CENTRAL NEW YORK – As it always does each winter, the girls basketball Section III Class B playoffs will featured a strong local contingent, with three sides – Skaneateles, Westhill and Marcellus – all ambitious for glory.
In the case of the Lakers, it was a team that was 14-4, yet perhaps not earning the same sort of respect and attention others had achieved, including the Warriors.
All of which made Wednesday’s game that much sweeter for Skaneateles, who put a halt to Westhill’s 10-game win streak with a strong all-around performance that led to a 46-33 victory.
Much of this game featured a tremendous Lakers defense, which constantly harassed and frustrated the Warriors, limiting it to just 20 points in the first three quarters.
And while Skaneateles didn’t completely light it up, either, it steadily built a double-digit advantage and never allowed Westhill to make up ground late.
Maddy Ramsgard had another star turn, the 1,000-point scorer adding 23 to her total with help from Ayla Pas’cal, who got 10 points.
Only Izzy Young, with 10 points, hit double figures for the Warriors. Tess Roesch had nine points, with Janiah Robinson held to eight points and Jules Bleskoski to six points despite combining for 17 rebounds.
All this made Monday’s 59-49 loss by the Lakers to Route 20 rival Auburn (no. 26 in the state Class AA rankings) a bit easier to take.
Through a tight first half, the two sides traded rare baskets, but Auburn broke out of that 21-21 tie by outscoring Skaneateles 18-10 in the third quarter.
Le Moyne College-bound Auburn star Leah Middleton, with 29 points, led the way, outscoring Ramsgard, who put up 22 points as Pas’cal added 14 points.
Marcellus played just once this week, but it was impressive.
At Cazenovia Monday night, the Mustangs bolted out to a 23-6 first-quarter lead, let up in the middle and then blanked the Lakers in the fourth quarter, closing with 16 unanswered points.
The 56-30 win included Bella Mondello making Cazenovia pay for its attention on Cece Powell, earning a season-best 21 points. Powell still got 15 points and Corrine Aldrich flourished, too, earning 10 points.-
