Recent history in Section III Class AA girls basketball has offered little variation from the general theme of the pack chasing Cicero-North Syracuse, and no one really coming close to catching them.
That includes Baldwinsville, who despite its success against nearly every other opponent has met the same frustration at the hands of the Northstars. And last Tuesday night’s game at the Baker High School gym continued that trend, with the Bees falling to the Northstars 69-35.
With a strong, experienced lineup and nice balance between its inside and outside games, C-NS is well-poised to go beyond a sectional title and chase the program’s first state championship since Breanna Stewart’s senior year.
B’ville got an up-close demonstration of the Northstars’ multiple abilities, not earning a basket until it had fallen behind 10-0 and only managing occasional spurts against a swarming defense that forced lots of turnovers.
It was 19-5 at the end of the first quarter and 37-16 by halftime, C-NS not letting up until it had hurt B’ville with both its inside game, led by Amani Free, and with its perimeter play from McKayla Roberts and Samantha Tortora. Free, Roberts and Tortora each finished with 16 points.
Despite the trouble she had inside against Free, Riley Carlucci still led the Bees with 10 points, adding five rebounds. Emily Pascale had seven points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Carolyn Brussel had six points, four rebounds and two assists. Mackenize Schaffner finished with seven rebounds.
Two weeks would pass before B’ville played at home again, a Dec. 22 meeting with Corcoran. In the meantime, the Bees visited Auburn Thursday night and improved to 5-1 on the season, taking out the Maroons by a 60-35 margin.
Unlike so many other wins this season, B’ville did not start fast, the game tied, 9-9, until the defensive pressure started to wear on Auburn, leading to a 15-4 push through the second quarter that put the visitors up for good.
Pulling away in the second half, B’ville saw Kaylee Lammers bounce back from a rough outing against C-NS by earning a team-beat 15 points. Carlucci, with 12 points and nine rebounds, wasn’t far behind, while Pascale mixed in 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Brussel also had a fine all-around showing with seven points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Now B’ville takes a week off, not returning to action until next Friday, when it goes to Nottingham.
