True, the Cazenovia boys basketball team may have felt some disappointment in the wake of a last-second Jan. 14 defeat to Westhill, who has ascended to the top of the state Class B rankings.
But the Lakers responded in the best way possible, earning a pair of quality wins away from Buckley Gym to improve its mark to 11-2, including Friday night’s 65-47 conquest of Skaneateles.
When the two Lakers rivals had first met on Dec. 13, Cazenovia had prevailed at home, 64-54. The rematch came as Skaneateles was trying to climb back to the .500 mark and inch closer to a post-season berth.
They played the first half at a quick tempo, and Cazenovia adjusted to it, inching in front 19-16 by the second quarter and then going further, extending its lead on Skaneateles to 43-31 at the break.
Once it had that lead, Cazenovia was content to slow things down, and its defense made sure Skaneateles didn’t catch up, holding the host Lakers to just five points in the fourth quarter.
Ryman Seeley earned nearly half his 20 points from three 3-pointers. Ross Gerber, with 10 points, also sneaked into double figures, while Keaton Ackermann picked up eight points. Ryan Henderson and Kevin Hopsicker had six points apiece. No one on Skaneateles had more than the 10 points put up by Pete Knupp and Bobby Leslie.
Cazenovia is back home at Buckley Gym Monday to make up last Wednesday’s postponed game with Phoenix before going to Altmar-Parish-Williamstown on Thursday night.
