Starting the first full week of 2013 with a three-game win streak, the Baldwinsville boys basketball team had an opportunity to further establish itself as a Class AA threat.
Instead, the Bees had to retrace its steps, especially in the wake of last Tuesday’s high-energy game against Cicero-North Syracuse where it took an 80-69 loss to the Northstars.
What made the loss more frustrating was the strong effort B’ville put forth in the first half. Kevin Drain set the tone with eight first-quarter points as the Bees traded baskets with C-NS and eventually sneaked into an 18-15 lead.
Midway through the second period, B’ville led 31-24, but C-NS’s Mike Tricarico turned the game around, getting 13 of his 25 points in that quarter as the Northstars, hitting five 3-pointers, jumped in front 37-36 by the break.
B’ville never got the lead back. It hung close throughout the third quarter, staying within single digits, but C-NS got away with a 10-0 run that spilled over to the final period and made it 68-53. The Bees fought back within 73-65 in the closing minutes, but ran out of steam.
Drain still managed 21 points, earning nine of them at the free-throw line. Tim Marshall was close behind, getting 18 points, eight of them from foul shots, while Jayson Brower had 13 points and Mike Aiello added seven points. Mike Lumia, with 15 points, and Brian DeMonte, with 13 points, aided Tricarico in C-NS’s winning effort.
Now the Bees went to defending Class AA champion Utica Proctor on Friday, looking to continue the Raiders’ struggles – only to have its own problems in a 66-50 defeat.
Here, B’ville never got started right, managing just seven points in the first quarter. Accustomed to a fast tempo, the Bees found itself in catch-up mode, the deficit growing to 32-21 by halftime before Proctor used a 22-11 third-quarter spurt to get clear.
Drain managed a season-low six points as only Brower, with 10 points, reached double figures. Marshall and Ben Deorio each got seven points, with Aiello and Zach Leo matching Drain’s total of six points. J’Von Evans, with 21 points, and Chris Simmons, with 17 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three blocks, led the Raiders along.
Having fallen to 4-6, B’ville looks to rebound this Friday when it visits Corcoran, the same team it beat 69-63 in overtime on Jan. 4.
