From a season that, in December, looked hopelessly lost, the Marcellus boys basketball team has made quite a turnaround.

Not only have the Mustangs rallied to snare a Section III Class B playoff berth in Scott Cotter’s first season at the helm, it did so in the most dramatic way possible, knocking off Institute of Technology Central 57-55 last Tuesday night on Jarrod Gates’ basket as time expired.

Already, Marcellus was more confident, having overcome a 2-1 start with three wins in its previous four league games that included a 72-71 upset at Syracuse Academy of Science that, remarkably, was claimed when Nate Kellar’s layup beat the buzzer off a feed from Gates.

True, the Mustangs had also lost twice, but that was to Class AA contender Utica Proctor – which, if nothing else, toughened up the team for ITC’s visit.

All game long, Marcellus and ITC traded the lead. Though the Eagles’ James Walker produced a game-high 21 points and Tr’Von Balaam added 17 points, the Mustangs contained the rest of the roster.

Marcellus fought its way to a 30-27 halftime lead. Then it withstood all of ITC’s charges, in large measure due to the work of Mike Melnyczuk, who hit four 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 18 points, and Nick Femano, who added 10 points as Tom Fiacchi got seven points.

Gates, for his part, had eight points as time began to wind down in regulation and the Mustangs were tied, 55-55, with the Eagles. But after a Mustangs defensive stop, it got a chance to win it – and Gates, taking a pass from Kellar, converted from 15 feet, open because ITC’s defenders were intent on double-teaming Melnyczuk.

Two nights before taking on Westhill, Solvay welcomed East Syracuse Minoa for a non-league game and ran all over the struggling Spartans, prevailing by a 72-47 margin.

True, the first half proved close, the Bearcats only able to establish a 33-30 lead. But then Solvay held ESM to four points in the third quarter and pulled clear, seeing Blake Bagozzi and Mike Yaizzo each get three 3-pointers.

Bagozzi finished with 17 points and Yaizzo added 13 points. Sammy Kippen, with 10 points, and Jake Dippold, with nine points, were close behind, with Colin Lucio contributing six points. For the Spartans, only Ty Barkins, with 16 points, scored in double figures.

Solvay also lost on Saturday night at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall, falling 52-46 to Skaneateles as its record dipped to 9-8, facing three remaining regular-season games this week against ITC, Syracuse Academy of Science and Phoenix.

Also victorious in its lone outing of the week, Jordan-Elbridge inched closer to securing its own post-season bid on Friday night, hosting Pulaski and playing well when it had to in a 54-47 victory over the Blue Devils.

Pulaski arrived with an 11-5 record, only to have difficulty unleashing its offense throughout the first half. The Eagles didn’t take full advantage, but still led, 24-20, at the break, and even after Pulaski caught up in the third quarter, J-E had the final answer, outscoring the visitors 25-18 the rest of the way.

In particular, Brandon Macvicz had a big night, putting together 21 points. Seven other Eagles had field goals, too, with Mason Barrigar and Aiden Carpenter each earning eight points and Dylan Dunham getting all seven of his points at the free-throw line. Paul Forstiere (11 points) and Tyler Rogers (10 points) led Pulaski’s efforts.

With a 7-10 record, J-E needed one more win to reach the sectional tournament, and could get it Tuesday against struggling Hannibal before a Friday visit to Skaneateles.