SYRACUSE – Absent a Section III title for seven years, the Westhill girls basketball found itself a few minutes away from seeing that drought go away.
Yet the Warriors could not sustain the lead it held for much of Saturday’s sectional Class B final at SRC Arena, unable to keep a fierce, determined Cortland side from asserting control and prevailing 46-39.
Though it never led until the fourth quarter, the Purple Tigers asserted the pace it wanted right from the outset and, with persistence and patience, stayed with Westhill until a decisive final stretch.
All season long, Cortland’s obvious strength was its defense, a unit that had limited 13 opponents under 40 points, including Marcellus in the sectional semifinals on Feb. 26.
But having knocked off defending champion General Brown in its semifinal game, Westhill believed it could equal that effort against the Purple Tigers – and went all-out to do so.
Even as it held Cortland without a field goal for nearly five minutes at the start, the Warriors also struggled as the Purple Tigers threw several different defensive looks at them.
As a result, Westhill led the entire first half but never felt comfortable and could not establish any rhythm. Only Janiah Robinson, with 10 points, was able to produce on a consistent basis.
Meanwhile, the Warriors were content, on defense, to let Cortland take outside shots as long as they didn’t fall. And most of them were off-target, allowing Westhill to take a 20-16 lead to the break.
Things stayed exactly the same in the third quarter, with Robinson able to produce but her teammates shut down. Three different times, Cortland pulled even, Valerosa Gambitta and Mallory Turner hitting on 3-pointers to tie it 33-33 going to the final period.
Lizzy McPeak hit on a jumper a minute into the third quarter – and then Westhill was held without a field goal for more than five minutes.
That was more than enough time for Cortland to finally go in front, keyed by two baskets from Clare Turner. Then Kendall Mack it on a layup to make it 44-39 with 1:25 to play, and three free throws, plus another series of Warriors turnovers, sealed it.
Robinson finished with 21 points, more than half her team’s output, along with 13 rebounds. Jules Bleskoski added 10 points and 12 rebounds as Tess Roesch got six points. Gambitta paced Cortland with 15 points.
