As the exclamation point to a tough opening half of the season, the Liverpool girls basketball team ventured to Johnson City, near Binghamton, for a pair of games in the Pete Hyde Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
The Warriors began play against Maine-Endwell Tuesday afternoon, and did just enough to put together a 44-41 victory over the Spartans.
Unlike normal high-school games with four eight-minute quarters, they played two 16-minute halves in this tournament, and in the first half Liverpool hung close with M-E, both teams struggling for baskets.
Trailing 17-16 at the break, the Warriors found its rhythm during the second half, moving out in front and hanging on behind the work of Lyteshia Price, who led with 15 points, and Shannon Seymour, who had a season-best 14 points. Jacy Kocan added seven points as Rachael Windhausen added five points.
That win helped ease the pain of what happened Wednesday, against Binghamton, as the Warriors got overwhelmed in a 58-19 defeat to the Patriots.
Binghamton, no. 3 in the state Class AA rankings (behind only Cicero-North Syracuse and Gates Chili), wasted little time, roaring out to a 31-9 halftime lead and never letting Liverpool enter the discussion. Price, in defeat, had seven points as Madison Ward got 19 points for the Patriots.
Halfway through its regular season, Liverpool is 4-5, and will host Nottingham on Friday night to resume league play.
