In all, 15 teams reached the Section III Class C boys lacrosse playoffs, and all of them have to endure opening-round games on Saturday – except the defending champions from Cazenovia.
With its 14-2 regular-season mark and undefeated run against all local Class C competition, the Lakers are again the top seed, and that carries the privilege of extra rest before this week’s daunting post-season gauntlet.
First, in Tuesday night’s quarterfinal at the Sean Googin Sports Complex, Cazenovia will face no. 9 seed Tully, who routed no. 8 seed General Brown 16-3 in the opening round. Win that, and the Lakers would go right to the semifinals on Thursday, with the big prize awaiting May 28 at 8 p.m., when the final takes place at the Carrier Dome.
For the state Class C no. 4-ranked Lakers, there was one more bit of regular-season business to handle, which it did at Homer last Tuesday night, taking over in the second quarter and ultimately putting away the Trojans 12-4.
Homer had every intention of slowing down the pace, especially after playing Cazenovia to a 2-2 first-quarter draw. But those plans dissipated when Brice Basic started winning face-offs and the Lakers methodically turned those extra possessions into goals, outscoring the Trojans 9-1 over the course of the next two periods.
What’s more, the attack was nicely balanced, with Cole Willard, Thomas Bragg and Derek White each netting three goals and Jake Lewis topping all of them with points thanks to two goals and three assists. Jake Stowell, finally getting back to 100 percent after some mid-season injury issues, had a goal and three assists.
