A 4-8 start had the West Genesee girls basketball team concerned that, after recent runs to the Section III Class AA final, it might not get into the post-season at all this time around.
That was why the Wildcats’ trip to Auburn last Tuesday night carried such weight, and why its impressive effort, leading to a 70-46 victory over the Maroons, may serve as a turning point.
Auburn carried a 7-4 record into the game, and boasts one of the area’s best combinations in guard Anna Giannone and forward Shaelynn Freeman.
But though Giannone picked up 26 points, six assists and five steals, and Freeman got a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, WG shut down the rest of the Maroons’ lineup.
The Wildcats steadily built a 37-24 halftime and continued to roll behind the likes of Elle Lazore, who had a career-best 19 points, hitting on five 3-pointers by game’s end. Sierra Smith was close behind, earning 18 points, while Grace Osterdale worked inside for 14 points to give WG a third scoring option.
Back home on Friday night, WG took on Corcoran, and the confidence gained from its Auburn effort carried over as the Wildcats held off the Cougars 48-42.
The start had a lot to do with it, WG tearing out to a 17-4 lead, something that would secure it against Corcoran’s mid-game run, which cut the margin to 35-32 before they reached the fourth quarter.
Hanging on, the Wildcats saw Smith gather up 10 assists, seven rebounds and three steals to go with her seven points, while Camryn Chawgo hit three 3-pointers to account for most of her 11 points and Osterdale managed eight points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Marcellus led by as much as nine in the fourth quarter of last Tuesday night’s non-league game at Liverpool, but could not hold on in a 51-46 defeat to the Warriors.
Tied 8-8 after one period, Marcellus appeared to gain control in the game’s middle stages, streaking through Liverpool’s defenses and getting a 40-33 lead by the end of the fourth quarter.
But when the Warriors picked up its pressure, the Mustangs did not respond well, and the result was Liverpool outscoring them 18-6 in that final period to snatch the victory as Jenna Wike, with 25 points and six steals, and Donyai Starling, with 11 points and 10 rebounds, led the rally.
Only Liz White, 15 points (including three 3-pointers), hit double figures for Marcellus. Morgan DeLand had nine points, while Erica Balman gained eight points and Rylie Spicer had six points.
But the Mustangs made a big-time recovery on Friday night, going to Cortland and getting all of its top players heavily involved in the offense to beat the Purple Tigers 69-52.
An active first half saw Cortland go in front, and even when Marcellus rallied, it still trailed 31-29 at the break. But all of that turned around when Marcellus went on a 19-8 tear through the third quarter and kept that momentum going the rest of the way.
Five Marcellus players scored in double figures. DeLand, with 14 points, led that well-balanced attack, with White getting 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tessa Mosher chimed in with 12 points and five rebounds as Balman and Spicer both improved to 11 points and combined for 13 rebounds between them.
