With a 2016 Section III Class A playoff appearance to build from, the Chittenango boys basketball team set out on a new season during last weekend’s “Hoops for the Hospital” event at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena.
On Friday and Saturday, a series of games would pit Onondaga High School League teams against Tri-Valley League opposition. The boys and girls Bears would each play on Friday against Central Valley Academy, and both would win.
Leading from the opening minutes, Chittenango’s boys topped CVA 69-56, relying on steady production and strong starts to each half. The Bears outscored the Thunder 17-9 in the first quarter and 22-13 in the third quarter, offsetting whatever took place in other parts of the game.
Zach Falkenburg poured in 23 points to lead the Bears, adding five rebounds and four assists. Hunter Hendrix chimed in with 12 points and eight rebounds, with Sam Hill contributing eight points and nine rebounds.
Matt Lamphear and Dylan Voutsnias had seven points apiece as Paul Wood got six points, four rebounds and four assists. Voutsnias tacked on six rebounds and four assists as Jacob Burgan got four rebounds and four assists. On the Thunder’s side, Tyler Rhude led with 20 points.
Chittenango’s girls basketball team, under the direction of head coach Christian Rohrer, also began its season last Friday at OCC, also taking on Central Valley Academy and taking over in the second half to earn a 44-28 victory over the Thunder.
Both sides were cold at the start, but as the baskets started falling, Chittenango edged out in front, 18-16, by halftime. Then it proceeded to hold CVA to four points in the third quarter while expanding its margin to 30-20, not to get caught.
Sydney Bennett led the defensive effort, grabbing 13 rebounds to go with her six points and four steals. Trisha Whaley added nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals as Morgan Shoemaker contributed six steals.
On the other end, Rachel Cleary hit on four 3-pointers to account for most of her 14 points, adding five rebounds, while Ally Shoemaker delivered on 10 points, five rebounds and five steals. Reilly Rich paced CVA with eight points.
From there, the Bears go on to face another Tri-Valley league foe, Oneida, on Monday night before its OHSL Liberty division opener next Friday at Solvay, on the same night that the boys Bears start its league slate at Skaneateles.
