While the Skaneateles girls basketball team left Bishop Grimes last Wednesday night on the wrong end of a 49-36 decision, it also had to feel proud about its effort.
Against the unbeaten, state Class B no. 2-ranked Cobras, the Lakers did not flinch one bit, keeping the game close most of the night and proving that a possible post-season rematch might not prove that easy for Grimes.
No doubt, Skaneateles had seen what the Cobras did the night before at Phoenix, winning 77-38 in a game where Grimes scored an astonishing 39 points in the first quarter alone.
Seeing all that, Skaneateles made sure that it used most of the 30-second shot clock on a majority of its first-half possessions. This effective tactic, combined with some uninspired play from Grimes, kept it close throughout the half.
Early in the third period, the Lakers only trailed by three, 21-18, but then Grimes’ freshman forward, Azariah Wade, took over.
The freshman forward, who transferred from Syracuse Academy of Science prior to this season, used a variety of post moves and a high-arcing jumper to score eight of her 15 points in that quarter, extending the Cobras’ margin to 33-23.
Gradually, the Skaneateles deficit grew larger in the final minutes amid a blizzard of fouls. Skaneateles lost despite 15 points from Elizabeth Lane and 13 points from Joanna Dobrovosky, while Grimes’ leading scorer, Jordan Vaught, managed 11 points.
Back home Friday night for a non-league game against Class A New Hartford, the Lakers, confident by the way it had played at Grimes, turned that momentum into a terrific all-around effort and rolled past the Spartans 53-34.
New Hartford never scored more than 10 points in any single period. And while Skaneateles never had any long-term spurt, it did gradually get away from the Spartans as Dobrovosky, with 19 points (including three 3-pointers) and three assists, and Kelsey Kraetz, with 10 rebounds, six blocks and eight points, led the way.
Land put together 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Bailey Herr had six points, eight rebounds and three assists. No New Hartford player scored in double figures, with Taylor Torchia leading the Spartans with nine points.
The win pushed Skaneateles back above the .500 mark (7-6) as it would play three times this week against Homer, Tully and Marcellus, all in a span of four days.
