Cazenovia — Of all the possible scenarios the Westhill girls basketball team had to deal with at the outset of the 2015-16 season, a defeat in the first game was the most unpleasant – yet it very nearly took place.
The Warriors trailed most of Wednesday’s game at Cazenovia, relying on clutch baskets from two of its five returning starters to squeak out a 48-44 decision over the Lakers.
While it was true that every key player was back for head coach Sue Ludwig’s squad, it did have to wait for Delaney and Mackenzie Martin, along with Brigid Heinrich, to return from volleyball, where they had helped Westhill reach the state Class B final for the first time in that program’s history.
Those players had practiced for less than two weeks before going to Cazenovia, a side that, under first-year head coach Kristen Romagnoli, already had a win over Utica-Notre Dame under its belts.
Working it inside with Danielle Tedesco (who had 17 points) and outside with Lucy Connor (whose 14 points included a pair of 3-pointers), Cazenovia built its lead throughout the first half, eventually going to the break in front 27-20, only to have Westhill go on an 8-0 run at the start of the third quarter.
Cazenovia regained the lead, 35-33, and a tense fourth quarter followed. At one point, Cazenovia was up 42-37, but with Tedesco on the bench nursing four fouls, Westhill took advantage, Mary Kate Washburn converting before but Morgan Elmer’s 3-pointer tied it, 42-42, with 1:22 left.
Mackenzie Martin’s free throw briefly put Westhill in front, 43-42, but Connor answered with a pair of foul shots with 30.4 seconds to play. Up 44-43, Cazenovia needed one more stop, but instead Washburn, getting the ball inside, converted with 15.7 seconds left, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw.
continued — Now trailing by two, Cazenovia got two late possessions, but turned it over once and saw Connor miss a possible winning 3-pointer before Washburn, fouled with three seconds left, sank the clinching free throws for the Warriors.
Delaney Martin finished with 11 points and Mackenzie Martin had seven points, with Elmer adding 10 points. Also, Westhill’s defense quieted most of the Lakers around Tedesco and Connor. Only Jenna Britton, who had seven points, and Ackermann, with five points, produced field goals beyond that duo.
After all that, the Warriors visited Seneca Falls Friday to take on Mynderse Academy, and faced far less stress in a 48-32 victory over the Blue Devils, but even this game saw the Warriors fall behind 9-6 before it outscored Mynderse 12-4 in the second quarter to gain the lead for good.
Two Westhill players nearly got triple-doubles. Washburn had 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Mackenzie Martin matched up nine points, nine rebounds and a career-best nine steals. Delaney Martin got 14 points and 10 rebounds, Karleski had 10 points, four rebounds and five steals.
The Warriors now head for a big early-season stretch that includes Thursday’s battle with neighbor Bishop Ludden and the Dec. 14 clash with Bishop Grimes, who still remembers how Westhill ousted them from the sectional quarterfinals a year ago.
