Even if the sample size remains relatively small, the Cazenovia boys basketball team is making a case to be on the short list of Class B title contenders.
The Lakers returned from a long road trip the previous weekend and, meeting Homer last Tuesday at Buckley Gym, showed a fine all-around game in the course of a 64-50 victory over the Trojans.
Long known for playing defense, Cazenovia saw that side of the game struggle during the second quarter, which allowed Homer to hang right with them and forge a 31-31 halftime tie.
However, the second half saw the Lakes maintain its production on one end and stifle the Trojans on the other end, only allowing a handful of field goals.
Gradually pulling away, Cazenovia had Ryan Romagnoli earn a game-high 19 points, nearly all of it from sinking six 3-pointers, while Patrick Linck finished with 13 points.
Alex Moesch, with 11 points, also hit double figures as A.J. Rothfeld and Peter McCole each got six points. Homer had 16 points from Mikyle Franklin and 13 points from Derek Fickett.
Still at home Friday to face Holland Patent, Cazenovia went for five in a row – and got it, taking over in the second quarter and hanging on to win 65-58.
The Lakers trailed 16-12 through one period, but outscored the Golden Knights 21-6 the rest of the half. And all through the second half, Cazenovia ably withstood HP’s charges.
Moesch continued to light it up, his 25 points mostly including five 3-pointers. Romagnoli also connected five times beyond the arc on his way to 17 points, while Linck had 13 points for the second game in a row.
Without any rest, Cazenovia played again on Saturday against PSLA-Fowler at Nottingham High School as part of the annual Syracuse Basketball Invitational.
And the Lakers still got to 6-0, pulling away to beat the Falcons 67-48. Once more, Moesch was the top scorer, earning 19 points as Romagnoli and McCole had 11 points apiece.
All of this was in advance of another big week of games that would start Monday at Bishop Grimes and continue Wednesday against Westhill.
Then Chittenango visits Buckley Gym on Friday, hoping that it has overcome some of its early-season struggles.
The Bears had faced that same Holland Patent team on Wednesday night, but with a far different result as it Bears fell to the Golden Knights 63-45.
Though Alex Lum had 13 points and Tyrus Kelly put in 11 points, Chittenango could not keep up with an HP attack that featured Dylan Ernst, who had 21 points, helped by Adam Jones (14 points) and Michael Benedetto (11 points).
Later in the week, the Bears fell to Fayetteville-Manlius 50-40 for its fourth straight defeat, unable to sustain its strong start as it limited the Hornets to just three points in the first quarter.
F-M countered with an 18-6 push through the second period, grabbed the lead and did not get caught. Lum led Chittenango with 12 points, with Evan Smith getting eight points and Jacob Dawkins getting six points.
