What promised to be a memorable Section III Class A boys basketball tournament would intertwine the fortunes of four area teams – one defending the title, the other three bent on dethroning them.
Jamesville-DeWitt had won its last 11 regular-season games and picked up the no. 2 seed. It would face no. 7 seed Fulton, whom it beat twice in the regular season, in the quarterfinals after the Red Raiders ousted Watertown 59-46.
Meanwhile, East Syracuse Minoa altered its playoff fate after last Tuesday’s important game at Central Square, where the Spartans shut down the Redhawks and prevailed 49-39.
Central Square had won 55-36 when these teams first met Jan. 14. The rematch had the Spartans down 12-6 through one period, but making up that ground and then outscoring the Redhawks 18-7 in a decisive fourth quarter.
The duo of Nick Peterson and Devin Mascato-Buffaloe led the way, each producing 16 points as Jimmy Ferns added nine points. Brandon Kulakowski led Central Square with 17 points.
Because of that win, ESM snagged the no. 3 seed and had a first-round bye, while Central Square fell to the no. 5 seed and would have to play in the opening round amid a 12-team bracket.
Christian Brothers Academy, who had won 13 of 15 games following a 1-4 start, earned the no. 4 seed and the other first-round bye.
When Central Square breezed past Carthage 73-43, it set up Tuesday’s quarterfinal between the Redhawks and Brothers at the tail end of a doubleheader also featuring the top-seeded CBA girls.
Bishop Grimes was in the toughest spot, having gone 2-7 in the regular-season homestretch, including last Monday’s 80-70 defeat to Bishop Ludden.
After leading early 17-12, the Cobras were outscored 45-32 in the next two quarters, despite 20 points from A.J. Burnett and 17 points from Joe Wike. For Ludden, Mykell Kaigler had 25 points and Monte Johnson added 19 points.
Moving into the sectional tournament, Grimes had the no. 8 seed, meaning that, if it beat no. 9 seed Syracuse Academy of Science, it would get a chance to challenge 20-0 Whitesboro in the quarterfinals.
Having lost 57-54 to this same Atoms team exactly one week earlier, the Cobras made the necessary adjustments and, with post-season stakes, won this time, ousting SAS 63-53.
Most important was the work of Grimes’ defense, which mostly kept the Atoms well-contained throughout the first half as the Cobras steadily gained a 33-25 advantage.
SAS never went away, thanks to the 19 points and 16 rebounds from Zacchaeus Smith and the 18 points and eight rebounds put up by Augustine Jusu, but Grimes had a bit more depth in its attack.
In particular, A.J. Burnett stepped up, burning the Atoms for 27 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Inside, Jack Gutchess worked his way to 17 points, while Ian Denton had 11 points and Joe Wike got six points.
