Nowhere in the Skaneateles boys basketball team’s plans did the events of Saturday’s Section III Class B championship game at Utica Memorial Auditorium appear.
This was, after all, the Laker team that was perfectly primed to end an 18-year championship drought. Full of senior experience and strong coaching, a high-powered offense and high-energy defense, Skaneateles had high ambitions that, for 20 games and 19 victories, never wavered.
But in the season’s biggest game, the Lakers picked the worst possible time to look mortal.
Westhill, the reigning state and sectional Class B champions, held on to its throne in an emphatic manner, beating the Lakers 66-50 mostly behind the career effort of senior Kevin McAvoy, who torched Skaneateles for 34 points.
It was a complete turnaround from what had happened in last Tuesday night’s semifinal, when the Lakers, especially guard Mike Richards, combined to hold Bishop Grimes star Mike Stone without a field goal in a 69-39 romp.
More importantly, it reversed two regular-season meetings – one, in December, the other in January – where Skaneateles had beaten Westhill, appearing to show, at those times, that its experience and all-around character was something this group of Warriors could not handle.
Something was very different this time around, though, and it was quite evident in a tight, low-scoring first quarter that ended in a 10-10 deadlock. Skaneateles could not get the tempo it wanted, forced into dealing with Westhill’s trademark man-to-man defense, which pressured every inch of space from the halfcourt line and in.
Then came the first real turning point when, early in the second period, senior forward Pat Roberts went to the bench with his second foul. He did not return the rest of the half, and the Warriors used that time to seize the lead for good.
Mainly, it was McAvoy connecting on every kind of shot, from aggressive drives through the lane to 3-pointers from the corner. He had 16 points by halftime, and when he swished another 3-pointer early in the third quarter, McAvoy had, for a brief moment, the same total as the entire Skaneateles squad.
Skaneateles trailed 36-19 when, sparked by Roberts’ return and his six straight points, the Lakers went on a 13-2 run that, late in the third period, made it 38-33, the large and loud Laker contignent counting on their favorites to complete the rally.
Instead, Nathan Nigolian hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers that restored Westhill’s double-digit margin early in the fourth quarter. And when Skaneateles tried one more comeback and got within 53-46, McAvoy got open for yet another 3-pointer with 2:22 left, all but sealing it.
Kevin Rice, in his last Skaneateles basketball appearance, led his side with 17 points, while Roberts finished with 14 points. Westhill’s defense did an especially good job limiting both Brandon Barron (seven points) and Paul O’Donnell (seven points) from having any major impact on the outcome.
