Game by game, the Westhill boys basketball team is making the transition from uncertainty to confidence, just in time for important tests against the top OHSL Liberty division contenders.
More progress could be found in Tuesday’s visit to Marcellus, where the Warriors were ordinary in the first half, but terrific in the late going to beat the Mustangs 61-43.
Westhill found itself trailing 13-8 after one period, and little changed before halftime. Once the break was over, though, the Warriors took over on both ends.
High-ended defensive pressure, and the conversion of turnovers, combined to help the Warriors in a 17-7 third-quarter blitz. And once it had the lead, Westhill kept adding to it.
Nathan Nigolian led the way, earning 19 points, as Kevin McAvoy put down a season-best 15 points. Joe Meluni, with 11 points, also broke into double figures as Justin Biles got seven points and Mark McAnaney added six points.
Marcellus, who fell to 3-5 on the season, did not have a single player score in double figures, though Mike Fox and Kyle Hastings came close with nine points apiece. Chaz Hayes added seven points, with Steve Raven and Carey Mielnicki each finishing with six points.
As this went on, the Westhill girls basketball team geared up for Friday’s showdown with Jordan-Elbridge by riding Ashley Cianfriglia’s hot shooting to a 48-36 win over Marcellus.
Two things were evident right from the tip-off. First, the Warriors’ defense, as a whole, was sharp and relentless, holding Marcellus to single-digit point totals in each of the first three periods.
The other part was Cianfriglia. Inside, outside and in all other directions, she burned the Mustangs on her way to 31 points, nearly matching Marcellus by herself. The total included 10 field goals, four of them 3-pointers, as well as seven free throws.
Other than her, Westhill made just seven field goals, three of them from Anna Ross as she got seven points. By contrast, the Mustangs saw Bethanie Abbott lead with 11 points as Melissa Lee added nine points and Brielle Fitch got six points.
