In the original plan, the Skaneateles boys basketball team was going to open its season against East Syracuse-Minoa on Dec. 1, but the Spartans’ deep forays into fall sports playoffs in football and soccer forced the game to be pushed back a month.
Once the Lakers finally got that shot at ESM on Tuesday night, it was ready to pounce. Ignoring the Spartans’ gaudy 7-0 mark, Skaneateles rode the hot hand of Jimmy Atkinson to a 78-65 victory.
Eager to return to action following a third-place finish at the Marcellus Christmas Tournament on Dec. 27-28, the Lakers kept right up with ESM through a high-scoring first half, trading baskets and inching into a 36-35 lead by the time they reached the break.
They were still tight, at 46-44, in the third quarter when Atkinson took over. He hit on back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch the Lakers’ margin to 52-44, and hit on seven more points (including four free throws), carrying Skaneateles to a 64-52 advantage.
All through the fourth quarter, Atkinson and Brandon Barron, who poured in 23 points of his own, converted to counter ESM’s comeback attempts. By hitting on 17 of the 19 free throws he attempted, Atkinson finished with 35 points overall.
Austin Gardner, with nine points, offered support to Atkinson and Barron. ESM, in defeat, saw Keith Caiello (14 points), Bobby Campese (13 points) and Casey Sullivan (10 points) reach double figures.
At 6-3 halfway through its regular-season slate, the Lakers are in the midst of a five-game road stretch, which climaxes next Tuesday in a key test at Bishop Ludden before Skaneateles plays at Jordan-Elbridge on Jan. 12.
