-court to beat Rome Free Academy 39-37, setting up an enticing final that would prove just as close.
In each of the first three periods, the Wildcats trailed. Every time, it came back, using a surge from Fumano to lead 10-7 after one period and making a 9-1 run late in the third quarter to move back in front 32-30.
But the Bees’ defense took over late, holding WG to just one field goal in the last 4:45 – Fumano’s jumper in the final minute that cut B’ville’s margin to 39-38. But Maggie Monnat hit a running basket with 43 seconds left, and her free throw with seven seconds left sealed the Bees’ win.
Fumano still led all scorers with 15 points, while Katie Regin (who joined Fumano on the All-Tournament team) added six points.
