Before it could hit a tough regular-season homestretch, the Bishop Ludden boys basketball team ventured to Central Square last Friday night and found itself in some stress for much of the night before getting away late to beat the Redhawks 72-43.
Even though it gained an early lead, the state Class AA no. 12-rankedGaelic Knights (14-1) could not get comfortable. Central Square pushed back in the second quarter and, by halftime, only trailed by three, 31-26, and Dante Rogers’ 3-pointer early in the third quarter cut the Redhawks’ deficit to two.
However, Ludden’s defense took over from there. At one point, it held Central Square without a point for a stretch of seven minutes, notching 17 straight points to start the fourth quarter amid a decisive 29-6 run.
Though he battled illness throughout the week and did not start, Mika Adams-Woods still led with 16 points, part of a well-balanced attack where Joe Connor and Ed Walser each finished with 14 points. Sh’ikem Lee and Joey Desocio both got seven points as Nic Button contributed a pair of 3-pointers for his six points.
Marcellus, eager to get going again following a week to take in the brutal Jan. 19 overtime loss at Solvay, got perhaps its best win of the season by hosting Institute of Technology Central and pushing its way to a 66-59 victory over the Eagles.
The getaway started in the second quarter, with the Mustangs breaking out of a 14-14 tie. At its defensive peak, Marcellus held ITC to six points in the third period as the lead grew to 47-34, more than enough to withstand the Eagles’ late comeback attempt.
Ben Fedorenko, in particular, broke out, scoring a career-best 20 points as Nick Femano contributed 19 points. Nate Kellar added 11 points as Tom Fiacchi got six points. ITC leaned too much on Tr’Von Balaam, who had 26 points, and Iquail Dancil, who had 17 points.
Try as he could, there was no way Solvay boys basketball standout Jake Dippold could top those Jan. 19 heroics against Marcellus, ranging from 36 points overall to hitting the tying 3-point shot to force overtime and culminating in the buzzer-beating heave from beyond half-court that swished for a 60-59 victory.
Sure, it got close again when the Bearcats ventured to Hannibal last Monday night, and Dippold was again a big factor, but that was where the similarities ended as the Warriors held on to beat Solvay 50-47.
Overall, Dippold had 22 points, nearly half his team’s output, and help came from Shawn Edwards and Brady Preble, who had nine points apiece. Hannibal would prevail with similar big numbers from Ken Maynes, who had 23 points as Taber Carter (nine points) and Connor McNeil (eight points) helped him out.
In Wednesday night’s non-league game, Solvay lost, 83-68, to Weedsport, who showed why it was no. 9 in the state Class C rankings by jumping all over the Bearcats in a 29-12 first quarter.
Forced to chase the rest of the way, Solvay did an admirable job of it as Dippold finished with 22 points and Darrius Williams stepped up for 16 points. Connor Lee had eight points, with Edwards and Lamar Flood getting seven points apiece. Weedsport got 22 points from Jeff DeJohn, 20 points from Riley Spingler and 17 points from Jake O’Connor.
On Friday, Solvay visited a Chittenango side that was no. 23 in the state Class B rankings, but angry after just taking its second loss of the season to Homer. The Bearcats lost, 60-34, to the Bears, who held the visitors to two points in the second quarter while getting away.
Dippold led with just nine points, while Brady Preble had eight points and Edwards finished with six points. Chittenango got most of its production from Zach Falkenburg, who had 23 points, and Dylan Voutsinas, who had 13 points.
