CENTRAL NEW YORK – Every local high school girls basketball fan eagerly waited to see where Skaneateles, Westhill and Marcellus would get placed in the Section III Class B playoff bracket.
And when it came out, the Lakers had the no. 5 seed and the Warriors, despite its late-season loss to Skaneateles, gained the no. 4 seed, both of them having to survive second-round games Saturday afternoon to earn a quarterfinal this Wednesday against each other.
That’s exactly what took place, starting with Skaneateles hosting no. 12 seed Phoenix, a team it beat 48-32 early in January amid a seven-game win streak.
Here it was an even bigger win for the Lakers, who took it 56-35 with a consistent defense and an attack centered once again around 1,000-point scorer Maddy Ramsgard, who poured in 23 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Stepping up in a big way, Isabella Pietropaoli finished with 12 points, while Ayla Pas’cal and Katie Reed got six points apiece.
Westhill met no. 13 seed Adirondack that same afternoon and put away the Wildcats 41-25, with its top players each fulfilling key roles.
Hitting five 3-pointers, Tess Roesch finished with 18 points overall. Izzy Young gained 13 points, while Jules Bleskoski got 13 rebounds as the Warriors prevailed without Janiah Robinson in the lineup.
Marcellus, in particular, had to feel quite good going into the playoffs because of a five-game win streak and what it did last Monday night, going to 17-2 Mexico and putting together an impressive all-around effort to beat the Tigers 51-34.
Cece Powell, with 17 points and five assists, and Bella Mondello, with 15 points and 13 rebounds, led the way, as usual, but Corrine Aldrich had a big night, too, burning Mexico for 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Yet it was possible the Mustangs and Tigers would meet again in the quarterfinals since Marcellus had the no. 7 seed and Mexico the no. 2 seed.
Again, that’s what unfolded, Mexico handling no. 15 seed Clinton 62-36 to get a second chance at the Mustangs, who turned back Lowville 61-46
The Red Raiders had no answers for Powell and Mondello, who keyed a 15-6 second-quarter run that got the Mustangs in front and then carried Marcellus through a 21-11 closing stretch. For the game, Powell had 28 points, converting four 3-pointers, while inside Mondello managed 26 points.
Westhill, who had lost to Skaneateles on Feb. 7, was impressive on the defensive side during last Monday’s 47-36 victory over Christian Brothers Academy.
An 18-7 start was nearly negated as the Brothers closed within 24-21 by halftime. Westhill pulled way for good, though, behind Robinson’s 17 points and 13 rebounds as Roesch added 12 points. Bleskoski and Young had eight points apiece, Bleskoski adding eight rebounds.
