Only a few seconds separated the Fayetteville-Manlius basketball teams from pulling off a sweep of last Tuesday night’s games against Liverpool.
But the boys Hornets saw a last-minute lead snatched away in a 79-73 overtime defeat, a contrast to the girls game at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall where F-M won 63-54.
Lots of emotions surrounded the boys game, where prior to tip-off 24.8 seconds of silence were observed in memory of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who with eight others (including his daughter) lost his life in a helicopter crash two days eariler.
The “Hornets Nest” student section donned NBA jerseys in Bryant’s honor, and they were quite happy for much of the game as hot shooting helped F-M build a 14-point lead in the game’s middle stages.
Liverpool fought back, but when Josh Michel converted a basket and free throw with 37.8 seconds left, the Hornets still led 64-58.
Then Jack Pento drained a 3-pointer, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw. Even with that, free throws allowed F-M to stay in front 67-64 Jacob Works got open and sank another 3-pointer at the horn to force OT.
Then, in the last minute of the extra period, another Works 3-pointer keyed the Warriors[‘ final surge as he finished the night with 26 points, while Pento poured in 15 points.
Ethan Page led F-M with 17 points, most of it from five 3-pointers. Jack Nucerino also had 17 points as Michel got 16 points. Luke Davidson, James Madill and Charlie Gadsden had seven points apiece.
All of this took place after the F-M girls had long secured its win over Liverpool, mostly on the basis of a dominant first half where it performed well on defense, which led to baskets on the other end and a 35-18 advantage.
Though the Warriors rallied late, it could not overcome the work of Lexie Roe, who gained 28 points and seven rebounds as Lily Fish got 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Lexi Kellish got eight points, with Ava Angello and Kendra Broddus getting six points apiece as Broddus earned four steals. Neveah Wingate led Liverpool with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
In Friday’s action, the F-M boys lost 69-49 to Corcoran, with the Cougars outscoring the Hornets 29-13 in the second quarter to gain control.
Though 11 different F-M players got on the scoreboard, none had more than the eight points from Madill and seven points from Davidson, Corcoran seeing De’Jour Reaves get 22 points and Dewayne Young add 15 points.
As that went on, the girls Hornets had to play for the first time this season without Roe, who suffered a foot sprain and did not known when she could return to the lineup.
F-M did beat Corcoran 58-49 as Fish poured in 27 points, adding nine rebounds. Lily Coleman got 12 points and seven rebounds as Broddus had eight rebounds and Halle Daino had six points.
A day later, though, the short-handed Hornets lost 60-40 to Horseheads in the “Hoops for the Hospital” event at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall. Fish had 10 points, with Angelo and Maeve Shaffer each getting six points and Coleman earning six rebounds.
