Instead of sitting out the post-season, as it did a season when it went 5-13, the Cazenovia boys basketball team will gladly take part in this winter’s edition of the Section III Class B playoffs.
When the Lakers dismantled Homer 46-24 Tuesday night in its only game action of the week, it secured the eighth win that, at worst, guaranteed a .400 or better regular season, and automatic playoff qualification.
Of course, Cazenovia has much higher goals in mind – namely, the Onondaga High School League’s Liberty American division regular season title. And Homer, with a 4-6 record, did not provide a major obstacle – at least after the first quarter, anyway.
During those first eight minutes, the Lakers missed almost everything. Fortunately, the Trojans weren’t much better, and only led 4-2 at the end of that dreadful period.
It was the Lakers that would snap out of the doldrums, outscoring Homer 16-6 in the pivotal second quarter. Then it would continue to build its margin throughout the second half, more than atoning for the bad start.
Kevin Hopsicker led the way with 13 points, while Tanner Whiteman put up 10 points and David McEntee added eight points.
Back home at Buckley Gym, the Cazenovia girls team, mired at 2-8, found some reason to smile when it beat Homer by a 53-30 margin.
Unlike their male counterparts, the Lakers were hot at the start, outscoring the Trojans 19-4 in the first quarter and expanding the margin to 33-12 by halftime.
Four players scored in double figures, as Maggie Carpenter led with 13 points. Jessica Bubb stepped up with a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 10 points, the same total as more-established players like Colleen Dougherty and Kristie Kleine.
The girls Lakers hope to build a win streak next week in trips to Marcellus and Solvay, while the boys Lakers host the Mustangs and Bearcats at Buckley Gym.
