Square in the middle of its most difficult stretch of the season, the Baldwinsville girls basketball team tried to hang in there and, at the very least, make sure it would return to the post-season.
The Bees were 7-5 going into last Monday night’s game against visiting Corcoran, but with a chance to clinch a Section III Class AA playoff berth, B’ville could not get over a rough first half on this night, taking a 67-58 defeat to the Cougars.
Despite a 4-6 mark, Corcoran jumped out quickly on the Bees, and didn’t let up until it had a double-digit edge. B’ville had just six points in the second quarter and found itself trailing 30-16 at the break.
Making up some ground, B’ville pulled within 41-33 going to the fourth quarter and kept producing late as Alex Bednarczyk had 14 points, with Megan Brecht getting 11 points as Jordan Roy (eight points) and Courtney Clute (six points) helped.
However, the Cougars remained in front anchored by a three-pronged attack. Diamond Gilbert had 17 points, seven of them from free throws, as Aneesha Millhouse and Tayahja Scott both earned 15 points, each of them hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
Just 24 hours later, B’ville hosted Liverpool, seeking to get even for a 45-33 defeat to the Warriors earlier this season, and started well, but could not sustain it as the Warriors took over in the middle stages and prevailed 69-46.
A fast early pace did not bother the Bees, who matched Liverpool and emerged from it with an 18-18 tie. However, B’ville went cold in the second quarter, held to seven points, and a 26-point third period by the Warriors proved too much to overcome.
Hannah Mimas had 11 points, with Sydney Huhtala gaining eight points. Brecht had seven points as Bednarczyk and Roy each earned six points.
But all of them trailed Liverpool’s Amanda Barnell, who proved impossible to stop as she poured in 26 points, with ample support from Lexi Emmi, who had 14 points, and Karlyssa Shifflett, who had 12 points.
Now the Bees needed a win Friday against Henninger to avoid going below the .500 mark. Not only did that happen, but by prevailing 53-37 over the Black Knights, B’ville clinched a Section III Class AA playoff berth.
It wasn’t that easy, though. Both teams struggled through the first half and the Bees trailed, 19-17, before a big third quarter where it outscored Henninger 19-10 to gain control.
Bednarczyk, helped by three 3-pointers, led all scorers with 17 points. Mimas continued to shine with 12 points, while Huhtala earned 10 points and Roy gained nine points.
With that busy stretch over, B’ville (8-7) rests most of this week, only playing on Wednesday as it hosts Nottingham
