At last, the Section III Class B girls basketball playoffs have arrived, with Bishop Ludden primed to defend its title and Westhill just as eager to take the crown from them.
However, the Warriors would find itself in recovery mode following Tuesday night’s regular-season finale, where Bishop Grimes came to Westhill and prevailed 56-50.
These same two teams had met two weeks earlier at Grimes, and Westhill prevailed 59-50 – but the Cobras didn’t have junior guard Abby Wilkinson in the lineup, and her presence in the second encounter made quite a difference.
First, though, it was tremendous outside by the Cobras that put them in control, building a 27-14 lead at one point in the second quarter as it hit on six 3-pointers, three of them by Maria Naylor.
Westhill closed the gap to 30-23 by halftime and got within one, 40-39, by the end of the third quarter, but missed on multiple chances to get the lead and, more importantly, could not convert several close-range shots down the stretch.
Fittingly, it was Wilkinson who closed things out. Of her game-high 20 points, nine were in the fourth quarter, including three free throws in the final minute and 10 free throws overall.
Naylor hit on five 3-pointers to account for all of her 15 points as Brianna Squier added 10 points. Grimes also held Westhill’s top threat, Mackenzie Martin, to just eight points as Jenna Larrabee (14 points) and Katelyn Karleski (11 points) paced the Warriors. Erica Gangemi matched Martin’s total of eight points, while Morgan Elmer added six points.
Ludden had played the night before, at Cazenovia, where it blasted the Lakers 77-38 with a fine all-around effort that included Danielle Rauch earning 12 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Aurora Deshaies finished with 16 points and seven rebounds as Karleigh Leo got all 12 of her points from four 3-pointers and Lauren Petrie also had 12 points, a season high. Katie Costello, Amarah Streiff and Grace Murry had six points apiece.
Earlier in the week, Solvay saw its chance of reaching the sectional tournament denied by its neighbors from Marcellus as the Mustangs, securing its own playoff spot, defeated the Bearcats 43-29.
At 6-12 going into the game, Solvay needed to beat both Marcellus and LaFayette a night later, but fell behind 23-18 by halftime and got held without a field goal in the third quarter as Marcellus pulled away.
Claudia Leubner, with 11 points, led the Mustangs as Kade DeMarle had eight points and Hannah Durand added seven points. Nadea Davis paced Solvay with nine points as Aleah Yaizzo, Allie Posnick and Carly Devereaux had six points apiece.
Solvay then fell to LaFayette 52-45 despite a tremendous effort from Yaizzo, who poured in 22 points and added six assists. Davis had 12 points and seven rebounds as Haley Muehl and Johnae Crenshaw each got six points, Crenshaw adding six points. Grace Dow gave the Lancers 19 points and 17 assists.
Jordan-Elbridge would also miss the sectional playoffs, but did send its seniors off last Monday with a 46-31 victory over Cato-Meridian.
Five seniors – Alexis Braun, Kate Goodrich, Cassie Schader, Allison Jennings and Molly Derby – were honored before the game, and then the Eagles went out and held the Blue Devils to eight points in the first half.
Braun, in particular, had a memorable closing act, scoring a season-best 20 points as Jennings chimed in with 10 points. Ashlee Eaton finished with seven points. Cato’s Cassie Chalon had 15 points and 25 rebounds.
