CENTRAL NEW YORK – For weeks the West Genesee girls basketball team tumbled down, suffering six consecutive defeats and wondering if it could ever regain its early-season rhythm.
But with all of its key players back for last Thursday’s game at Fayetteville-Manlius, things finally turned around as the Wildcats rallied late and outlasted the Hornets 65-62 in overtime.
After a solid start on both ends WG saw its 12-9 lead vanish, F-M going in front by halftime and then extending that advantage to 38-34 by the end of the third period.
When it was needed, though, the Wildcats got production from the trio of Bella Quinones, Alaina Dudzinski and Jordyn Townes, both in catching up at 53-53 to force OT and then outscoring the Hornets 12-9 in the extra period.
Quinones finished with 22 points, her first outing in double figures since WG’s last win over Henninger Jan. 17. Dudzinski set a season mark with 19 points, while Townes gained 16 points. In defeat, F-M got 24 points from Taylor Novack and 21 points from Lydia Land-Steves.
Things turned on Saturday against Baldwinsville, with WG taking a 77-55 defeat to Baldwinsville where it fell behind 24-13 in an active first quarter and spent the rest of the game trying to catch up.
Dudzinski gained 16 points and Quinones 13 points, with Mia Raymond gaining 14 points, but the Bees hurt the Wildcats with 10 3-pointers, four each by Olivia Davis and Maddy Polky as Davis (27 points) and Polky (25 points) both set season marks.
Skaneateles entered the week having lost six in a row, but finally saw that skid end last Monday with a 41-34 victory over Cortland, the key to it a mid-game stretch where, over the course of the second and third quarters, the Lakers outscored the Purple Tigers 24-13.
Allie Michel returned to action and her presence was crucial, Michel earning 17 points and seven rebounds. Brooke DeRosalia had 13 points and six rebounds, while Finn Pas’cal grabbed 10 rebounds.
A day later, it was a low-scoring affair between Skaneateles and Jordan-Elbridge, but again the Lakers pulled it out, 37-33, avenging a 41-30 defeat to the Eagles less than a week earlier.
J-E made a 16-9 third-quarter push which overcame a 16-11 halftime deficit, but Skaneateles responded by containing the Eagles in the final period while going back in front.
Michel and DeRosalia each finished with 10 points, helped by six points from Kathryn Cowden. J-E didn’t get much beyond Brooke Chiaramonte’s 13 points and Isabella Jay’s 11 points.
Both of these teams lost on Thursday, Skaneateles falling 46-30 to Cato-Meridian as it could not overcome the Blue Devils’ 15-4 first-quarter surge. Pas’cal got eight points, with Cowden and Michel adding seven points apiece.
J-E was contained by its neighbors from Port Byron in a 43-33 defeat, even though Brenna Tubbert stepped up with 10 points ,just ahead of Jay and Chiaramonte with nine points apiece. Ava Jorgensen and Emma Taylor paced the Panthers, each netting 13 points.
Back in action on Saturday afternoon, Skaneateles lost a 49-32 duel to its Laker rivals from Cazenovia, who were up 37-11 by halftime. Michel did recover in the late going to earn 19 points, with DeRosalia adding 10 points, but the rest of the team had just one field goal from Piper McAllister.
Solvay took another defeat last Tuesday night, falling 54-30 to Homer. Here it was competitive most of the way, but a 39-28 margin doubled when the Trojans outscored the Bearcats 15-2 in the final period.
