Forgive Cazenovia boys basketball fans if they felt, at the end of regulation in last Tuesday night’s game against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill at Buckley Gym, that the magic of previous weeks would just keep on going.

After all, here was Jake Shaffner, a mere nine days removed from leading the football Lakers to a state Class B championship, hitting a running jump shot at the horn, taking his side into overtime against the Red Devils, poised to prevail again.

Yet here was where reality took over and VVS, many of whose players were on a football team Cazenovia beat in the Nov. 7 sectional final at the Carrier Dome, got a tiny bit of revenge, prevailing in that extra period to beat the Lakers 62-57.

This was, indeed, Cazenovia’s season opener. Games against Mexico and Solvay the previous week had to get pushed back because much of the Lakers’ squad was still recovering from their gridiron heroics and needed practices to make the transition from football to the basketball court.

VVS, on the other hand, had played five games, going 4-1, its lone loss coming to Bishop Grimes in the Nov. 28 finals of the Oneida Tournament. Yet with all of that game experience, it could not take full advantage, only leading Cazenovia 23-18 at halftime and surrendering that edge in the third quarter.

Up 38-37 with one period left, the Lakers traded the lead with the Red Devils throughout that fourth quarter, and were down by two when Shaffner’s shot forced the OT. VVS had the last surge, though, outscoring Cazenovia 9-4 in that extra period as Davey Moffat, with 27 points and 15 rebounds, led the way, Dewey Roden adding 15 points.

For its OHSL Liberty division opener two nights later, Cazenovia had to visit a Skaneateles side that was off to a 3-0 start, and much of the game proved a tense, tight affair, but it was Skaneateles winning this Laker duel by a 70-60 margin.

Both sides were cold from the field in the first quarter, Cazenovia seizing an 8-6 lead. That didn’t last long, though, as Skaneateles inched in front, 24-21, by halftime, leading to a wild third quarter that featured plenty of production.

Still, the visitors could not get closer, and Skaneateles sealed it with plenty of late free throws, often taken by Pete Knupp, who camped out at the line to sink 20 foul shots, a personal best, on his way to 36 points overall. Jake Reed (11 points) and Sam Duggan (10 points) helped Knupp out.

Meanwhile, Cazenovia’s Hunter Kowaleski gained 19 points, but none of his teammates hit double figures. Shaffner and Tom Bragg each had nine points, with Chris Becker gaining seven points and Dan Kent adding six points.

Back at Buckley Gym Saturday night, Cazenovia hosted Oneida, and it would take two overtimes, but the short-handed Lakers finally found its way to the win column, outlasting the Indians 61-57.

With Shaffner not available, the Lakers held Oneida to four points in the first quarter, yet still found itself trailing 22-18 at halftime. They would keep going back and forth in the second half, setting up a dramatic end to regulation.

Cazenovia trailed, 44-40, when Liam Johnson, fed by Burke Regan, converted with 25.3 seconds to cut the margin to two. Then the Lakers’ defense forced a jump ball and, with the possession arrow, got it back, leading to Kowaleski’s driving lay-up with 6.8 seconds to play that tied it, 44-44.

Oneida couldn’t convert a last shot, and it went to OT, where in the first extra session Bragg netted five points, yet could not stay in front, the Indians tying it again, 51-51, and playing strong defense to keep the Lakers from winning it.

So it required a second OT, where Cazenovia would, at last, grab the lead for keeps, outscoring Oneida 10-6 in those last four minutes. Bragg ended up with 22 points as he and Kent (who finished with 13 points) combined to net 13 of the Lakers’ 17 OT points. Kowaleski and Johnson both had 10 points.

Lots more work awaits next week, too. By the time the Lakers take on Mexico and Marcellus early in the week, it will have played five games in eight days, with games against Altmar-Parish-Williamstown on Friday and Solvay on Dec. 22 to follow before the holiday break.