CENTRAL NEW YORK – As they got ready to defend their respective Section III titles, the West Genesee and Skaneateles boys ice hockey teams had to like where they were standing.

True, the Wildcats had lost Jan. 31 to Baldwinsville. But it responded with 25 goals in its next two games, including a 12-4 romp over Syracuse, who then rebounded to tie the Bees 2-2 early last week.

In Tuesday’s game at Watertown IHC, WG managed to top what it did against the Cougars, winning 13-3 over the Cavaliers as it scored six times in the first period and five times in the third.

Will Schneid (two goals, five assists) and Ryan Considine (two goals, five assists) led the attack, with Liam Burns and Owen Zoanetti also scoring twice and combining for three assists.

Michael Hard had a goal and two assists. Kyle Evanchak, Jesse Desena and Logan Dewaters also found the net, with Jared Jeager, Carson Berg, David Petrus, Caiden McBride and Mason McAloon also getting assists.

Back home at Shove Park on Friday, WG faced Liverpool and its tremendous goaltender, James Welch, who faced 64 shots and stopped 61 of them to keep things close.

However, Considine did score twice and assist on Schneid’s goal and the Wildcats prevailed 3-0, assists also credited to Jaeger, Berg and Zoanetti.

As for Skaneateles, who was up to no. 4 in the latest state Division II rankings, it continued to smother opposition last Tuesday when it blanked Oswego 6-0 at Crisafulli Rink.

Earning a fifth shutout during a six-game win streak, the Lakers continually attacked the Buccaneers, recording 52 shots to Oswego’s 11.

During the barrage, Henry Major scored twice and got three assists. Alex Whitlock had a goal nad two assists, with Jack Marquardt, Sean Kerwick and Jack Torrey also finding the net. Andrew Falkenberg had two assists as single assists went to Casey Morrissey and Sutton Paro.

Two nights later against Clinton, it was yet another shutout, this one 10-0 with all the goals coming in the second and third periods, four of them by Andrew Gaglione.

Major piled up five assists to go with his pair of tallies as Cole Palmer also scored twice. Whitlock got four assists, Torrey and SuttonParo each adding two assists as Mike Blowers had one goal and one assist.

Now it was Skaneateles against Syracuse on Friday, the Cougars having recovered well from the pounding WG gave them on Senior Night at Meachem Rink against B’ville.

Nearly ending the Bees’ 14-game win streak, Syracuse forged the tie through two periods thanks to two goals by Jameson Bucktooth and then managed to keep B’ville off the board during the third period and overtime, Jackson Suddaby working his total to 35 saves.

But the Cougars could not translate that into a win at Allyn Arena, falling 5-1 to a Lakers side that took charge with a trio of first-period goals, ultimately overcoming 30 saves by Suddaby.

Major dished out four assists in all as Whitlock scored twice and single goals went to Torrey, Gaglione and Blowers. Marquardt and Ben Patterson also had assists as Danny Angelina, taking a turn in goal, shut out the Cougars until Bucktooth’s third-period goal assisted by Nick Rayfield.