Somehow, the great numbers and impressive victories put up by the Marcellus girls basketball team was not drawing notice outside of Central New York circles.
Despite its 10-1 record and six-game win streak, the Mustangs were still not in the state Class B rankings, but still had a chance at another signature win when it took on state Class A no. 19-ranked Bishop Ludden last Friday night.
Marcellus grabbed that victory, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit with an all-out assault that led to a 71-63 victory over the Gaelic Knights.
A strong second quarter had Ludden out in front, 37-30, by halftime, and it stayed that way until the final period, when the relentless Mustangs pressure led to a series of easy baskets on the other end.
All told, Marcellus outscored the Gaelic Knights 28-14 in those last eight minutes, Sarah Fallon leading the way as she got 20 points. Hannah Durand and Katie MacLachlan each had 16 points, with Emma MacLachlan getting 10 points and Sam Wynne earning seven points.
On Ludden’s side, Amarah Streiff put up 20 points, followed closely by Keiara Odune, who got 17 points. Lauren Petrie earned 13 points and Kaitlyn Kibling added nine points.
Before this, Marcellus faced Chittenango last Tuesday and, just like it would against Ludden, displayed some late-game toughness in defeating the Bears 48-42.
Leading 17-9 after one period, Marcellus could not put Chittenango away, instead seeing the margin disappear in the game’s middle stages.
So they were tied 32-32 going to the fourth quarter, but here the Mustangs flourished, reclaiming the lead for good thanks to a well-balanced attack.
Katie MacLachlan finished with 14 points, with Fallon earning 12 points. Wynne had nine points and Hannah Durand had eight points.
Ludden had returned to action last Wednesday, against Syracuse Academy of Science, and broke its three-game skid by holding off the Atoms 47-43.
A 14-6 start gave the Gaelic Knights a lead it would nurse through most of the game, eventually building it to 37-29 before SAS staged a late rally that fell just short.
Streiff again led the way, earning 17 points. Petrie had 12 points, while Odume had nine points and Kibling had seven points.
Westhill, who was 5-5 going into last week, had its own game against Chittenango on Thursday and, like Marcellus, proved successful against the Bears, claiming a 60-44 victory.
Things were close until the Warriors outscored Chittenango 20-7 in the fourth quarter, Jenna Larrabee working inside for 23 points and Catherine Dadey sinking five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points. Tess Roesch had eight points and Erica Gangemi earned seven points.
All of this followed last Monday’s 83-31 romp over Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, where all 10 Warriors players that saw action earned at least one field goal.
Before an early exit, Larrabee gained 19 points, closely followed by Dadey, who had 16 points. Ellie Masterpole had 11 points and Erica Gangemi got 10 points as Tess Roesch had seven points.
