CENTRAL NEW YORK – In recent years, it was quite clear that, among neighboring boys basketball programs at Cazenovia and Chittenango, power had swung entirely in the Bears’ direction.
A long-awaited Section III Class B title in 2022 and a 20-3 run a season ago stopped by eventual state champion Westhill proved this point, but now the Lakers might be ready for its own big statement.
At the very least, Cazenovia had a far better outcome to its season opener, routing Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 68-41 in the opening round of the Sherburne-Earlville Tournament.
The Lakers went 9-12 a season ago, but bring back a strong core of players led by junior Ben Bianco, who averaged better than 18 points per game as a sophomore.
Unlike many other teams on their opening nights, Cazenovia was sharp in every phase of the game right from the outset against VVS, hitting on outside shots and making stops on defense while building a 23-6 advantage.
It was 45-20 by halftime, and the Lakers breezed from there, Bianco putting up 20 points but getting big-time help from two other returning players, Tanner Lawson and Izaak Gilbert, who each finished with 16 points. Bobby Livingston and Edmond Richardson added seven points apiece.
A day later, Cazenovia faced host Sherburne-Earlville in the championship game and made it back-to-back victories, battling past the Marauders 56-44.
Steadily, the Lakers got away from S-E, eventually building a 47-32 advantage through three quarters before easing up a bit late.
Bianco again led the way, his 24 points more than twice the total of any Marauders player. Lawson’s 12 points also topped the 11 points from S-E’s top scorer, Garrett Winton, as Richardson and Alex Kuper got seven points apiece.
Earlier on Saturday, Chittenango fell to Bishop Ludden 61-49 in the Peppino’s Invitaitonal at Christian Brothers Academy.
Having seen two star seniors, Alex Moesch and Ty Kelly, graduate after helping their team go 43-5 the previous two years, the Bears only managed five points in the first quarter against the Gaelic Knights.
Yet it was a 16-9 push through the second quarter that put Ludden in control, with the Bears unable to overcome a 23-14 halftime deficit as 6-foot-7 freshman center Liam Sheard led the Gaelic Knights with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Ryan Moesch, the Bears’ leading returning scorer, led both sides with 21 points, but no other Chittenango player hit double figures as Jacob Cheek had nine points and Jacob Bell added six points.
