MARCELLUS – If the Marcellus boys basketball team wants a place in history at the end of the 2022-23 season, it will do so because it defended itself quite well.
That has emerged as the central theme in the Mustangs’ two best victories this winter, including Tuesday night’s 57-45 win over Westhill in front of a large and loud home crowd.
An 8-3 record had got Marcellus into the state Class B rankings at the no. 29 spot. But Westhill was no. 13 and sported a 10-1 record, having already beat the Mustangs 71-60 back on Dec. 22.
That the rematch would take such a dramatically different course was due to the same kind of total team defense Marcellus showed when it knocked off reigning sectional Class B champion Chittenango early this season.
Back then, the Mustangs held the usually potent Bears to 40 points. This proved similar, especially in the game’s decisive middle stages.
Tied 11-11 going into the second quarter, Marcellus made Westhill work for every inch of court on every single possession, utilizing its depth to cause all kinds of frustration, from shots off target to a steady stream of turnovers.
Head coach Scott Cotter said it was a “total team effort” that involved plenty of help defense which, among other things, kept Westhill from making a 3-pointer until the second half.
It peaked during a six-minute stretch bridging the second and third quarters when the Warriors were shut out and the Mustangs, controlling the tempo with patient possessions and consistent execution, put up a 13-0 run.
This didn’t knock out Westhill, for it put together an 11-0 answer during the third period and moved within three, 32-29, before Marcellus answered with key baskets from Will Burnett and Pat Louer to close out the period.
Westhill never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter, further handicapped when Shawn Mayes went out with an injury after an awkward landing on a baseline drive. Mayes did return for the final minutes, finishing with 17 points.
Louer’s 15 points paced a Mustangs attack where Will Kershaw put up 14 points, Burnett had 10 points and Mitch Donegan finished with seven points.
Not having a letdown on Friday, Marcellus handled Institute of Technology Central 59-45 as Burnett had 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, helping the Mustangs go on an 18-7 third-quarter run to break a 24-24 halftime tie.
Donegan also had 12 points as Louer got a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sam Barney had six points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Even bigger was what Westhill did against Class A favorite Syracuse Academy of Science on Saturday, riding a big game from Langdon to rally and beat the Atoms 69-65.
SAS had taken the lead in the third quarter, but that 50-46 advantage melted away in the final period as the Warriors leaned on Langdon, who amassed 33 points, nearly half his team’s output. Mayes added 12 points as Andre Pasha led the Atoms with 21 points and seven rebounds.
Marcellus will face Skaneateles for the second time this season Friday night, the Lakers eager to avenge its Jan. 10 defeat to the Mustangs and coming off last Friday’s 58-44 win over Homer.
Strong defense helped Skaneateles establish a 33-11 lead by halftime. Ethan Hunt led the way, pouring in 23 points as Tyson DiRubbo earned 13 points and Patrick Herr had nine points.
Elsewhere in league play, Solvay lost 58-49 to Cazenovia last Tuesday, the Bearcats not able to overcome a second quarter where it was held to two points. Ben Bianco had 24 points to lead the Lakers.
