It’s a high-profile opening stretch for the Liverpool girls basketball team, culminating in Sunday’s appearance in the Carrier Dome against defending state Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse in the Tip-Off Classic.
The Warriors would play twice prior to that Dome trip, and the first of those games was a struggle on Monday night as it took a 36-29 defeat to Jamesville-DeWitt.
Liverpool went 11-7 a season ago and lost in the Section III quarterfinals to CBA. Head coach Mike Olley lost most of his starting lineup, with Lyteshia Price and Shannon Seymour offering the most experience among the returning players.
By contrast, J-D, even with a torn ACL that sidelines senior Caitlin Cariseo for the season, returns most of its lineup from a side that went 12-8 in 2010-11. In particular, two of those veterans, Kayleigh Cavanaugh and Ariell Mussi, would hurt the Warriors on this night.
Cavanaugh, in fact, scored the game’s first eight points, six of them on a pair of 3-pointers, before going to the bench with two early fouls, something Liverpool would take advantage of as it contained the Rams for the rest of the first half.
The only problem was that the Warriors’ offense was even shakier. A series of wild shots, forced by relentless J-D pressure, nearly caused a first-quarter shutout before Ally Meile hit a runner at the end of the period.
Liverpool recovered enough to pull within 15-12 by halftime, fueled by a pair of baskets from reserve forward Sam Grashof. The deficit grew again to 22-14 in the third quarter, but Liverpool rallied again, getting within one, 27-26, late in regulation.
But when Price fouled out with 2:49 left (after she sank four straight free throws), J-D would take full advantage. Cydney Goodrum hit a jumper and blocked a Warriors shot, and Mussi’s 3-pointer with 1:12 left made it 32-26.
Cavanaugh put it away in the final minute with a steal, layup and free throws, which raised her total to 20 points for the night. She and Mussi, who finished with eight points, were accountable for all but two of the Rams’ field goals.
Liverpool added to its schedule a game against Henninger on Thursday night, a chance to turn things around before meeting Breanna Stewart and CNS on the big Dome stage.
