CENTRAL NEW YORK – Thanks to their top seeds, West Genesee (in Class B) and Skaneateles (in Class D) had byes straight into the semifinals of their respective Section III boys lacrosse playoff brackets.
Not so fortunate was Westhill and Marcellus, who both had to get through quarterfinal games last Wednesday to keep championship hopes alive – and did so.
Westhill, the no. 3 seed as it defended the sectional Class C title, got pushed by no. 6 seed Carthage, but hung on to its early cushion and won 10-8 over the Comets to advance to the semifinals against no. 2 seed New Hartford.
From the outset, Carthage wanted to slow things down, but only succeeded in a partial way, Westhill still able to double the Comets’ production and take a 6-3 lead to halftime.
Doing a solid job of protecting that lead, Westhill again leaned heavily on Luke Gilmartin, who scored four times and added a trio of assists.
Andrew Mondo got his own three-goal hat trick, while Owen Etoll had two goals and three assists. Tom Pendergast had one goal and one assist and Emmet Starowicz added an assist.
Over in Class D, Marcellus, as the no 2 seed, had a far easier time of it, handling no. 7 seed Tully/Fabius-Pompey 18-5 and earning a spot against defending champion LaFayette/Onondaga in the semifinals.
What was already a 9-3 halftime advantage got more comfortable when the Mustangs rattled off seven unanswered goals in the third quarter, with Doryn LeClair at the forefront.
Reaching double-digit points, LeClair notched six goals and four assists. Adam Rayfield had four goals and two assists, with Jimmy Cox scoring three times and Chris Doshna also getting four assists to go with his pair of goals. Nick Rayfield, Sam Barney and Jake Kermes also got goals.
LaFayette/Onondaga earned the right to face Marcellus by ousting Jordan-Elbridge 15-4 in its sectional quarterfinal, the Lancers putting together its own third-quarter getaway with six unanswered goals.
Brian Tanner had a part in all of the Eagles’ scoring plays, scoring twice and assisting when Casey Ryan and Brayden Kitterle also found the net. Aaron Brunelle made 13 saves, but LaFayette/Ononodaga had too much firepower, led by Jameson Bucktooth’s six goals and three assists.
Meanwhile, Skaneateles found out that it would play General Brown in the other Class D semifinal after the Spartans edged South Jefferson 11-10. West Genesee’s Class B semifinal is against East Syracuse Minoa after the no. 5 seed Spartans went on the road and knocked off no. 4 seed CBA 8-7.
