With just one game (and one win) in the books so far, the Marcellus girls basketball team appeared to be at a disadvantage when it visited 3-0 East Syracuse Minoa last Tuesday night.
But it didn’t turn out that way, as the Mustangs, playing strong defense at the outset, went out in front and managed to stay there most of the way, defeating the Spartans 49-44.
Marcellus held ESM to seven points in the first quarter. When activity picked up, the Mustangs’ lead was cut to one, 24-23, by halftime, but it stayed poised throughout the second half and, down the stretch, hit the baskets that mattered for its second win in as many outings.
Tessa Mosher, hitting on three 3-pointers, finished with 15 points to match the Spartans’ Sydni Eure as the night’s top scorer. Mosher had a bit more help, though, as Liz White finished with nine points, while Morgan DeLand posted eight points and Erica Balman got six points.
Bishop Ludden, who has gone through an up-and-down start, ended a brief two-game skid last Monday night by tearing past Solvay 62-34.
Pace was a key on this night, with the Gaelic Knights forcing pressure from the opening tip that translated into plenty of early baskets. The Bearcats could not keep up, Ludden building up a 37-15 halftime advantage, most of its eventual margin.
Depth was on display, too, with 10 different Gaelic Knights players getting at least one field goal, led by Danielle Rauch and Meg Sierotnik, who each finished with 15 points and each hit on three 3-point shots. Sara Hayes added eight points.
Solvay’s Chelsie Delperuto could not match the school-record 16-steal effort she put together against Jordan-Elbridge on Dec. 12, but still had 13 points as she and Jackie Gardner (nine points) were the only Bearcats players to get more than two field goals.
A night later, Westhill, feeding off the momentum of the win over Ludden, hosted Jordan-Elbridge and smashed past the Eagles 66-23. A 16-2 first quarter set the tone, and the Warriors kept pulling further away as the night went on.
Delaney Martin, with 21 points, nearly matched the Eagles by herself. Otherwise, the production was nicely distributed, Shannon Bunce managing eight points as Meghan Burke, Brigid Heinrich and Lily Hurteau each saw extended minutes and produced six points apiece. Allison Jennings led J-E with eight points.
West Genesee played on Wednesday night, at Utica Proctor, where it never got its offense in gear during a 50-29 defeat to the Raiders, who improved to 6-0 on the season.
It was close in the early going, but the Wildcats’ 10-8 deficit grew when it only managed five points in the second quarter in the face of Proctor’s defensive pressure. Then the Raiders put things away by closing the game on a 16-6 run.
Sierra Smith, with 11 points, and Grace Osterdale, with 10 points, accounted for most of WG’s offensive production. Proctor prevailed behind 16 points from Domizchelle Williams and 11 points from Ashante Smallwood.