UTICA – A single weekend, and two impressive victories, provided reason to think that the Baldwinsville girls basketball team had begun to turn things around.
The Bees were only 3-4 going into last weekend’s Juggler Classic in Utica, but it swept to the title there, capped by its 58-50 victory over previously unbeaten General Brown in the championship game.
At no. 2 in the state Class B rankings, the defending Section III Class B Lions were 10-0 going into the game, but had played a tough game the night before, edging Catholic Central 54-53.
Knowing this, B’ville, who had gone through its own overtime game to beat Utica-Notre Dame 68-65 in the first round, played close to perfection on both ends in the opening minutes.
From defensive stops to hot shooting, the Bees found itself up 19-0 before GB got on the board late in the first quarter. But the Lions got 12 points from Kori Nichols in the second period and cut the Bees’ margin to 35-26 by halftime.
It got even closer in the second half, the Lions getting within three in the fourth quarter, but despite Nichols’ 27 points, the Bees were able to withstand that assault and get a cushion down the stretch.
Carlie Young, named the tournament MVP, had most of her 17 points in the first half. Madison Polky set a career mark, matching Young’s 17 points thanks to a trio of 3-pointers as Kyrah Wilbur chimed in with 16 points.
When B’ville returned to action in the Juggler Classic eight days after a Jan. 6 win over Henninger, it managed to pull out a 68-65 overtime victory over the hosts from Utica-Notre Dame.
Carrying a 7-3 record, the Jugglers matched baskets with the Bees throughout the first half and then took the lead in the third quarter.
But an 11-2 run got B’ville out in front early in the final period, and it was still up 58-54 before UND got baskets from Ella Trinkaus and Maggie Trinkaus, the latter of them with 7.3 seconds left after a pair of missed free throws.
However, in the four-minute OT, the Bees regained the lead and kept it this time, having seen Young hit five 3-pointers on her way to 23 points overall.
Wilbur had 17 points, with Natalie Holllngshead adding 16 points and Margaret Solomon getting seven points. Maggie Trinkaus led UND with 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and five steals.
