ONONDAGA COUNTY – All is in place for the Liverpool boys basketball team as it bounds toward Tuesday night’s highly-anticipated rematch with West Genesee.
Only the undefeated (12-0) Wildcats have topped the Warriors (7-1) this season, rallying from a double-digit deficit when they first met Dec. 16 in Camillus, and the winner of this game would take a giant step toward a possible top seed in the upcoming Section III Class AA playoffs.
In its last game before facing WG, the Warriors met up with Henninger Wednesday night and, by controlling the game’s middle stages, was able to defeat the Black Knights 74-55.
Both sides were red-hot during a fast-paced first quarter, which ended in a 21-21 tie, but it was here that Liverpool’s defense took charge.
All the Black Knights could manage was 15 total points in the second and third quarters, giving the Warriors’ offense ample time to establish a comfortable margin – which it did.
Leading 53-36 through three periods, Liverpool closed it out as Andreo Ash led with 19 points and Jah’Deuir Reese stepped up for a season-best 16 points. Shontez Anderson got 12 points and Jacob Works added 11 points.
Meanwhile, Cicero-North Syracuse had plenty of time early in the week to contemplate how, after a 5-0 start, it had fallen back, dropping four of its next six games.
Whatever was said and worked on during the week sure seemed effective because, against Corcoran on Friday, the Northstars reached triple digits and got a stunning performance from freshman Andrew Benedict in a 105-66 victory over the Cougars.
Maintaining a torrid pace all night, C-NS built a 52-30 halftime margin and, intent on reaching the century mark, didn’t let up, including a 33-point fourth quarter.
All the while, Benedict lit it up from the field, hitting on 16 field goals, six of them 3-pointers, and not letting up until he had finished with 41 points, one of the best individual totals in recent program history.
Reece Congel worked inside for 18 points as Michael Gallo stepped up for a season-best 17 points. Terrance Coppack had eight points, Robbie Siechen seven points and Jerrod Hills six ponts.
C-NS will get its own shot at payback for an earlier loss to West Genesee on Friday right after Liverpool plays the Wildcats.
