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 last 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 last 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 LeahMiddleton, with 29 points, led the way, outscoring Ramsgard, who put up 22 points as Pas’cal added 14 points.
And after it knocked off Westhill, Skaneateles fell back on Friday in a 52-46 loss to Hannibal, who held the Lakers to seven points in the first quarter, went out in front and stayed there most of the rest of the way.
Tenly Baker and Samantha Emmons, with 19 points apiece, paced Hannibal and outscored Ramsgard, who led Skaneateles with 15 points as Pas’cal added 11 points and Katie Reed seven points.
Marcellus played just once last week, but it was impressive.
At Cazenovia last 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.
Recovering from the Skaneateles loss, Westhill topped Phoenix 58-40 a night later, a 19-6 third-quarter push making the difference as Robinson poured in 24 points, adding eight rebounds.
Young got 15 points, with Lizzy McPeak earning eight points, five rebounds and five assists. Kara Rosenberger had seven points and Bleskoski got nine rebounds.
Solvay lost 51-18 to Mexico last Monday night, rarely able to get baskets against the stingy Tigers, who improved to 15-2. Neonna Turk had 14 of those points for the Bearcats, adding five rebounds and three steals as Jayde Coyne got six rebounds and Shay’Eanna Turk had five steals.
