In order to salvage its once-promising season, the Baldwinsville boys basketball team needed to gain a win over Liverpool Thursday night at the Baker High School gym.
And with increased contributions from some unlikely sources, the Bees did just that, beating the Warriors 75-70 to complete a regular-season sweep and improve to 4-7 overall.
When the two teams first met Dec. 11 in the Tip-Off Classic at the Carrier Dome, B’ville pulled out a 68-65 win as Kevin Drain (22 points) and Willie Hython (21 points) led the way.
Since then, Liverpool had undergone a coaching change, Matt Jacob replacing veteran mentor Jerry Wilcox, and had shown some improvement, even winning the Juggler Classic at Utica-Notre Dame on Jan. 14-15 before a narrow defeat to Auburn early last week.
Unlike the first encounter in the Dome, it was B’ville getting off to the quick start, leading 22-15 after one period, though the Warriors fought back and pulled within 37-34 by halftime.
All through the second half, Liverpool made various runs – and each time, the Bees answered, and the main reason was because some new threats emerged.
True, Hython had 25 points and Drain (10 points) hit double figures, too. But Mike Muldoon stepped up to earn 15 points and Jayson Brower, who like Muldoon hit on a pair of 3-pointer, finished with a career-best 14 points. Brett Charbonneau added nine points.
Liverpool, in defeat, would also put four players in double figures, as Tyler Bliss led with 20 points, with Mike Russo (14 points), Abe Odum and Alonzo Grainger (12 points each) close behind.
Two nights before this, the Bees visited defending Class AA champion Henninger and struggled throughout the night in an 80-38 loss to the Black Knights.
Already down 14-6, the Bees’ defense surrendered 28 points in the second quarter as Henninger drew clear.
Hython had just nine points, while Kevin Drain and Mike Muldoon each finished with six points. Eleven different players scored for Henninger, with Tommie Spinner leading the way as he got 19 points.
Still clinging to post-season hopes after the Liverpool win, B’ville would hit the road this week, going to West Genesee Monday and Oswego on Friday night.
