All has worked out for the Baldwinsville girls basketball team to get exactly what it wants next Tuesday night – an undefeated mark, and enough confidence to think it could stay right with reigning powerhouse Cicero-North Syracuse on its home court at Baker High School.
The Bees, fresh off winning the Nov. 27-28 Bill Middleton Tip-Off Tournament, began its December slate by hosting Liverpool Tuesday night and steadily gaining control over the Warriors for its third straight double-digit victory by a 59-45 margin.
Defensive pressure had a lot to do with B’ville’s good start, as it held Liverpool to six points in the first quarter. Though that grip gradually loosened, the Bees still kept building its margin and went to halftime carrying a 30-17 lead.
And that lead kept growing, up to 48-29, before Liverpool finally put together a string of fourth-quarter baskets, by which point it could not catch up.
Both Riley Carlucci and Emily Pascale reached double figures in points and rebounds, Carlucci getting 14 points and 12 rebounds, plus four blocks, as Pascale had a season-best 11 boards and seven steals to go with 16 points.
Kaylee Lammers contributed on plenty of fronts, getting 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Carolyn Brussel (nine points) and Mackenzie Schaffner (six points) also got close to double figures. For Liverpool, Drew Dufrane, with 14 points, and Holy Sleeth, with 10 points, led the way.
Two nights later, B’ville visited West Genesee, who had undergone a coaching change with Stafford Spreter replacing Dan Hallinan, but had still looked impressive in its season-opening win over Nottingham.
This game proved a bit different than Liverpool, in that the Bees had a big lead, but nearly gave it all away before hanging on to beat the Wildcats 47-42.
Again, the defense established itself in a hurry, WG only getting two points in the opening quarter. By halftime, B’ville’s lead had grown to 26-10, yet the Wildcats didn’t give in, relying on a well-balanced attack (five players had between six and 10 points) to chip away at the margin all the way to the final horn.
Carlucci helped the Bees hang on, amassing 16 points and 17 rebounds, to go with three blocks. Pascale also had 16 points, plus nine rebounds and three assists, while Brussel again got nine points, adding four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Schaffner contributed seven rebounds.
Aside from the showdown with C-NS, B’ville also will visit Auburn next Thursday night.
