LIVERPOOL – Judging by the noise, the intensity and the close nature of the contest, plus all the familiar faces on hand, it was almost as if the Liverpool and West Genesee boys basketball teams resumed just where they left off last March at SRC Arena.
While the Section III Class AA championship wasn’t on the line Friday night, there’s a fair chance these two could battle for the title again – and if they do, it’s quite likely that Andreo Ash will play a central role.
It was Ash stepping up in the clutch on this particular evening, helping push the Warriors past the Wildcats 64-55 in overtime as the hosts took over sole possession of first place in the SCAC Metro division.
For three quarters in this first meeting between the two since Liverpool rallied in the final minutes to top WG in the 2022 sectional title game, Ash, the Warriors’ highly-touted 6-foot-7 junior forward, found himself negated by a tough Wildcats defense.
Initially, it didn’t hurt Liverpool, who used a 10-0 run in the opening minutes to take a lead it would hold most of the game after WG scored the game’s first four points.
Bruce Wingate more than made up for any struggles from his teammates, pouring in 16 of his 19 points in the first half as Liverpool stretched its margin to double digits and, capped by a Wingate 3-pointer, took a 35-26 advantage to the break.
Yet even though many of WG’s starters found themselves in foul trouble, the swarming team defense that has become a trademark helped it chip away at that margin throughout the third quarter and the early part of the final period.
When Jordan Cain hit a driving lay-up with 4:10 left, the Wildcats inched in front, 47-46, but it came as Ash began to assert himself.
Scoring all eight of his team’s points in the fourth quarter, Ash pushed his team back in front, a pair of free throws with 1:14 left making it 51-49 before Cain answered with a short jumper with 40 seconds to play.
The waning seconds of regulation saw WG swarm the ball and force a turnover, only to have Liverpool do the same to prevent an open shot as the clock hit zero.
Overtime belonged to Ash. He converted on a dunk, hit two more baskets and then did a full-court drive and layup that helped the Warriors put together a decisive 12-2 run.
All told, 16 of Ash’s 21 points came in the fourth quarter and OT. Christian Cain led WG with 19 points, Jordan Cain adding 12 points and Christian Amica 10 points before fouling out, knowing the Wildcats will have a rematch with Liverpool Feb. 10 in Camillus.
Most times when Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse meet, it’s the main event of the week or the season, and it still meant plenty to the Northstars, especially when, like it did last Tuesday, it took place on its home court.
But the Warriors leaned on its depth at a key moment early and then seeing its top trio of Ash, Wingate and Reese take over late to beat C-NS 66-58.
By far, the game’s key sequence was the second quarter where, aided by reserves Luca Latocha, Isaiah Issakainen and Kaleem Haskins, Liverpool turned Northstars mistakes into baskets on the other end.
Outscored 25-14 in that period and down 36-24 at the break, C-NS spent the entire second half chipping away, led by Andrew Benedict, who led all scorers with 27 points as he hit on five 3-pointers.
Yet the Warirors kept the lead because Ash, with 25 points, got lots of help from Wingate (18 points) and Reese (12 points), while no other Northstars player reached double figures as Michael Gallo got nine points, with Reece Congel and Terrance Coppack settling for eight points apiece.
C-NS was able to rebound from this and beat Henninger 69-59 on Friday, taking charge with a 22-9 push through the second quarter to overcome an early deficit.
Congel returned to form, his 17 points nearly matching Benedict’s team-high 18 points. Gallo also hit double figures with 11 points as Michael Pfautz finished with seven points.
