From the moment the Cazenovia boys basketball team dropped a last-second decision at Skaneateles on Jan. 22, things began to turn in the other direction.
The Lakers followed up with a defeat to Holland Patent two nights later and then, at Buckley Gym last Tuesday, struggled again in a 47-40 defeat to Marcellus.
Though it came into the game with a 9-4 record, the Mustangs had mostly lacked the kind of high-quality road win that it would get here, largely due to its defense.
It was close most of the way, Cazenovia leading 14-12 through one period and, even when Marcellus took the lead, staying within a basket or two before the final minutes.
Alex Moesch still had 17 points, while Keegan Bailey got 10 points and Ryan Romagnoli six points, but the rest of the Lakers were held to just two combined field goals as Tristan Jarvi and Luke Ingianni paced Marcellus with 13 points apiece.
Now looking to break a three-game skid, Cazenovia hosted Syracuse Academy of Science on Friday night, but again went down to defeat, falling to the Atoms 68-58.
Much of the game was played on even terms, the Lakers seeing Moesch get 17 points, Ty Freyer earn 12 points and Bailey add 11 points as Romagnoli (seven points) and A.J. Rothfeld (seven points) closely followed.
Yet SAS started the game 16-8 and did a good job protecting its lead the rest of the way, led by Zachhaeus Smith, who earned 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Owyn Blue, who got 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Chittenango had undergone plenty of its own struggles this winter, but had a bright moment last Tuesday when it shut down Mexico in a 44-33 victory.
All the Tigers could manage was nine points in the first half, the Bears’ pressure allowing it to overcome its own up-and-down offense and maintain a steady advantage the rest of the way.
Bryce Bishop paced Chittenango, earning 13 points. Tyrus Kelly had 11 points, while Brian Schermerhorn gained eight points.
Looking for back-to-back wins against Hannibal on Friday, the Bears got there with ease, whipping the Warriors 56-33 in a game where it roared out to a 32-10 halftime advantage.
Kelly nearly matched Hannibal by himself, finishing with 24 points, half of it from four 3-pointers. Bishop gained eight points, with Schermerhorn and James Miller earning seven points apiece.
Cazenovia’s lone game this week is a Tuesday trip to Jordan-Elbridge as Chittenango would host Institute of Technology Central Tuesday and go to Homer Friday night.
