One constant feature of the Chittenango girls basketball team’s December slate was the sheer number of close wins it found itself earning.
Four different times in its first seven games, the Bears won by four points or less, claiming yet another thriller on Thursday when it edged Auburn 45-44 in the opening round of the Chittenango Holiday Tournament.
This game had some unusual patterns. Following a high-scoring first half that ended 32-32, neither side could make anything in the third quarter, the Bears holding the Maroons to two points – and only managing a single free throw on its own.
Down the stretch, though, both sides produced more, but it was Chittenango inching ahead and staying there as Emily Moon led with 15 points, adding six rebounds and three steals.
Ally Shoemaker had 11 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and seven assists, with Mekenzie Dahlin getting 10 points and five rebounds. Cassidy Kelly also had seven rebounds as Auburn got 19 points from Stephanie Gera and 14 points from Jania Freeman.
After Auburn beat Skanetaeles 56-45 in the consolation game, the final on Friday pitted Chittenango against Oneida, who had knocked off unbeaten, state no. 5-ranked Vernon-Verona-Sherrill the week before and then beat Skaneateles 53-42 in the opening round of this tournament.
Only here, in the team’s fifth narrow decision of the season, did the Bears falter in a late-game situation, taking a 49-47 defeat, but even this one nearly featured a big comeback.’
Having gone in front with a 16-8 second-quarter push, Oneida built its margin to 39-30 going to the fourth quarter, only to have Chittenango charge in the waning minutes.
Shoemaker, accumulating 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals, led that late push, while Kelly had eight rebounds to go with seven points as Moon got eight points and Dahlin added six points.
To hang on, the Indians needed 15 points from Ella Rainbow and 11 points from Kaylin Curro as Sydney Lusher got eight rebounds and five assists to go with seven points, which Lauren Skibitski matched as Grace Coulter added nine rebounds.
