CENTRAL NEW YORK – Barely two weeks after her fine work in goal helped produce a state Class B girls soccer championship, Marcellus sophomore Tenly Baker hit another milestone, but on the basketball court.
During the third quarter of Mustangs’ dominant 84-33 victory over Syracuse Academy of Science in last Tuesday’s season opener Baker converted on a fast break and, by doing so, reached 1,000 career points.
Fittingly, the assist on the fast-break basket came from Cece Powell, both her teammate in soccer and here in basketball who had already surpassed 1,000 points earlier in her high school career.
Everything from hugs from Baker’s teammates to confetti cannons from the crowd marked the occasion, the first chance for Marcellus to hit the court since an epic defeat to eventual state champion Utica Notre Dame in last March’s Section III Class B final.
Eager to get going, Marcellus led 29-10 after one period and kept on adding to the margin. Baker surpassed 1,000 during a 26-4 third quarter as she ran her game total to 23 points.
Powell began her junior campaingn with 21 points, and she and Baker had lots of help. Megan Frost got nine points, Ella Butler adding eight points as Leah Wood and Samantha Buff got seven points apiece and Calleigh Wierbinski had six points.
A day later, West Genesee debuted for 2024-25, led by its own top scoring threat, Bella Quinones, who led the Wildcats to an impressive 60-35 victory over Auburn.
WG jumped out 19-6 in the first quarter and, after the Maroons closed the gap by halftime, proceeded to outscore them 33-15 in the second half dominating on both sides of the ball.
Quinones finished with 23 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Jordyn Townes provided support through her 14 points, while Mia Raymond had eight points, Giada Harrington seven points and Na’deja Newkirk six points.
In Friday’s 82-42 rout of Syracuse West Townes, a transfer from Bishop Ludden, made an even bigger impact, netting 23 points as she and Quinones, who had 27 points, combined on seven 3-pointers and outscored the opposition all by themselves. Brynlee Elkins added eighe points.
Things changed quite a bit on Saturday, with WG taking a 61-46 loss to Horseheads, from Section IV, just as Bishop Ludden was topping Central Valley Academy 66-59 for its first win of the season.
In a game that was tight most of the way, the Gaelic Knights would have four players score in double figures and Ava Carpenter lead the way with 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six steals. Abby
Reynolds had 15 points and six steals, with Sophia Chemotti getting 13 points and Grace Olivia earning 12 points.
To start its season last Tuesday Ludden went up against Baldwinsville, and though it put up quite a battle the Gaelic Knights saw the Bees prevail 61-51 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
It was in the first half that B’ville mostly built its advantage, going up 32-23 and then spending the entire second half making sure Ludden didn’t catch up – or diversify its attack.
Reynolds led all scorers with 22 points and added 10 rebounds, but she was the only Gaelic Knights player in double figures. Elizabeth Gaughan got seven points and 12 rebounds, with Chemotti adding nine points. The victorious Bees got 18 points from Natalie Hollingshead and 16 points from Olivia Davis, the pair combining to hit seven 3-pointers.
Skaneateles won its season opener last Tuesday against Homer, holding off the Trojans 40-33 as it went out in front early and cranked up its defense, limiting the Trojans to just two points in the second quarter.
Up 23-11 at the break the Lakers capably protected that margin late led by Allie Michel, whose 19 points accounted for nearly half of Skaneateles’ production. Brooke DeRosalia earned all seven of her points at the free-throw line.
Jordan-Elbridge played its opener last Monday against Cato-Meridian and won 42-26, breaking open a close game with a third quarter where the Eagles held the Blue Devils to two points.
Brooke Chiaramonte, fresh off leading J-E to its first-ever sectional girls volleyball title, had 13 points and three assists. Kelsey Brunelle got 10 points and seven rebounds, with Brenna Tubbert grabbing 10 rebounds and recording four blocks as she and Isabella Jay each got six points.
