ONONDAGA COUNTY – It took nearly two-thirds the regular season, 13 games in all, before someone got the best of the West Genesee boys basketball team.
Carrying a 12-0 record and a no. 18 state Class AA ranking, the Wildcats went to Liverpool last Tuesday and absorbed an 84-72 defeat to the Warriors.
This was payback for Liverpool’s lone blemish of the season back on Dec. 16 in Camillus, when WG rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter to stun the Warriors 73-66.
Determined not to let that happen again, Liverpool never trailed in the rematch as Andreo Ash and Jacob Works scored the Warriors’ first 14 points.
All game long, Ash gave WG serious match-up problems, whether by making strong moves in the paint or drifting outside to hit a pair of 3-pointers, demonstrating his improved shooting range as he finished the night with 26 points.
Another boost came from the bench as guard Jacob Trombley hit on three 3-pointers which pushed Liverpool’s lead to 39-24 late in the second quarter.
Having overcome that same margin in December, WG fought back, closing the gap to 41-35 before Ash converted a basket and free throw near the midway point of the third quarter, leading to another prolonged Liverpool surge.
Then, down 60-42 in the final period, the Wildcats made one more push, moving within eight, 69-61, but Bruce Wingate made sure there wouldn’t be another comeback, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Christian Cain was sensational all night, finishing with 27 points, while Jayden Macknail had 11 points. He was the only other WG player in double figures as Christian Amica and Jordan Cain had eight points apiece. Aside from Ash and Wingate, Trombley and Works both put up 14 points.
Now the Wildcats had to steel itself for another opponent seeking to avenge a December defeat as Cicero-North Syracuse paid a visit Friday – which only made WG’s all-around effort in a 67-49 victory that much more impressive.
In large part, it was the defense that won this game. Clamping down from the outset, the Wildcats made every C-NS possession a battle in the first half, and that stress produced turnovers and baskets on the other end.
Steadily, WG’s margin grew to 33-17 by halftime, and it stayed out in front despite all of the Northstars’ late efforts to make it close as Christian Cain led the way with 21 points.
Amica got 11 points, with Kerrick Albright getting eight points as Macknail, Graye Mehl and Gary McLane each had six points. Luke Paragon and Andrew Benedict led C-NS with 12 points apiece.
