Perhaps just in time, the Skaneateles boys basketball team got whole again, and it led to a pair of impressive road wins.
By far, the better of the two was last Tuesday’s visit to Cazenovia, where the latest battle of Laker teams went in the other direction, Skaneateles prevailing this time by a score of 60-49.
When they had first played in mid-December, Skaneateles lost a 57-55 overtime decision on its home floor. Now they were in refurbished Buckley Gym, facing a Cazenovia side charged up from another OT win, this one over Westhill, on Jan. 27.
But it went there at full strength. Jimmy Atkinson, shaking off persistent ankle injuries, returned to the rotation, and while still not at 100 percent, he did produce seven points.
For a half, the two sides appeared on the same close path as the first meeting, though Skaneateles inched in front 22-20 by the break. The game turned in the third quarter, where Skaneateles doubled up Cazenovia, 18-9, establishing a margin that would not go away.
Much of that was seeing Brandon Barron charge through Cazenovia’s defenses to pour in a game-high 24 points, including six successful free throws.
Aside from Atkinson, Ben Eppolito, with nine points, and Ryan McQuiggan, with seven points, offered the main support. Cazenovia saw Tanner Whiteman and Kevin Hopsicker each get 15 points, with David McEntee adding 11 points.
Going to Solvay on Friday night, the Lakers, who were now assured of a winning record for 2011-12, improved to 11-6 and pounded the Bearcats 69-36.
From the moment it outscored Solvay 17-9 in the first period, Skaneateles was in total control, adding to the margin and closing on an 18-2 burst, even with the game well in hand and the reserves seeing extra playing time.
Back at full speed, Atkinson poured in 18 points, half of them from three 3-pointers, while Barron managed 17 points and Drancsak stepped up, too, managing 15 points.
Skaneateles returns home Friday to close out the regular season against Jordan-Elbridge, and finds out its Section III Class B playoff seeding on Sunday.
