Two weeks, even in the middle of winter and augmented by a school break, is a long time to go in between games.
That long break was built into the Baldwinsville girls basketball schedule following a busy opening stretch where it went 7-2, not losing to any local opponents, the only two blemishes taken during its December tournament appearance at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex in Florida.
No matter what it did to try and stay sharp (including a scrimmage), the Bees knew that, when play resumed last Friday night at West Genesee, it provided quite a test, and would have in normal circumstances.
In this situation, though, B’ville would get into deep trouble, making all kinds of mistakes from start to finish and allowing the Wildcats to get away and win big, prevailing, 51-25, and seizing first place in the CNY Counties League.
B’ville had not played a game since a Dec. 22 win over Henninger, a span of 15 days. While that long break offered some rest, it also meant the Bees would need time to return to game speed, and West Genesee was the wrong opponent to find top form.
From the outset, the Wildcats played intense, relentless defense, contesting everything the Bees tried. That pressure started to pay off in a 20-second stretch midway through the first quarter where WG scored seven straight points, taking the lead for good.
Two more sustained runs would put the game out of the Bees’ reach. Camryn Chawgo and Madison Smith accounted for four consecutive baskets, each of them hitting a 3-pointer, as part of a 10-0 run that gave the Wildcats some separation and a 26-14 halftime lead.
WG’s defense continued to smother B’ville, holding them without a field goal for the last five minutes, 20 seconds of the third quarter while it reeled off an 11-1 run, launched by back-to-back baskets by Mackenzie Smith.
Depth was a factor, too. Each of the 10 WG players that saw action recorded at least one field goal, Mackenzie Smith leading with 11 points as Chawgo adding 10 points. Haley Collins finished with eight points.
Just five B’ville players got on the scoresheet, led by Jenna Costello, with nine points, and Katie Pascale, with six points. The Wildcats and Bees are not done with each other, with a rematch set for Feb. 2 at the Baker High School gym. It figured to get easier for the Bees on Monday at Nottingham before another key league contest on Friday night at Fayetteville-Manlius.
