The sight of Jordan-Elbridge boys basketball players and students celebrating on the court last Tuesday night gave a small indication as to just how important its 53-48 victory over Skaneateles was on several levels.
Short-term, the Eagles had knocked off a neighbor and rival who had beaten them plenty in recent years. Long-term, it showed that J-E could again prove difficult to knock off once the Section III Class B playoffs roll around.
It was close all the way through, Skaneateles up 28-25 at halftime, but the Eagles using a big third quarter to inch in front, 43-42, and then containing the Lakers well in the final minutes to hang on.
Dakota Holbrook, with 11 points, led a well-balanced J-E attack. Tyler Waldron and Alex Pond each had 10 points, while Myles Town and Jeremy Meili got nine points apiece.
Looking for another big win at Bishop Grimes Friday night, the Eagles instead ran into a desperate Cobras squad and took a 72-48 defeat.
Grimes had lost four in a row, and raced out 38-21 on J-E by halftime, continuing to add to that margin as Joe Wike (13 points), Jack Gutchess (12 points) and Ian Denton (11 points) led the way.
No one on the Eagles could produce much except for Waldron, who poured in 19 points. The next-highest scorer, Meili, had just six points, with Holbrook held to four points.
Skaneateles lost, too, upended 69-41 by a Bishop Ludden side that had stewed for five days after a last-second defeat to “Holy War” rival Christian Brothers Academy.
Hot out of the gate, the Gaelic Knights amassed a 45-25 lead by halftime, and spread things around, too, putting four players in double figures.
Mykell Kaigler led with 15 points, but Jarin Beauford (14 points), Grant Baker (11 points) and Nazier Kinsey (10 points) were close behind, overcoming 17 points by the Lakers’ Nate Fouts as Jack Whirtley added eight points.
J-E wasn’t the only one with a big league win last Tuesday. Marcellus ventured to Cazenovia and, buoyed by its defense, took out those other Lakers 47-40.
Though 9-4 going into the game, the Mustangs lacked a high-quality road win, but after it trailed 14-12 through one period, it methodically contained Cazenovia the rest of the way and then built its margin in the final minutes.
Luke Ingianni and Tristan Jarvi led Marcellus with 13 points apiece. Jared Sammon had nine points, with Ryan Sammon and Cory Cangemi each getting six points. Cazenovia lost despite 16 points from Alex Moesch.
Back home Friday night to face Christian Brothers Academy, the Mustangs could not generate much of an attack in a 53-34 loss, held to five points in the first quarter and unable to recover from that early slump.
Not to be forgotten in all this, Westhill won twice last week, starting Tuesday with a trip to Phoenix that resulted in a 68-35 romp over the Firebirds.
Continuing to diversity its attack, the Warriors saw Elliott Rouse lead the way, earning 18 points, just ahead of James Kelley’s total of 15 points. Zechariah Brown got 12 points as Luke Gilmartin and Rusden Bryant had six points apiece.
Then the Warriors handled Mexico 60-35 two nights later for its seventh win in eight games, getting four players to score in double figures.
Kelley set the pace thanks to 16 points. Brown and Rouse each got 15 points, with Liam Sanborn getting 12 points as the Warriors geared up for a Monday showdown with Solvay, whom it lost to on Jan. 2.
