ONONDAGA COUNTY – Each of the last two times the West Genesee boys basketball team has met Liverpool, it ended in disappointment, whether it was the 2022 Section III Class AA final or its Jan. 13 defeat to the Warriors in overtime.
Now they will clash again this Friday night in Camillus, with both the SCAC Metro division regular-season title and, perhaps, the top seed in the sectional playoffs.
WG nearly fell out of first place last Tuesday night, for as Liverpool was handling Henninger 67-47, the Wildcats, even with Christian Amica back in the lineup, had to hang on to beat Corcoran 75-72
Against a Cougars side it handled 93-65 four weeks earlier, WG built a 36-28 advantage by halftime, yet found that its usually stout defense could not completely smother a 5-10 Corcoran side that wanted a fast pace.
Yet even though Amir Reaves got 28 points and Jaiden Holloman added 23 points, the Cougars could not quite catch up, WG getting 23 points from Christian Cain and 21 points from Jordan Cain as Gary McLane added 12 points and Amica earned nine points.
Jordan-Elbridge continued its fast recovery from a mid-season slump, winning its fourth in a row last Wednesday night when it held off Cato-Meridian in a 56-52 decision, avenging a Jan. 18 loss to the Blue Devils.
A strong second quarter had the Eagles in front 29-24 by halftime, and it spent the rest of the game answering every single time Cato tried to catch up.
Much of it was thanks to Nolan Brunelle, who hit four 3-pointers and, with 28 points overall, accounted for exactly half J-E’s production. Jack Barrigar helped with 15 points as Preston Murray got seven points.
Winter weather kept J-E from trying to avenge its 51-45 defeat to Port Byron last Friday night. It will get made up Saturday after Monday’s Senior Night game against Mater Dei Academy and a Wednesday showdown with Weedsport.
