ONONDAGA COUNTY – All through this winter, the West Genesee and Syracuse ice hockey teams have operated with the knowledge and expectation that, if they were to meet in the post-season, it would be with the Section III Division I championship on the line.

Indeed, the Wildcats and Cougars will clash again – but in the semifinal round, as only one of them will find their way to Upstate Medical Arena on Feb. 28 for a shot at the title.

Having lost twice late in the regular season to fall to the no. 4 seed in the sectional bracket, Syracuse rebounded in Friday night’s sectional quarterfinal by handling no. 5 seed Cicero-North Syracuse 6-1 at Meachem Rink.

And this means the Cougars get to go to Shove Park next Wednesday night, where top-seeded WG will be waiting after its own 10-1 sectional quarterfinal romp over no. 8 seed Rome Free Academy.

Of the two games, Syracuse’s carried a bit more intrigue. It had beaten C-NS twice in the regular season, but the Northstars had won six in a row leading into this game, including a 4-2 opening-round decision over Mohawk Valley.

And it was still scoreless between the two sides late in the first period when C-NS, controlling the flow of play, appeared to have taken the lead with Tanner Long’s deflection into the net past Connor Rose – but it was immediately waved off because Long had hit it with a high stick.

More than any single play, that turned the game in the Cougars’ favor as, twice in the closing minutes of the period, Syracuse converted, once on a rebound by Colin Johnson, then in the final minute on the power play when Tommy Rioux beat Northstars goalie Jordan Miller up top.

That carried over into the opening minute of the second period as Jameson Bucktooth scored to make it 3-0. Like Rioux, Bucktooth had found the top right corner, which is also what Owen Mahar did later in the period.

Bucktooth added a second goal to spread the margin to 5-0 by the end of the second, and Vern Cooke tacked on a third-period goal as the Cougars could now turn its full attention to its rivals from West Genesee.

Earlier in the evening, the Wildcats wasted little time jumping on Rome Free Academy as Jeremy Keyes scored in the opening minute and hit again at the 5:25 mark, with Timmy Heise finding the net 30 seconds after Keyes’ second tally.

Though Tyler Lokker got the Black Knights on the board, WG countered with another quick burst, goals by Kyle Evanchak and Ryan Stratton a minute apart that made it 5-1 before the first period was over.

Stratton was responsible for both of the Wildcats’ goals in the second period, converting at the 9:43 mark and, less than two minutes later, bursting in and, short-handed, completing his hat trick.

Third-period goals by Will Schneid, Ryan Kemp and Jack Mellen got WG to double digits for the eighth time this season, the trio having already picked up three assists apiece.

Jared Jaeger and Patrick Quinn each got two assists, single assists going to Stratton, Keyes, Ryan Considine, Jack Giannuzzi, Cam Hovater and Liam Burns.

And now the Wildcats would ready for its rematch with Syracuse, eager to avenge the Cougars’ memorable 6-5 win at Meachem early in February decided when Connor Rose stopped Keyes on a penalty shot in the closing seconds of regulation. The winner meets Baldwinsville or Cazenovia in the sectional final.

The Division II sectional playoffs got underway with a tiered stepladder format. Top seed Skaneateles has a bye straight into the semifinals, along with no. 2 seed Cortland-Homer. The Lakers meet CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt in one semifinal next Tuesday night at Allyn Arena, with the Golden Eagles taking on Whitesboro.

Tuning up for the playoffs, the Lakers met Baldwinsville last Tuesday and put an end to the Bees’ 16-game unbeaten streak, prevailing by a score of 5-2.

Led by Luke Renaud, Skaneateles got the jump, taking a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period and never getting caught, despite Bees goalie Jon Schirmer recording 34 saves.

Renaud earned a three-goal hat trick plus an assist as Henry Major added a goal and two assists and Andrew Falkenberg also got two assists. Jack Torrey had one goal and one assist and Carter Corbett added an assist. Skaneateles’ defense held B’ville to just 17 shots overall.