CENTRAL NEW YORK – Given how well it has played all spring, the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team carries the role of front-runner into the Section III Class D playoffs, where it has the top seed and a bye straight into the semifinals.

Meanwhile, no. 2 seed Marcellus and no. 6 seed Jordan-Elbridge could meet in the semifinals if they win their quarterfinal games – the Mustangs over Tully/Fabius-Pompey, the Eagles against defending champion LaFayette/Onondaga.

Up in Class B, West Genesee snared the top seed and, in Friday’s semifinals, will meet East Syracuse Minoa or CBA, while in Class C Westhill, the defending champions, has the no. 3 seed and meets Vernon-Verona-Sherrill or Carthage in the quarterfinals.

It helped Skaneateles, no doubt, to pass a rigorous test last Monday night at Cazenovia, as this latest battle of Lakers teams turned into a long stalemate that Skaneateles had to work hard to pull out 6-4.

Having beat these other Lakers 9-3 on April 27 at Hyatt Stadium, Sknaeateles found the rematch more difficult. Some of it was due to poor shooting, but more of it was a result of defenses forcing those shots off target.

Playing one of his best games of the season, Cazenovia goalie Tucker Ives recorded 16 saves, which equaled the total the two Skaneateles netminders, Jack Marquardt and Luke Logan, put up, each of them playing a half.

Helped by three goals from Forrest Ives and a goal from D.B. Falge, Cazenovia had it tied, 4-4, going to the fourth quarter, but was kept off the board the final 12 minutes.

Skaneateles got the go-ahead goal and tacked on an insurance tally, overcoming Cazenovia’s focus on Grayson Brunelle (he was held to one assist) thanks to two goals and three assists from Sean Kerwick as Devon Gryzlo also scored twice. Single goals went to Ethan Hunt and Charlie Carbonaro.

It was easier in Thursday’s 20-8 win over Tully/Fabius-Pompey, with Grayson Brunelle amassing eight assists to go with his four goals and Hunt getting five goals and two assists as Landen Brunelle had three goals and a career-best five assists. Jack Torrey added three goals and Carter Loi converted twice.

Moving to 11-4, Westhill beat General Brown 14-9 last Friday, the margin a bit deceptive as Westhill used a 7-0 second-quarter blitz to build a 9-1 halftime edge, which the Lions could not overcome.

Luke Gilmartin geared up for the playoffs with five goals and two assists. Owen Etoll, Charlie DeMore and Owen Etoll each scored twice, with Emmet Starowicz getting two assists and Sean Rogers a single goal.

Having lost three in a row after a 12-0 start, Marcellus needed to regain its confidence – and did so in last Tuesday’s regular-season finale by defeating Homer 13-7.

Much of the margin was established in a dominant first quarter. The Mustangs controlled the face-offs, converted them often and jumped out to a 5-0 advantage For the next two periods, the Trojans tried to lower the margin, but only did so a bit, and Marcellus blanked Homer in the fourth quarter, too, to clinch it.

Chris Doshna, with three goals and two assists, led a well-balanced attack. Doryn LeClair scored twice and got three assists, with Nick Rayfield and Jimmy Cox each earning two goals and one assist. Single goals went to Nick Rayfield, Sam Barney, Jake Kermes and Damyn LeClair.

West Genesee concluded its regular aseason last Wednesday by pulling away from Cicero-North Syracuse 9-3, its defense superb especially in the first half when it only managed to grab a 3-1 advantage.

Nolan Bellotti, with a three-goal hat trick, helped the Wildcats get away in the late going. Six others – Liam Burns, Zach Ryan, Ryan Considine, Teshale Kelly, Jack Mellen and Nash Oudemool – also had goals, with Burns getting two assists. Shane Staudt stopped nine of the 12 shots he faced.

Jordan-Elbridge took a 12-3 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy last Tuesday, the Brothers getting away in the second quarter when it outscored the Eagles 5-0,

Andrew Kohlbrenner scored four times and Joe Papa got three goals and two assists. J-E’s lone goals came from Wyatt Werth, Nixon Karcz and Brayden Kitterle, with Austin Brunelle doing well in the net by recording 24 saves.

During Friday’s 18-1 rout over Utica Proctor, the Eagles clinched a winning record for 2023, moving it mark to 9-7 overall.

J-E saw Werth get six assists. Casey Ryan scored four times to lead the attack as Brian Tanner had three goals and two assists. Karcz and Kitterle each converted twice and Tom Long got three assists to go with his lone tally.