CAMILLUS - For the past few weeks, the Auburn High boys basketball team has featured the hot hand of three-point specialist Dan Zambito.
Friday night, West Genesee gave them a taste of the their own medicine.
Three-pointers accounted for 15 of Wildcat Brian Salanger's 29 points as the Maroons fell, 72-59. With the win, West Genesee snapped Auburn's four-game win streak.
"He's a very good player, a very good shooter," said Auburn coach Al Giannone of Salanger. "You cant give a guy like that open looks, and we gave him open looks
The Maroons led by as many as four in the second quarter (23-19), but an 8-2 run to end the half put the Wildcats up 27-25.
Auburn's A.J. Murphy tied the game to open the second half, but Salanger hit a three to put West Genesee back on top.
Andy Hoercher tied the game again with a three of his own, but from then on, the Wildcats were able to find the open man under the basket.
After being held to just nine points in the first half, forward/center Sean Leahy and forward Shane Williams started to find their spots, and combined for 22 points in the second half.
"That was huge," Giannone said. "We didn't do a very good job defensively in the second half all together. We gave up 27 first half points and gave up, what, 50 points in the second? They got the ball inside and we would collapse late. They kicked it back outside and they hurt us from the perimeter as well."
In the third quarter, West Genesee scored on every possession to take a 53-42 lead going into the fourth. Auburn trailed by as many as 12 early in the quarter, but closed the deficit to eight with buckets from Murphy and Andy Krystofik.
West Genesee started to pull away for good after the Maroons turned the ball over twice and Leahy and Williams capitalized with back-to-back buckets.
The Wildcats were able to hold Zambito, who has hit 47 3-pointers this season, to two.
The junior finished with 15 points. AJ Murphy also had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor.
"A.J. is a great player," Giannone said. "Not only does he score for us, he defends, he rebounds, he makes hustle plays. I just can't say enough positive things about A.J. Murphy."
Dan Evans had 11 for Auburn.
With one regular-season game left, Auburn is 10-9.
The Maroons can finish with a winning record for the first time in 10 years win a win over Henninger Tuesday night.
"I think its a great accomplishment for our kids and our program," Giannone said. "It's just another stepping stone in developing a basketball program, a very good basketball program."
Staff writer Michelle Prego can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 257 or at citizensports@lee.net
Three-pointers accounted for 15 of Wildcat Brian Salanger's 29 points as the Maroons fell, 72-59. With the win, West Genesee snapped Auburn's four-game win streak.
"He's a very good player, a very good shooter," said Auburn coach Al Giannone of Salanger. "You cant give a guy like that open looks, and we gave him open looks
The Maroons led by as many as four in the second quarter (23-19), but an 8-2 run to end the half put the Wildcats up 27-25.
Auburn's A.J. Murphy tied the game to open the second half, but Salanger hit a three to put West Genesee back on top.
Andy Hoercher tied the game again with a three of his own, but from then on, the Wildcats were able to find the open man under the basket.
After being held to just nine points in the first half, forward/center Sean Leahy and forward Shane Williams started to find their spots, and combined for 22 points in the second half.
"That was huge," Giannone said. "We didn't do a very good job defensively in the second half all together. We gave up 27 first half points and gave up, what, 50 points in the second? They got the ball inside and we would collapse late. They kicked it back outside and they hurt us from the perimeter as well."
In the third quarter, West Genesee scored on every possession to take a 53-42 lead going into the fourth. Auburn trailed by as many as 12 early in the quarter, but closed the deficit to eight with buckets from Murphy and Andy Krystofik.
West Genesee started to pull away for good after the Maroons turned the ball over twice and Leahy and Williams capitalized with back-to-back buckets.
The Wildcats were able to hold Zambito, who has hit 47 3-pointers this season, to two.
The junior finished with 15 points. AJ Murphy also had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor.
"A.J. is a great player," Giannone said. "Not only does he score for us, he defends, he rebounds, he makes hustle plays. I just can't say enough positive things about A.J. Murphy."
Dan Evans had 11 for Auburn.
With one regular-season game left, Auburn is 10-9.
The Maroons can finish with a winning record for the first time in 10 years win a win over Henninger Tuesday night.
"I think its a great accomplishment for our kids and our program," Giannone said. "It's just another stepping stone in developing a basketball program, a very good basketball program."
Staff writer Michelle Prego can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 257 or at citizensports@lee.net
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