Early superiority in the Tri-Valley League was at stake Friday when the Oneida boys basketball team, at 2-0, paid a visit to New Hartford, who was also 2-0.
And it proved close right up until the end – but the Indians fell just short in a 51-48 loss to the Spartans where it was in doubt until Oneida missed three possible tying 3-point shots in the waning seconds.
Oneida had fought back after trailing by as much as seven, 18-11, in the second quarter. The Indians scraped away until it forged a 35-35 tie late in the third period, but it didn’t stop there.
Early in the fourth quarter, baskets by Evan Watson, Trevor Haskell and Matt Mosack pushed Oneida to a 45-38 lead. Now it was New Hartford’s turn to rally, sparked by a 3-pointer from Vinny Servadio, who led both sides with 19 points, as the Spartans used an 8-1 run to tie it heading into the homestretch.
Kyle Peck’s jumper inched Oneida back ahead, 48-47, with a minute to play, but those would be the Indians’ last points.
Derek German’s free throws with 54 seconds left gave New Hartford the lead. Oneida had a chance to answer when Peck, with 32 seconds to play, got fouled – but he missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Forced to foul, the Indians sent Servadio to the line with 15 seconds left, and he made both free throws, setting up those last, futile chances.
Mitch DuBois led Oneida with 12 points, with Benn DeRocker adding 10 points. Haskell had eight points as Peck and Mosack got six points apiece.
Three nights earlier, the Indians earned a 62-52 road victory over Holland Patent. Strong starts to each half proved the key, as the Indians led 20-13 after one quarter and, after the Golden Knights got close, Oneida closed the third quarter on a 17-5 run and never got caught.
DeRocker, who had struggled in the Indians’ season-opening win over Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Dec. 10, rebounded with 24 points on this night. Kyle Peck chimed in with 14 points, while Keith Johnson earned seven points. HP’s Ryan Mogensen matched DeRocker with 24 points of his own.
Knowing how much it had struggled a season ago, it was critical for VVS not to get into similar trouble this time around.
So the Red Devils’ game at Clinton last Tuesday night proved somewhat critical – and VVS responded to it, putting together a 58-46 victory over the Warriors.
The crisis point came in the second quarter. VVS trailed, 20-14, when coach Al Knapp switched to full-court pressure. And it worked, as the Red Devils outscored Clinton 17-9 in that period and moved ahead for good.
Still, it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that VVS would pull clear, closing on a 16-7 run. Joe Spinella led with 16 points, with Brett Field adding 14 points and Isaac Pitman getting 11 points. Travis Eaton finished with nine points. Mike Hayduk led Clinton with 12 points.
The Red Devils are set to face Whitesboro on Tuesday, just as Oneida plays Camden in the last games before the holiday break.
