The Skaneateles girls basketball team, riding a four-game win streak, saw that the momentum it had built before the holiday break dissipate in a pair of dispiriting defeats.
That win streak ended with a 60-55 defeat to Norwich (Section IV) Dec. 27 at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Gym, which was part of the “More Than a Game” Holiday Classic.
More than a week had passed since Skaneateles had beat Bishop Ludden 48-40 and avenged an earlier defeat to the Gaelic Knights. Norwich, who had beaten Liverpool in its own tournament Dec. 12, now would topple another Section III foe.
All went well during the first half, the Lakers doubling up the Purple Tornado 14-7 in the first quarter and extending that margin to 25-17 by halftime.
Somewhere in the third quarter, though, the normally formidable Skaneateles defensive pressure began to wane, and Norwich broke though, though it didn’t take the lead until the final period, where it outscored the Lakers 26-15 to pull it out.
Skaneateles still had four players score in double figures, led by Elizabeth Lane, who had 16 points. Kelsey Kraetz earned five of her 12 points at the free-throw line, while Breanna Sisson had 11 points and Shannon Foehl added 10 points.
From there, the Lakers went to Westhill last Tuesday to make up a snowed-out Dec. 9 game. Again, Skaneaetles started quickly – and again, it turned agains them, the Warriors rallying to stun the Lakers 63-58.
All through the first half, Westhill’s defense was sliced open by Skaneateles, who parlayed defensive pressure into plenty of baskets on the other end, and didn’t let up until it went to the locker room with a 40-27 lead at the break.
Defensive adjustments changed the narrative, though, as Westhill held the Lakers to eight points in the third quarter and made up most of the deficit. Then it surged out in front in the final period by staying aggressive and relying on a multi-pronged attack.
Delaney Martin poured in a game-high 25 points, while Mary Kate Washburn managed 12 points and Mackenzie Martin got 11 points. Katelyn Karleski (seven points) and Morgan Elmer (six points) offered ample help.
Thus, Skaneateles lost despite seeing four players –Lane (18 points), Olivia Dobrovosky (15 points), Foehl and Bailey Herr (12 points each) – reach double figures, and Sisson add seven points.
All of this will make the Lakers eager to get payback against Westhill when the two sides meet again next Thursday night, this time on Skaneateles’ home court two days after it visits Jordan-Elbridge.
