Back in December, the Baldwinsville boys basketball team’s big fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Liverpool appeared to symbolize a shift in the fortunes of both programs.
Now, though, they’re on even terms, the Warriors having defeated the Bees 73-55 last Tuesday night to gain some payback and demonstrate just how much it had grown since starting the season 0-5.
It didn’t help B’ville that it was playing a fourth Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division game in seven days and had lost the previous two, to Corcoran and West Genesee.
Just as in the first meeting, Liverpool moved in front of the Bees, a gradual effort that produced a 31-23 halftime advantage. Again, the B’ville attempted to rally, moving within five, 43-38, with one quarter left.
But remembering what happened a month ago, Liverpool dominated the fourth quarter, sparked by Kyle Butler, who poured in a season-best 25 points as Alex Ruston added 15 points. Jacob Works got 10 points as Matt Senecal had eight points.
No Bees player was able to consistently produce as J.J. Starling got held to 15 points and Jake Marshall had 11 points Eric Casey managed eight points, with Chase Trombley contributing six points.
B’ville was now back at the .500 mark (6-6), still two wins short of playoff qualification. Getting one of them required a win over visiting Henninger Friday night.
Having topped the Black Knights 93-69 back in December without Marshall in the lineup, the full-strength Bees managed something close to the same feat in the rematch, this time prevailing 77-51.
What both games had in common, besides the big margins, was big performances from Starling. The freshman hit seven 3-pointers on his way to 30 points overall, helping B’ville get clear after establishing a 37-30 halftime advantage.
Even more important was the help that Starling got from forward Sunday Joshua, who poured in 15 points, and Dan Fabrizio, whose 14 points included four 3-pointers. David Straughter (17 points) and Jonah Alston (13 points) led Henninger.
A day later, B’ville lost, 72-53, to Class A contender Whitesboro, who improved to 12-2 as it dominated the last two quarters after a 30-30 halftime tie.
Starling had 21 points, with Jake Marshall adding nine points, but Tommy Morealle had 25 points as Zach Britt (16 points), Avery Cook (13 points) and Joe Panuccio (11 points) also scored in double figures.
