It was about time that the Baldwinsville boys basketball team see its months of hard work lead to a satisfying victory against a quality opponent.
That moment arrived on Friday night, when the Bees hosted Auburn and, in a game that was tense from start to finish, held on for a 55-53 victory over the Maroons.
Ignoring its own 2-9 record, B’ville started fast in front of the home fans, leading 19-14 after one period, and it didn’t panic too much when Auburn answered and took a narrow 33-32 lead into halftime.
Instead, the Bees turned to its defense and cranked up the pressure, holding Auburn to seven points in the third quarter as it inched back in front. Right to the end, the Maroons had chances, but B’ville kept turning them back.
Devyn McLeod notched a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, plus five assists. Ben DiOrio dished out seven assists to go with his nine points and three rebounds, while Adam Seguin stepped up with 11 points. Cameron Skipworth had seven points and four rebounds, the Bees overcoming Auburn’s trio of Hakeem Ali (15 points), Kevin DiCola (13 points) and Jon Bell (11 points).
Prior to that, if ever there was the right time for the Bees to go to Bishop Ludden, it was in last Wednesday night’s game.
The Bees were catching the Gaelic Knights right in the aftermath of its emotional 59-46 victory over CBA in the “Holy War” main event of the Zebra Classic at SRC Arena on Jan. 18.
And for a brief moment, it appeared a letdown was possible, but that moment passed, and Ludden, in front of its home fans, took over in the game’s middle stages to beat the Bees 69-49.
B’ville inched into a 13-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. But led by the trio of Zach Walser, Jack Rauch and Mika Adams-Woods, the Gaelic Knights outscored the Bees 39-18 in the second and third periods.
Rauch’s 17 points included a pair of 3-pointers, while Adams-Woods produced 15 points and Walser got 12 points. Will Engelhardt added six points as, for B’ville, DiOrio had 14 points, while Skipworth and McLeod had 10 points apiece.
Following the win over Auburn, the Bees would wait to play again until next Friday, when it visits Central Square.
