As the host of its own Booster Club Tournament, the West Genesee boys basketball team knew that success in that event could generate some much-needed confidence going into 2014 – but it could not quite get the top prize.
In the first round on Friday, the Wildcats took on Ithaca, from the Section IV ranks, and needed a big fourth-quarter surge to get past the Little Red 72-64.
From the start, Ithaca proved troublesome, gaining a 21-20 lead at the end of a wild first quarter. WG’s deficit grew to 37-30 by halftime, but when the Little Red cooled off early in the second half, the Wildcats started to rally back.
That work culminated in a fourth quarter where WG outscored Ithaca 25-16, using late free throws from Shane Temara and Michael Schmidt to put it away. Temara led with 24 points, while Schmidt had a career-best 20 points. Troy Temara contributed 11 points.
In the final on Saturday afternoon, WG would face Utica Proctor, who rallied from its own big deficit in the other opening-round game to defeat Corcoran 74-58 as J’Von Evans (27 points) and Tyvon Reed (25 points) both had big showings for the Raiders.
It proved to be a tight title game that would go back and forth throughout, but the Wildcats lost it, 75-68, to the Raiders because it was unable to recover from a third-quarter knockout.
Trailing 20-13 after one period, WG tore through Proctor’s defenses in the second quarter, outscoring them 21-10 to grab a 34-30 lead at the break.
Just as quickly, though, the Raiders regained control, pushing the tempo even faster during a 27-point third period as it pulled back in front for good. WG was productive, too, but it still couldn’t keep the Raiders from hanging on down the stretch.
Shane Temara again led the way, with 19 points. Sam Brown stepped up for a career-high 15 points, all from five 3-pointers, while Nick Cunningham had 13 points and Schmidt got 11 points.
In order to win, Proctor had its own well-balanced attack, where Reed and Cliff Tracey each had 20 points, with Evans adding 19 points and Daquan Testamark 14 points. Corcoran defeated Ithaca 72-66 in the consolation game to finish third.
Back on Friday, West Genesee’s girls basketball team, remaining in good form, went to Rome Free Academy and defeated the Black Knights 52-40 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
It didn’t start well, as the Wildcats trailed RFA 13-10 after one period. But WG’s pressure took a toll, and it led to turnovers and baskets on the other end.
As a result, WG outscored the Black Knights 33-12 over the course of the second and third quarters to gain a lead it would not surrender.
Melissa Fumano led the charge, pouring in 18 points, seven of them free throws. Hannah Bakowski, with 13 points, and Grace Osterdale, with 10 points, also hit double figures, while Tiana Pugh led RFA with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
