What was supposed to be a four-team holiday tournament for Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s boys basketball team shrunk by one participant when a team was unable to make the trip.
Thus, the Red Devils settled for back-to-back games, starting Monday night when it took charge against Georgetown (Ontario) and won in a 72-40 blowout.
What broke it open was a stretch in the first quarter where Georgetown, beaten down by VVS’s full-court pressure, did not manage a point, accumulating 10 turnovers for the period.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils put up 17 unanswered points, took a 22-5 lead, and kept up the pressure the rest of the night. VVS led, 41-21, at the half, then outscored Georgetown 20-8 in the third quarter to wrap things up.
Ten different players scored for the Red Devils, as Nash Robb led the deep, balanced attack with 12 points. Joe Spinella (11 points) and Travis Eaton (10 points) hit double figures, too, as Isaac Pitman produced nine points and Brett Fields added seven points.
Two nights later, VVS faced Penn Yan, from the Section V ranks, and made it back-to-back wins as it defeated the Mustangs 65-51.
In essence, the first quarter decided everything. Led by Pitman, who scored 11 of his 18 points in the opening period, the Red Devils bolted out to a 20-7 lead. It then used a 16-4 run late in the first half to make it 42-23 at the break.
For his efforts, Pitman (who also had 14 rebounds on the night) was named the tournament MVP. Brett Fields, with 10 points, and Spinella, with seven points, also made the All-Tournament team as Andrew Kane stepped up for 10 points.
As for the Oneids boys basketball team, it ventured to the Fabius-Pompey Tournament and, in Tuesday’s opening round, used a quick start as the impetus for a 65-53 victory over Cincinnatus.
Before the Lions could settle down, the Indians had a 16-6 lead, and the margin grew to 38-20 by halftime before things evened out. Benn DeRocker, with 12 points, led a balanced attack where Kyle Peck gained 11 points and Eric Riley got nine points. Chris Morehouse (seven points) and David Rougeux (six points) also made solid contributions.
The final pitted Oneida against Cazenovia, who beat host F-P 56-44 in the other part of the first round. It proved close – but again, the Indians came out on top, beating the Lakers 58-55.
A rough first half left Oneida facing a 29-22 deficit, but it cranked up its defense in the third quarter, holding Cazenovia to eight points as it tied things up, 37-37. Then it survived a tense final period by mostly relying on a pair of proven stars.
Peck led with 22 points, while DeRocker picked up 17 points, nine of them from successful free throws. Trevor Haskell, with eight points, and Eric Riley, with seven points, offered the support as Tanner Whiteman and Chris Schaffner each led Cazenovia with 14 points.
