In a couple of days, all the attention will turn to the Section III basketball playoffs, and each of the local schools is involved in some way.
Going in, the biggest story is Jordan-Elbridge’s girls team, who at 16-2 owns the no. 3 seed in the 13-team Class B bracket after knocking off undefeated Cazenovia 50-40 in its regular-season finale last Thursday night.
Following a first-round bye, the Eagles could, in Friday night’s quarterfinals, meet Bishop Ludden, the no. 11 seed – if the 7-11 Gaelic Knights survive Tuesday’s first-round game at no. 6 seed Sherburne-Earlville.
Westhill has a more daunting task as the no. 8 seed as it draws a tough first-round opponent in no 9 seed Clinton – and even if it wins there, the Warriors would have to confront 18-0 top seed and defending champion South Jefferson in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Moving to the boys side, Westhill (12-5), as the no. 3 seed in Class B, eyes a defense of both its Section III and state Class B titles as, like the girls, it will face Clinton (the no. 14 seed here) in the opening round Wednesday night. That same night, no. 10 seed Marcellus (8-10) visits no. 7 seed Sherburne-Earlville.
Solvay, who had to scramble right to the end of the regular season just to make the playoffs at 8-10, has the no. 11 seed and is bound for Boonville Tuesday night to face no. 6 seed Adirondack in the Class B opening round, where no. 4 seed Bishop Ludden hosts no. 13 seed Ilion. All look to advance to quarterfinal games later this week.
West Genesee, who started 11-0 before dropping six of its last seven regular-season games, is the no. 5 seed in a 10-team Class AA field, heading straight into Friday night’s quarterfinals where it will face no. 3 seed Henninger, a team it lost to earlier this month.
