With their head-to-head showdown in the Pathfinder Classic at Le Moyne College looming at week’s end, the Westhill and Bishop Ludden girls basketball teams found a way to make the game even more important.
The Warriors earned its biggest win of the season Monday night, using strong play from its veterans down the stretch to hand undefeated Bishop Grimes its first loss of the season in a 51-46 decision.
‘Westhill got a big boost before the game even started when Grimes guard Molly McInerney, one of the team’s best defensive players, had to sit out due to illness.
With or without McInerney, though, the Warriros’ strategy was the same – stay aggressive, even if it meant taking some fouls. By halftime, the trio of Mackenzie Martin, Morgan Elmer and Katelyn Karleski each had two fouls.
Yet that was acceptable because Westhill had quickly put Grimes’ best player, Azariah Wade, into foul trouble. She was whistled twice in the first quarter, and again in the waning seconds of the half.
By then, Westhill had the lead, largely on the strength of a trio of Elmer 3-pointers. Then Mackenzie Martin banked a half-court shot off the backboard and through the net at the horn to give the Warriors a 29-17 edge at halftime.
Grimes didn’t wilt, though. Even as Wade sat through most of the third quarter, Abby Wilkinson, who finished with 18 points, led her side on a 15-3 run that erased the deficit, and the Cobras lead, 40-38, early in the final period.
But just when it was required, the Warriors turned to its most trusted players. Karleski, quiet to that point, sparked a 9-0 run with back-to-back baskets, with Martin and Elmer also recording layups to give Westhill a lead it would not relinquish.
Wade, who still had 11 points in limited duty, fouled out with 2:50 to play, and the Cobras could not quite overcome her absence, though it battled to the end. Martin finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Elmer had 16 points.
While that was going on, Bishop Ludden was taking on Marcellus, which was far from an easy assignment. Yet Danielle Rauch, with her first triple-double of the season, sparked a first-rate effort from the Gaelic Knights as it beat the Mustangs 70-49.
Ludden had only played two days earlier, against Holy Names (Albany), and had won 52-41. Determined not to stress as much here, the Gaelic Knights took charge against Marcellus with a 26-point second-quarter outburst that created a 39-21 halftime margin.
And the lead grew to a 60-30 before the Mustangs’ belated charge against Ludden’s reserves. Rauch took on a more active role in the offense and was rewarded with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, plus five steals. Aurora Deshaies had 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Karleigh Leo got a season-best 12 points and Laura Patulski added 10 points.
On the Mustangs’ side, Sydney Lewis did all she could by converting on five 3-pointers and getting 21 points overall. Ludden did manage to hold Liz White to nine points as Grace Hoey earned seven points.
