Keyed by big wins over the likes of South Jefferson and Oneida, the Westhill girls basketball team has again positioned itself well with the Section III Class B playoffs looming.
The Warriors had moved to no. 12 in the latest state Class B rankings, having done so with a perfect mark in January that included eight consecutive victories, including last Monday, when Westhill rolled past Mexico 86-23 last Monday night, the effort kick-started by a 29-point first quarter, which was all the Warriors needed.
Erica Gangemi poured in 25 points, with Mackenzie Martin close behind as she got 21 points. Jenna Larrabee finished with 14 points as Ellie Masterpole gained seven points and Catherine Dadey had six points
Marcellus had a challenging assignment last Tuesday at Bishop Grimes, but the Mustangs managed to pass it, hanging on late to pull out a 51-50 victory over the Cobras.
Both sides could not find much separation during the first half, but in the third quarter Marcellus did gain some separation, attaining a 42-35 lead.
That cushion was needed as Grimes, led by Abby Wilkinson, made up most of the ground in the final period, Wilkinson working her total to 24 points that included five 3-pointers.
Yet Marcellus held on, with Emma MacLachlan’s 11 points part of a well-balanced attack where Kade DeMarle earned 10 points. Sarah Fallon and Mei LaMarre each had eight points and Hannah Durand added seven points.
It was easier for Marcellus in Friday’s 71-22 win over Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, where the Mustangs outscored the Rebels 15-2 in the first quarter and then scored 27 points in the second quarter.
All the while, Katie MacLachlan flourished, outscoring APW by herself thanks to 23 points, including her team’s only two 3-pointers. Fallon got 16 points, with Emma MacLachlan adding 11 points as Durand had eight points and LaMarre seven points.
A day later, in the 16th annual Traci Zimmer Coaches vs. Cancer Game at Central Square, the Mustangs stood up well, but still took a 56-48 defeat in a game that was close most of the way before the Redhawks outscored Marcellus 17-11 in the fourth quarter.
Fallon put up 16 points, with Katie MacLachlan adding 10 points. Emma MacLachlan had seven points and DeMarle got six points as Central Square’s Julia Mann poured in 24 points, including 11 successful free throws and three 3-pointers.
Solvay, whose game with Westhill last Thursday was postponed until Tuesday, hosted Phoenix last Tuesday night and lost, 57-43, staying relatively close most of the way,but ultimately unable to generate much production in the second and third quarters as the Firebirds’ Taylor Petrie burned them for 28 points.
Still, Allie Posnick put together 12 points, seven steals and five assists as Haley Muehl had 11 points and five rebounds. Myah Platler got seven points as Diamond Grant gained 10 rebounds and Brielle Bagozzi had eight rebounds.
Jordan-Elbridge hosted Cazenovia Friday night and lost, 58-30, unable to recover after the Lakers worked its way to a 37-14 halftime advantage.
Other than Ashlee Eaton, who had nine points, no other Eagles player had more than two field goals. Cazenovia’s Lindsey Lawson nearly matched J-E by herself, earning 25 points.
On Saturday, J-E lost a 55-53 overtime decision to Cato-Meridian, unable to hold on to a 27-21 halftime lead as the Blue Devils caught up, 43-43, by the end of regulation, and inched in front in the OT despite Eaton’s 18 points and Ella Bard adding 16 points.
