CENTRAL NEW YORK – Game by game, and victory by victory, the Bishop Ludden girls basketball team began to move away from all the challenges of its 2-4 start.
At Cazenovia last Monday night, the Gaelic Knights put on a defensive clinic that more than made up for anything else in the course of a 58-30 victory over the Lakers.
Ludden simply kept Cazenovia from getting more than a handful of field goals as it led 34-11 by halftime and stretched the margin to 51-15 before sitting starters in the fourth quarter.
Amarah Streiff had 16 points as nine different Gaelic Knights got on the scoreboard. Bridget Dunham had eight points, with Ava Carpenter and Jordyn Townes getting seven points apiece and Jaylianna Pascarella hitting a pair of 3-pointers to account for her six points.
When Ludden was back in action Friday against Syracuse Academy of Science, it unloaded for 32 points in the first quarter on the way to defeating the Atoms 85-28.
Not letting up at all, the Gaelic Knights ouscored SAS 39-13 in the second half, seeing five players reach double figures, led by Strieff, who had 22 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Dunham gained 14 points and four rebounds, with Townes getting 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Carpenter also had 11 points, plus five assists as Abby Reynolds had 10 points and six rebounds.
Continuing its strong mid-season push, Jordan-Elbridge routed Altmar-Parish-Williamstown 62-25 last Tuesday night, never letting the Rebels score more than eight points in any single quarter.
Steady on offense, the Eagles saw Abbie Ahern do everything on her way to 13 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and four steals, with Ava Hildrebrant just as good getting 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Haley Root set a career mark with seven steals and six rebounds, while Riley Crawford finished with seven points as Brooke Chiaramonte and Mikayla Penird had six points apiece.
The Eagles made it six wins in a row Thursday with another lopsided victory against LaFayette, J-E roaring past the Lancers 63-34 as it produced plenty in a decisive first half, building up a 39-18 margin.
Ahern, aside from her 16 points, managed nine rebounds and five assists. Hildebrandt produced 18 points, four rebounds, five steals and three assists as LaVancha got 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
West Genesee faced Fayetteville-Manlius last Tuesday night and, despite a strong effort on the defensive side, took a 36-26 defeat to the Hornets.
Over the course of the second and third quarters, F-M outscored the Wildcats 22-9, more than it could overcome as Alaina Dudzinski, with 10 points, was the only WG player with more than one field goal. Evie Kawa led the Hornets with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Then, against visiting Liverpool Friday night, the Wildcats lost 59-31 to the Warriors. Hannah Sparks managed 14 points and Isabella Quinones had 10 points, but the rest of the roster managed just two combined field goals.
