ONONDAGA COUNTY – Of all the area high school boys basketball games in the last week of this abbreviated season, few held the meaning of the latest attempt by Bishop Ludden to end Christian Brothers Academy’s quest for a perfect record.
The “Holy War” renewed itself again last Tuesday night, and here the Gaelic Knights had no answer for the Brothers’ depth and defensive prowess in a 56-40 defeat.
CBA held Ludden to just seven points in the first quarter, which gave the Brothers time to unwind its own attack, ultimately finding that depth and balance mattered most.
Dan Anderson’s 15 points included a trio of 3-pointers. Amarri Pitts had 11 points, while Cario Williams gained 10 points, Sam Haas has eight points and Mike Schaefer got seven points.
That severely contrasted what the Gaelic Knights could produce. Other than Jarin Beauford’s game-high 22 points, the rest of the Ludden roster hit just seven shots from the field, two of them 3-pointers by Nazier Kinsey.
Ludden would bounce back Thursday as it beat Syracuse Academy of Science 61-46, bolting out 21-13 in the first quarter and, when the Atoms threatened, closing on a 14-6 run.
Grant Baker led the Gaelic Knights, his 21 points mostly from four 3-pointers, but Nazier Kinsey was close behind as he earned 16 points. Beauford and Wol Aman had nine points apiece.
Making it back-to-back wins on Friday and improving to 6-2 overall, Ludden handled LaFayette 71-48, though it took a 25-8 second-quarter blitz to negate the Lancers’ early advantage.
Beauford picked up 19 points and Baker added 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Axel Rivera stepped up with nine points as Kinsey and Jaiden Holloman had seven points apiece.
Westhill had lost twice the previous week, to CBA and Bishop Grimes, but had in between put together a 72-57 victory over the Skaneateles Lakers on March 4.
Already in front 33-24 at halftime, Westhill outscored the Lakers 24-13 in the third period to seal the victory, with four Warriors scoring in double figures as James Kelly got 20 points, Sam Aversa and Myshawn Thomas each had 16 points and Luke Gilmartin earned 13 points.
As for Skaneateles, Colin Gaglione led all individuals with 21 points, with balance behind him as Andrew Neumann got 11 points, Max Wamp had 10 points and Miller Weir added nine points.
Recovering from this, Skaneateles dismantled Cato-Meridian 71-37 last Monday night, Gaglione continuing to break out as he set a career mark with 26 points. Weir and Tyler Delfavero had 11 points apiece and Jude Pas’cal finished with eight points.
And after a loss to Marcellus, Westhill had its own game with SAS and prevailed 68-54 on Friday, a showcase for Gilmartin, who poured in a career-best 28 points as Kelly got 12 points and Shawn Mayes had 10 points.
Solvay got its best win of the season last Monday when it toppled 4-2 Institute of Technology Central 48-46, limiting the Eagles to just 18 total points in the second and third quarters to move out in front.
Hanging on late, the Bearcats were led by Antonio Gonazlez, who earned 15 points, and Tommy Venturini, who put in 11 points. Nick Commisso had seven points and Zach Bowen got six points.
Not having a letdown, Solvay won again Wednesday, topping Cato-Meridian 58-52 largely because of the 18-3 run it made through the second quarter after the Blue Devils went in front early.
Venturini’s 14 points included a trio of 3-pointers. Bowen was close behind, earning 13 points as Gonzalez got nine points, Commisso had seven points and Trae’von Riel gained six points.
Solvay lost Friday to Chittenango 44-41 in a game where it fell behind 14-2 in the first quarter, but didn’t surrender, trading baskets until a frantic fourth-quarter push where it outscored the Bears 17-5.
Gonzalez and Gerold Bean both had nine points, with Venturini getting seven points and Riel six points, but Chittenango held on, led by Tyrus Kelly, who had 17 points.
