ONONDAGA COUNTY – Even before the chaos and excitement of the Section III playoffs, area high school girls basketball teams engaged in some big games to warm up for the post-season.
This included a pair of showdowns Monday night where Bishop Ludden got the best of its neighbors from Westhill and Marcellus earned one of its most satisfying wins of the winter when it toppled Bishop Grimes.
What made the Mustangs’ 43-39 victory over the Cobras so important was the way it was earned.
All through the first half, Marcellus was contained well as Grimes moved out in front. The pace picked up early in the second half, but as the third quarter ended the Mustangs trailed 34-27.
Then it all turned around. On one end, Marcellus shut down the Cobras’ attack and, on the other end, the Mustangs used a series of baskets to rally and move out in front.
Emma MacLachlan finished with 12 points, while Katie MacLachlan had 11 points. Cece Powell got eight points as Naywel Ayeil led the Cobras with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Bishop Ludden and Westhill were both in top form heading into a game pushed back from its original early-January date.
All through the first half, it stayed close, the Gaelic Knights staying out in front but unable to pull away as the Warriors only trailed by two, 27-25, at the break.
All of that changed in the third quarter. Just as Westhill slumped, Ludden put together its best scoring run, winning that period 20-9 to create what proved to be an insurmountable margin.
Amarah Streiff led the Gaelic Knights with 23 points and six rebounds. Bridget Dunham stood out, too, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks as Kaitlyn Kibling got 12 points, seven assists and four steals.
By contrast, on Westhill’s side only Catherine Dadey, with 17 points, hit double figures. Tess Roesch had nine points, with Kate Heinrich and Janiah Robinson earning six points apiece.
Marcellus moved on from the Grimes game to beating Chittenago 54-35 a night later, outscoring the Bears 34-15 over the course of the second and third quarters to earn a share of the OHSL Liberty 1 division title.
Again, Emma MacLachlan led the way, earning 18 points, while Hannah Rogalia got 13 points and Katie MacLachlan had 11 points. Chittenango’s Mia McReynolds hit six 3-pointers to account for all of her 18 points, but other than her and Avery Salce (10 points), the Mustangs held the rest of the Bears to just two total field goals.
Far from all this, Skaneateles was at Cazenovia, closing out a 12-8 regular season with a lights-out defensive performance to win this latest Lakers duel 47-26.
Hot shooting at the outset got the visiting Lakers in front 17-5, but the real decisive blow was a third quarter where Skanetaeles did not allow a single field goal and limited Cazenovia to one free throw.
Three players reached double figures as Ayla Pas’cal got 17 points, with Maddy Ramsgard adding 13 points and Maeve McNeil getting 10 points while, as a while, Skaneateles held Cazenovia standout Carleigh Szalach to just six points.
Jordan-Elbridge continued its strong late-season push Monday night when it defeated Syracuse West 60-49 to improve its record to 9-10.
Leading a deep and well-balanced Eagles attack, Abbie Ahern put in 18 points. Ava Hildenbrant and Gabby Smart checked in with 13 points apiece, while Erin LaVancha put in 10 points
Then the Eagles got to the .500 mark a night later by bashing Pulaski 71-36. A 27-point first quarter set the tone as Hildebrant gained 16 points, with Ahern adding 15 points and Heather Sorts stepping up to get 12 points. Smart got nine points.
