Between them, Chittenango’s basketball teams only mustered one victory as they headed into the holiday school break.
When the girls Bears, off that lone win of the season over Henninger on Dec. 17, went back into OHSL Freedom division action at Mexico three nights later, it could not recover from a rough start and took a 38-29 defeat to the Tigers.
Mexico assumed control with a 12-4 first-quarter push. Though Chittenango recovered to play strong defense over the next two periods, limiting Mexico to just 11 total points in those frames, it could not eat into the deficit.
And the Tigers held on, mostly due to the work of Kendra Harter, who had 17 points. For the Bears (1-4), Sarah Moon led with 12 points, while Megan Pierce got six points and Sara Pierce managed five points.
Back home, Chittenango’s boys team took its own shot at Mexico Friday night, and got as close to a win as it had yet, only to still be on the wrong end of a 46-40 decision.
What made it more frustrating was the way the game started. Finally hitting shots on a consistent basis, the Bears grabbed an 18-13 edge, and though it cooled off the rest of the half, it still went to the break in front of the Tigers 26-22.
And that’s where the fun ended. Unable to recapture its early magic, Chittenango hung on until Mexico, breaking a 33-33 tie, moved out in front in the fourth quarter, with Jake DeLosh (13 points) and Colin Warrington (11 points) leading the comeback.
In defeat, the Bears saw Dan Filsinger step up and score 13 points to lead both sides. Jordan Sass chimed in with nine points, while Matt Milliman managed eight points.
As Chittenango’s boys host its “More Than A Game” holiday tournament next Friday and Saturday, the girls Bears have the holiday week off, and in fact go 14 days before heading back to game action this Friday at Cortland.
