ONONDAGA COUNTY – Even in normal circumstances, any team from Marcellus would not need much reason to get fired up for any contest against its neighbors from Skaneateles.
Now imagine how the boys basketball Mustangs must have felt knowing that its visit last Tuesday night would include a ceremony where Skaneateles raised its banner to honor the boys soccer Lakers’ latest state Class B championship – achieved, in part, by beating Marcellus in the sectional finals.
Four Mustangs – Will Kershaw, Jack Sammon, Sam Barney and Austin Raicht – play both soccer and basketball. Which only had to make what Marcellus did feel quite a bit better.
Before that banner was revealed, the Mustangs took total control against the 7-3 Lakers, excelling in all phases of the game and cruising from there to prevail 65-43.
Aggressive at the outset, Marcellus spread around its offense and, combined with a consistent defense, steadily worked its way to a 41-20 advantage by the time they reached the banner ceremony.
And it would stay this way, Kershaw getting 11 points, six steals, four rebounds and four assists as Mitch Donegan led with 15 points. Will Burnett had 11 points, five rebounds and four steals, Pat Louer adding nine points.
On the Lakers’ side, only Tyson DiRubbo, with 18 points, would score in double figures. Patrick Herr had eight points, with Cader Bradley adding seven points.
Solvay reached its halfway mark at 4-6, exactly what it would need if that repeated in the second half of the season. But it missed a chance at something better during last Monday’s 60-56 loss to Homer.
Trying to break a three-game skid, the Bearcats matched baskets most of the way, only not doing so in the third quarter, when the Trojans held it to eight points.
Yet that made the difference as Jeff Sharpe had 17 points and Aiyden Geigel added 11 points, but Homer prevailed thanks to 23 points from Evan Butts.
Now the Bearcats would visit Skaneateles and put up quite a good effort, only to see the Lakers get away in the late stages to prevail 62-55.
Steadily, Skaneateles had built a 42-32 advantage by the end of the third quarter. However, Solvay rallied and got within one, 53-52, with less than three minutes to play.
But the Lakers stayed calm and inched away in the homestretch led by Ethan Hunt, who had 22 points, and DiRubbo, whose got 17 points. Both Hunt and DiRubbo hit three 3-pointers as Nate Shattuck got 10 points and Bradley eight points.
On the Bearcats’ side, Sharpe equaled Hunt with 22 points and Jordan Dippold picked up 17 points, with Geigel contributing 10 points.
Back on Thursday, Marcellus rolled past Homer 63-47, overcoming a slow start with a big second quarter to lead 23-22 at halftime and then take charge early in the second half.
Burnett asserted himself all game long and led the Mustangs with 22 points. Earning a double-double, Louer had 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Donegan also had 11 points as Jack Sammon got seven points, four rebounds and four assists, Codey Kociela also having four steals.
