Now with a Section III playoff berth secure, the Jordan-Elbridge boys basketball team could spend the rest of the regular season gathering up further momentum.
The Eagles’ win streak hit five in last Monday’s trip to Pulaski, where Jeremiah Sparks again had a big showing as J-E pulled away to beat the Blue Devils 69-48.
Defense got the Eagles started as it limited Pulaski to six points in the first quarter. Not stopping there, J-E gained a 55-31 edge by the fourth quarter.
Through it all, Sparks accounted for more than half the Eagles’ production, finishing with 36 points. Some help came from Dakota Holbrook and Aidan Carpenter, who had seven points apiece.
Two nights later, J-E hosted Solvay to look for its sixth win in a row, and got it in a different way than it had in other games, playing strong defense throughout a 54-32 victory over the Bearcats.
Already in front, the Eagles began to gain control when it limited Solvay to four points in the second quarter. And though the Eagles were far from in top form on offense, Sparks still managed 24 points, including three 3-pointers.
Brandon Wick finished with 11 points, while Carpenter and Nate Melfi had five points apiece. No Bearcats player scored in double figures, with Justin Scott getting nine points as Brock Bagozzi had seven points and Robby Clark had six points.
This perfect week for the Eagles concluded Saturday at Phoenix, with J-E defeating the Firebirds 70-59 to extend the win streak to seven.
Trailing 18-13 after one period, the Eagles proceeded to outscore Phoenix 38-23 over the course of the second and third quarters, with Sparks pouring in 31 points from 10 field goals an d nine successful free throws.
Carpenter gained 13 points, while Holbrook had eight points. Carson Ashby had seven points and Zak Curtis six points. The Firebirds did get 27 points from Jack Allen.
Solvay had to run into state Class C no. 12-ranked Weedsport last Monday night and could not keep up with the Warriors in an 85-59 defeat.
Weedsport amassed a 74-44 lead by the end of the third quarters as Jake O’Connor (26 points) and Jack Benedict (18 points) led the way. Clark had 13 points, with Bagozzi adding 12 points and Elijah Wright getting 11 points as Scott (nine points) and Kamren Harris (seven points) closely followed.
Weather interrupted lots of games on Friday, with Solvay unable to take on Skaneateles. But Marcellus did play at Institute of Technology Central and rallied to pull out a 73-72 overtime victory over that other group of Eagles to clinch a sectional playoff berth.
Trailing ITC 41-30 at halftime, the Mustangs ate away at that deficit throughout the second half, and caught up at 66-66 by the end of regulation. Then it inched in front during the four-minute OT period and held on in the waning seconds.
Connor Rogalia led Marcellus with 20 points. Ben Fedorenko struck for 16 points, while Connor Wixson’s three 3-pointers accounted for most of his 15 points. Sam Grattan had 12 points as ITC’s Jahzel Johnson led all individuals with 27 points.
With the pressure of trying to reach the post-season off for them, Marcellus could relax for Saturday’s game at Christian Brothers Academy, even if the result proved poor as the Mustangs lost, 54-41, to the Brothers.
Held to four points in the first quarter, Marcellus could not overcome that early drought as the deficit grew to 43-22 by the end of the third period. Rogalia did get 10 points, with Fedorenko adding eight points. Grattan and Luke Ingianni had seven points apiece.
