ONONDAGA COUNTY – Undefeated boys basketball teams from West Genesee and Westhill both offered up strong statement victories on their respective home courts before they hit the holiday break.
In Camillus, the Wildcats handed 4-0 Cicero-North Syracuse its first defeat of the season in a 77-55 decision, while the Warriors made it six wins in a row by defeating its neighbors from Marcellus by a score of 71-60.
Placed at no. 27 in the first state Class AA rankings of the winter, West Genesee had beaten each of its first four opponents by at least 26 points, and it didn’t waste any time establishing control against C-NS, either.
It started on defense, where the Wildcats’ swarming man-to-man pressure smothered the Northstars and held it without a point for nearly six minutes at the end of the first quarter.
WG’s 14-0 run in that period was just the first of four occasions, one in each quarter, where it scored at least 10 unanswered points.
Gary McLane had eight of his 14 points in the second, part of a great all-around performance that included behind-the-back assists, steals, a breakaway dunk, lots of rebounding and at least one emphatic block.
Any time C-NS made a sustained run, the Wildcats turned up its level of play, whether it was a 16-2 start to the third quarter or a 12-0 push in the final period after the Northstars cut it to 58-45.
Five WG players scored in double figures, led by Christian Cain, who poured in 25 points. Jordan Cain had 15 points, Christian Amica equaled McLane’s 14 points and Sincere Smith came off the bench to score 12 points.
Westhill, meanwhile, had landed no. 9 in the state Class B rankings, and took seriously the challenge of Marcellus, who despite its 2-2 mark had knocked off reigning sectional Class B champion Chittenango earlier in the month.
All through the first half, the Mustangs were able to keep the Warriors’ potent offense from any sustained runs, and when it went to halftime Marcellus sported a 32-31 advantage.
Only in the third period did Westhill go in front for good, the effort led by Shawn Mayes, who burned Marcellus for 28 points with help from Kam Langdon’s 17 points and Luke Gilmartin’s 13 points as Omar Robinson added nine points.
No one on the Mustangs could equal what Mayes did, though Will Burnett (15 points), Will Kershaw (14 points) and Tucker Burnett (10 points) all hit double figures, with Pat Louer (nine points) and Sam Barney (seven points) close behind.
Also on Thursday night, Skaneateles moved to 4-2 on the season when it rallied in the second half to beat Institute of Technology Central 56-51.
Held to seven points in the first quarter, the Lakers began making up ground and then, in the third period, outscored the Eagles 22-10 to move ahead for good.
Hanging on late, Skaneateles saw Nico Decker work his way to 19 points and Ethan Hunt add 16 points, with Tyson DiRubbo (nine points) and Nate Shattuck (eight points) in support.
