ONONDAGA COUNTY – It took until the final week of the 2021 season for the Baldwinsville girls basketball team to produce its most exciting moment.
Sydney Huhtala was the author of that event, her contested jump shot from the corner beating the buzzer last Monday night to help the Bees defeat West Genesee 52-50.
Having not yet met the Wildcats this season, B’ville knew it had a challenge to deal with WG senior Catie Cunningham, who had netted 112 total points in her last three games, including 45 against Nottingham on March 5 in the game where she surpassed the 1,000-career point mark.
Things started well as the Bees roared to a 22-13 edge through one quarter, but led by Cunningham, the Wildcats clawed back in the game’s middle stages, setting up a dramatic conclusion.
By the time B’ville held the ball with 2.6 seconds left, the game was tied 50-50. From in front of her team’s bench, Gretchen Perine passed to Huhtala, who tracked the ball down in the corner and, off balance, let off the shot that swished as the clock hit zero.
It capped off a night where Huhtala had 16 points, Kyrah Wilbur got 12 points and Hanah Mimas had 10 points. Ola Bednarczyk and Mattison Phinney had six points apiece.
Cunningham cooled off a bit from her previous week’s work, but still led all individuals with 25 points as Mollie James had 12 points and Molly Benetti had eight points.
Up against another top talent when it faced Fayetteville-Manlius just 24 hours later, the Bees had far less difficulty putting away the Hornets 69-34.
As expected, B’ville keyed on F-M senior Lexie Roe and limited her to 13 points, a season low, knowing that it had far more depth on hand.
Huhtala and Wilbur each matched Roe’s total of 13 points, with Huhtala sinking seven free throws. Phinney stepped up to double figure, matching Mimas with 10 points as Bednarczyk had eight points and Perine six points.
Now, to finish the season, B’ville would get another shot at Nottingham, nine days after a 49-39 defeat to them.
While more productive in this game, the Bees again fell to the Bulldogs, this time in a 62-53 decision where, for a half, B’ville was quite steady, matching Nottingham’s runs and taking a 31-28 lead to the break.
The Bulldogs answered by outscoring the Bees 21-14 in the third quarter, ultimately getting away because Amaya Williams, who finished with 23 points, got significant support as Zyhona Glen amassed 16 rebounds and Tayahja Scott had 12 assists to go with nine points apiece.
Wilbur, with 17 points, paced B’ville, followed closely by Huhtala’s total of 16 points as Mimas finished with 12 points and Mary Young had six points.
The Bees finished at 7-3 overall, knowing it would see Mimas, Young, Phinney and Ashlyn Ecker graduate, but still excited because Huhtala, Bednarczyk, Wilbur and Gretchen Perine form a strong returning core of players for what everyone hopes is a full 2021-22 season.
