SKANEATELES - The Skaneateles boys basketball team wasted no time in the Section III, Class B-1 quarterfinals Thursday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Skaneateles junior Kyle McQuiggan battles for the ball with South Jefferson senior Jake Abrams.
Skaneateles junior Kyle McQuiggan battles for the ball with South Jefferson senior Jake Abrams.
Despite the six-day layoff, the Lakers' Nick Pesarchick scored six of their first seven points in fourth-seeded Skaneateles' 65-55 win over No. 5 South Jefferson.
“I knew we had to come out focused and pumped up,” Pesarchick said.
That's been a problem for the Lakers all season, but it wasn't an issue against the Spartans.
Skaneateles (13-8) will play the winner of tonight's No. 1 Westhill and No. 8 Solvay quarterfinal, with the date, time and location to be determined Sunday. The Lakers have faced both teams earlier in the season and defeated Solvay twice, while falling to the Warriors twice in the regular season.
“Both teams will play man-to-man defense,” Lakers head coach Karl Norris said. “I think we need to just try and keep the momentum and confidence rolling. If we can carry it over to next game, it will be big for us. We need to play good defense and rebound.”
The Lakers were able to hold on to their 12-point lead heading into the half, unlike last season, when the Spartans crept back into the quarterfinal game and the Lakers emerged with a slim 45-44 win. This time, the Lakers never let them back into contention.
“It was a different game then last years',” Norris said. “Overall, we're more athletic this year.”
The Lakers never fell behind as their defense gave them the best opportunity to win. In the first quarter, they jumped out to an 11-4 lead, while their smallest lead was six - just six minutes into the first quarter. Skaneateles was able to build momentum early and keep it rolling, even after its 51-42 loss to Marcellus to end the regular season.
“I think they were angry and disappointed (after) their last game,” Norris said. “They were ready to go.”
After taking a 12- point lead, the Lakers made a few minor defensive adjustments. The Spartans' leading scorer heading into the half was Akeebu Lettsome with 10. Skaneateles' defensive mission was to contain Lettsome in the second half. He finished with 12 points.
“We also didn't want to gamble as much,” Norris said. “That set up easier baskets for them.”
Despite allowing the Spartans back into the game last year, the Lakers went out and scored 21 in the third quarter.
“We put the nail in the coffin,” Lakers' junior Thomas Schoener said. “We emphasize to play as a team.”
Prior to tip-off, Norris was concerned with the matchup. South Jefferson was coming off a close loss to Section III, Class A power Indian River.
“Indian River barely got by,” Norris said. “We knew they were good. They've been playing good their last couple of games.”
Skaneateles had no player truly stick out. Instead, the Lakers had four individuals each score in double digits. Pesarchick finished with a team-high 15 points, while freshman Brandon Barron finished with 12, Schoener chipped in with 11 points and Kevin Rice scored 10.
“If we can get four players in double digits, we can't be beat,” Pesarchick said. “We haven't had consistent scoring all year.”
Rice helped the offense as well, finishing with five assists, while Pesarchick and Paul O'Donnell each had six rebounds.
“Kevin did a nice job of distributing,” Norris said. “Every one of Nick's rebounds started a break for us.”
Skaneateles' defense was in complete lockdown mode in the third quarter, giving up just five points in the frame.
“We needed this effort,” Norris said.
“We just got back to the basics on defense. We got back to the basic stance and simple stuff, showed man-to-man defense and it worked.”
Lakers 65
Spartans 35
“I knew we had to come out focused and pumped up,” Pesarchick said.
That's been a problem for the Lakers all season, but it wasn't an issue against the Spartans.
Skaneateles (13-8) will play the winner of tonight's No. 1 Westhill and No. 8 Solvay quarterfinal, with the date, time and location to be determined Sunday. The Lakers have faced both teams earlier in the season and defeated Solvay twice, while falling to the Warriors twice in the regular season.
“Both teams will play man-to-man defense,” Lakers head coach Karl Norris said. “I think we need to just try and keep the momentum and confidence rolling. If we can carry it over to next game, it will be big for us. We need to play good defense and rebound.”
The Lakers were able to hold on to their 12-point lead heading into the half, unlike last season, when the Spartans crept back into the quarterfinal game and the Lakers emerged with a slim 45-44 win. This time, the Lakers never let them back into contention.
“It was a different game then last years',” Norris said. “Overall, we're more athletic this year.”
The Lakers never fell behind as their defense gave them the best opportunity to win. In the first quarter, they jumped out to an 11-4 lead, while their smallest lead was six - just six minutes into the first quarter. Skaneateles was able to build momentum early and keep it rolling, even after its 51-42 loss to Marcellus to end the regular season.
“I think they were angry and disappointed (after) their last game,” Norris said. “They were ready to go.”
After taking a 12- point lead, the Lakers made a few minor defensive adjustments. The Spartans' leading scorer heading into the half was Akeebu Lettsome with 10. Skaneateles' defensive mission was to contain Lettsome in the second half. He finished with 12 points.
“We also didn't want to gamble as much,” Norris said. “That set up easier baskets for them.”
Despite allowing the Spartans back into the game last year, the Lakers went out and scored 21 in the third quarter.
“We put the nail in the coffin,” Lakers' junior Thomas Schoener said. “We emphasize to play as a team.”
Prior to tip-off, Norris was concerned with the matchup. South Jefferson was coming off a close loss to Section III, Class A power Indian River.
“Indian River barely got by,” Norris said. “We knew they were good. They've been playing good their last couple of games.”
Skaneateles had no player truly stick out. Instead, the Lakers had four individuals each score in double digits. Pesarchick finished with a team-high 15 points, while freshman Brandon Barron finished with 12, Schoener chipped in with 11 points and Kevin Rice scored 10.
“If we can get four players in double digits, we can't be beat,” Pesarchick said. “We haven't had consistent scoring all year.”
Rice helped the offense as well, finishing with five assists, while Pesarchick and Paul O'Donnell each had six rebounds.
“Kevin did a nice job of distributing,” Norris said. “Every one of Nick's rebounds started a break for us.”
Skaneateles' defense was in complete lockdown mode in the third quarter, giving up just five points in the frame.
“We needed this effort,” Norris said.
“We just got back to the basics on defense. We got back to the basic stance and simple stuff, showed man-to-man defense and it worked.”
Lakers 65
Spartans 35
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.