ONONDAGA COUNTY – Though a full winter’s worth of games still lay ahead, it’s doubtful that the Marcellus boys basketball team would ever feel as much satisfaction as it did on the first day of December.
Trailing long-time nemesis Westhill going into the fourth quarter, the Mustangs closed on a tear, surpassing the perennially powerful Warriors and emerging with a 58-50 victory.
These teams had similar records last winter – Marcellus going 6-3, Westhill 5-3. But with a long resume of sectional, regional and state championships, the Warriors had, for the most part, got the best of the Mustangs in their annual meetings.
So it was not surprising when Westhill steadily grabbed a 29-23 advantage by halftime and still found itself in front going to the final period, when Austin Voss took over.
All that Voss did for Marcellus was net 13 points in the fourth quarter, six more than the entire Warriors squad, as his baskets and free throws helped the Mustangs go in front to stay.
For the night, Voss had 18 points, helped by Will Burnett (10 points), Adam Sullivan (nine points), Jack Sammon (eight points) and Pat Louer (six points). On Westhill’s side, Luke Gilmartin had 16 points, with Shawn Mayes adding 10 points and Kam Langdon getting nine points.
After going 10-1 a season ago, West Genesee announced its intention to contend for Class AA honors again last Friday with an impressive 56-28 victory over Utica Proctor.
The Wildcats’ defense never let the Raiders score more than eight points in any single quarter. Meanwhile, Christian Cain and Christian Amica both hit on a pair of 3-pointers as Cain earned 17 points and Amica added 14 points. Gary McLane contributed seven points.
Jordan-Elbridge returned a solid core of players from a team that went 5-5 in that abbreviated winter 2021 season, and the Eagles got off to a strong start by defeating Canastota 46-35.
The Eagles held the Raiders to three points in the first quarter. Still, Canastota fought back and was within range, 34-31, before J-E’s defense again took over in the final period.
Jack Barrigar and Cory Henderson both had 11 points. Caleb Rouse, with 10 points, and Nolan Brunelle, with nine points, added further balance to overcome 24 points by the Raiders’ Clay Roberts.
