In order to really make noise in the post-season, the Skaneateles girls basketball team knows that it has to present opponents with a formula that involves more depth, and less leaning on the likes of Olivia Dobrovosky.
Or to put it another way, it had to look something like the Lakers’ 66-56 victory over Chittenango Tuesday night, where a wide variety of players took control of the offense at different points, making it far more difficult for the Bears to defend them.
Chittenango had seen Skaneateles during its own holiday tournament in late December, where the Lakers beat Auburn 65-47, but lost the final to Oneida 69-58. In that tournament, Dobrovosky passed the 1,000 career point mark.
Now, though, the Lakers were more well-rounded, and immediately put that on display during a 24-7 first-quarter blitz. Even when Chittenango cut into that margin, Skaneateles answered by outscoring the Bears 24-15 in a decisive third quarter.
Dobrovosky, even when well-contained, had 15 points, but had teammates Ryley Pas’cal and Olivia Navaroli each get 11 points as Hannah Atkinson had 10 points, with Maeve Canty and Chloe Metz getting eight points apiece.
For Chittenango, Mekenzie Dahlin had a career-best 16 points, with Cassidy Kelly adding 14 points and eight rebounds. Ally Shoemaker had 11 points, seven steals, six rebounds and five assists as Emily Moon added 10 points.
A night later, Skaneateles moved to 13-3 by pounding Mexico 47-19. A stingy Lakers defense held the Tigers to just six points in the first half, more than making up for the inconsistency it may have shown on the other end.
Even without a field goal from Dobrovosky, the Lakers got enough production as all 10 players that saw action got at least one point. Canty led with 10 points, while Juilia Cirinicone stepped up with eight points and Metz added six points.
Skaneateles only plays once next week, but it’s a big test as it visits state Class B no. 10-ranked Westhill next Thursday night. The Warriors’ lone defeats of the season have come to Bishop Ludden and Indian River.
