At 3-5, the Solvay boys basketball team trudged into 2013 looking for some kind of spark – and got it in its most impressive effort of the season. All the Bearcats did was go to Skaneateles Friday night and take over in the second half, pulling away from the Lakers to earn a 53-35 victory.
Both sides got off to sluggish starts, and even as the pace picked up during the second quarter, a sustained run proved elusive, Solvay doing a bit more to take a 23-22 lead to halftime.
After the break, everything started to click for the Bearcats. Not only was it making baskets with regularity, it shut down Skaneateles, holding them to a scant five points as it built a 40-27 edge, a drought from which the Lakers could not recover.
Offensively, John Savo kept getting open and kept converting, eventually leading both sides with 18 points. Nick Fillipi was close behind, gaining 13 points, while Tyler Cardinell finished with eight points. For the Lakers, only Austin Gardner, with 11 points, reached double figures.
Marcellus, fresh off what it thought was a season-turning win over Skaneateles on Dec. 27, instead fell back again in last Wednesday’s 52-50 overtime defeat to Mexico.
With just a 2-6 record, the Tigers still managed a good start, leading the Mustangs 14-9 before a strong second quarter pushed Marcellus to a 28-24 lead at the break.
But Marcellus slumped in the third quarter, managing just four points, and had to make another comeback in the final period to tie it, 44-44, and get it to OT.
Once there, though, the Tigers outscored the Mustangs 8-6 and hung on to win, negating efforts from Duncan Merritt, who led both sides with 14 points, and Jordan Bandera, who added 10 points. Four Mexico players – Patrick Twiss (14 points), Justin Marsden (11 points), Ian Roach and John Eastman (10 points each) – hit double figures.
The Mustangs lost another tight contest Friday night, this time keeping it in regulation against Syracuse Academy of Science, but falling to the Atoms 54-51.
Down 18-13 after one period, Marcellus did slow SAS down in the second period, but still trailed 28-24 at the break. Try as it could, the Mustangs couldn’t keep the Atoms from extending its lead to 44-37 before it made a big push in the waning minutes that fell just short.
Merritt again led the Mustangs, putting up 15 points, while Ben Powers stepped up for 12 points. Pat Kinney had seven points as Cole Walsh and Wyatt Stehle put up six points apiece. For SAS, forward Ramo Ozkan led the way, earning 20 points.
