CENTRAL NEW YORK – Having waited 45 years between Section III boys basketball titles, Chittenango hopes that the next title arrives just 12 months later.
The state Class B no. 7-ranked Bears roar into the post-season off a series of impressive wins.
Chittenango again unloaded last Tuesday night at Hannibal, pouring in 61 points by halftime and, led by Alex Moesch, putting away the Warriors 94-52.
Moesch hit on six of the Bears’ 12 3-pointers and, by night’s end, had set a new season mark with 37 points, all while getting the usual help from his star teammates.
For example, Ryan Moesch had 23 points as he and Ty Kelly (14 points) combined for five 3-pointers and every Chittenango player got on the scoresheet, too, Jacob Cheek leading the rest of the pack with five points.
Just 24 hours later, and back on its home court, the Bears nearly matched its Hannibal total in the course of an 89-50 victory over Homer.
To its credit, the Trojans shot well early, but a 22-18 margin grew when Chittenango outscored them 52-20 over the course of the second and third quarters.
This time it was Ryan Moesch leading the Bears, getting 27 points. Alex Moesch, with 25 points, was close behind, Kelly getting 13 points and Cheek eight points as Homer’s Evan Butts led all scorers with 32 points.
Hardly letting up in Friday’s game at Solvay, Chittenango concluded an 18-2 regular season by topping the Bearcats 88-55, peaking in the third quarter with a 28-7 blitz after it led 49-35 at halftime.
Combined, the Bears’ star trio hit 10 3-pointers, five of them by Ryan Moesch, who finished with 27 points as Alex Moesch got 21 points and Kelly had 19 points.
As for Cazenovia, it had a rough showing last Tuesday against another main Class B contender when it fell to state no. 14-ranked Marcellus by a score of 87-25.
With top scorer Ben Bianco held to three points, no one else on the Lakers could consistently produce, Tanner Lawson getting eight points and Alex Kuper seven points.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs had every single player on its roster get at least one field goal. Will Kershaw, with 18 points, led Marcellus as Pat Louer added 12 points.
Far closer in Friday’s game against Institute of Technology Central, the Lakers almost rebounded with a victory, but fell 63-61 to the Eagles.
ITC outscored Cazenovia 23-11 in the second quarter to take a 34-25 halftime lead, and the Lakers were in catch-up mode the rest of the way as Bianco returned to form with 22 points and Jack Byrnes got 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Izaak Gilbert and Tanner Lawson had 10 points apiece and combined for 13 rebounds as Kuper got eight rebounds and seven assists. Machiah Maddox (20 points), Tyquanne Harris (18 points) and Nyquan Gilbert (16 points) paced the Eagles. Cazenovia’s record fell to 8-11 overall.
