CENTRAL NEW YORK – Back in the same SRC Arena where it was denied the Section III Class AA title a year ago, the West Genesee boys basketball team wanted nothing more than to get another chance at it.
And that’s what took place, the no. 2 seed Wildcats beating no. 3 seed Nottingham 65-56 in last Saturday’s semifinal game and, by doing so, earning yet another opportunity to conquer its nemesis, Liverpool, in a rematch of the 2022 final this Sunday at 7 p.m.
What had to encourage every single WG partisan who watched this game was the way it beat the Bulldogs – saving its best basketball for the closing stretch, when it was really needed.
Nottingham had beaten the Wildcats 43-39 in the Feb. 14-regular-season finale, though WG did not have Gary McLane in the lineup, and his contributions in this sectional semifinal included a rebound dunk in the third quarter.
Despite this, the Bulldogs never let the Wildcats get away, and when Denarias McCurty hit a 3-pointer with four minutes left, the game was tied, 53-53, setting up a potentially dramatic finish.
Perhaps remembering – and learning from – other times this season where it played poorly down the stretch, WG did everything right here.
First it was Christian Cain making a strong drive to the basket and putting in the go-ahead layup with 1:58 left. Then came the game’s biggest moment when Christian Amica, already with 21 points on the night, got in the lane and took a charge on Steyvon Jones’ potential tying basket.
Cain then converted again on a leaner with 53 seconds to play and, from there, WG went eight-for-eight at the free-throw line as Amica, Cain and Jalen Zachery all converted.
Amica’s total of 23 points was part of what coach Fred Kent called the finest performance of his Wildcat career. He got help from Jordan Cain, whose 17 points kept WG’s attack in flow. Six of Christian Cain’s 12 points came in those last two minutes as McLane added seven points.
No boys basketball team in the Section III playoffs had to wait as long as WG did to join the fray. After earning a first-round bye, the Wildcats were not scheduled to get into the quarterfinals until last Wednesday night – and then it got pushed back another day due to winter weather.
So on Thursday night, after a nine-day break, WG was hosting no. 10 seed Baldwinsville, who had knocked out no. 7 seed Fayetteville-Manlius in the opening round on Eli Taft’s leaning 3-pointer as time ran out.
Having easily handled the Bees both times they met in the regular season, the Wildcats found the third meeting to be, by far, the most difficult, but strong defense helped carry WG to a 45-33 victory.
The Bees did a tremendous job throughout the first half containing WG’s attack. Drawing out the tempo when it had the ball, B’ville limited possessions and ended the first quarter tied 6-6.
Even though things picked up a bit, the Bees went to halftime still within reach, only trailing 16-13. Yet B’ville’s inability to establish anything against the Wildcats began to prove costly in the third quarter, where WG held the visitors to just seven points.
Mostly, Christian Cain, with 16 points, and Jordan Cain, with 12 points, helped WG draw clear as Amica added six points. No B’ville player scored in double figures as Taft led with nine points and Jason Bifulco added eight points.
A day earlier, in the Class C sectional quarterfinals, Jordan-Elbridge saw its terrific season conclude with an 87-53 defeat to top seed Dolgeville.
The no. 8 seed Eagles got off to a near-perfect start, hitting on outside shots and stunning the Blue Devils by seizing a 20-12 advantage.
But Dolgeville caught up and led by halftime and then, in the third quarter, all but decided matters by outscoring J-E 23-4, led by Kamryn Comstock (26 points, 15 rebounds) and Michael Blaskey (22 points).
Nolan Brunelle paced the Eagles with 18 points as he and Jack Barrigar, who had 16 points, combined on five 3-pointers. Cory Henderson added 10 points. J-E’s season finished with a 15-7 record.
