If the schedule had remained the same, the West Genesee boys basketball team would have faced serious tests at the end of December, especially one against state Class AA no. 10-ranked Shenendehowa.
When that game on Dec. 29 got canceled, and other scheduled contests fizzled, the Wildcats found itself at 6-0 going into 2017, the last remaining unbeaten Section III side among the AA ranks once Bishop Ludden lost its Rosemary Corcoran Tournament final to Rochester Aquinas.
And even that distinction nearly disappeared in the first game of the new year, at Nottingham. WG was tested from start to finish, but hot outside shooting from Jack Bova and timely defensive stops rescued a 79-75 victory over the Bulldogs.
Nottingham arrived at this game sporting a 3-4 record, but were always motivated to face the Wildcats since Malik Zachery once played for the Bulldogs before transferring to WG. didn’t get discouraged when the Wildcats seized an early lead and stretched the margin out to double digits.
Instead, in the game’s middle stages, the Bulldogs made up enough ground to only trail by two, 58-56, going to the fourth quarter, getting big nights from Jakair Sanchez, who had a game-high 30 points, and Malcolm Nelson, who earned 23 points.
WG watched Nottingham pull even, 62-62, early in the final period. The Wildcats regained the lead, but could not draw clear, clinging to a three-point margin when, with 1:30 left, Nate Phillips drew a critical charge.
Then Jack Bova, mostly known for his hot shooting, saved another possession by jumping on a loose ball in the final minute and getting a time-out called. From there, WG held on as Bova, who didn’t get on the board until the second quarter, still piled up 28 points, including six 3-pointers.
Bova, along with Phillips (10 points) and Will Amica (13 points), helped WG make up for the attention given to Zachery, who still managed 17 points. Lucas Sutherland added eight points as the Wildcats will face Nottingham again on Jan. 31.
Meanwhile, WG geared up for a big road test Friday at much-improved Baldwinsville, whose 5-2 start was predicated on a fast tempo and lots of 3-point shots falling. These things happened against the Wildcats, too, but Zachery proved impossible to contain, eventually helping the Wildcats prevail 85-70 for its eighth straight win.
B’ville proved its worth throughout the night, leading 19-17 after one period and not getting discouraged when WG held them in check the rest of the half and took a 31-27 lead to the break.
All through the second half, the pattern remained the same. The Bees were productive, but every time it tried to get close, Zachery answered them, either with drives to the basket or with a long string of free throws that stretched out the winning margin.
Between 15 field goals and 14 successful free throws, Zachery’s total amounted to 45 points, a career high. Enough help came from Bova (16 points) and Sutherland (11 points) as Phillips added eight points. Casey Pluff, with 22 points, and Gabe Horan, with 17 points, paced the Bees.
And this led to Tuesday night’s first-place CNY Counties League showdown in Camillus, with WG hosting Liverpool. Each of them entered the game with 4-0 league records as the Wildcats will also play at Henninger on Thursday.
