Cazenovia falls to Skaneateles

The Cazenovia boys basketball team defeated Skaneateles in both meetings between the teams last winter, sweeping its league foe for the first time in six seasons.

Karl Norris’ squad returned to their winning ways on Friday night.

Skaneateles scored six unanswered points to open the fourth quarter, breaking open a close game and defeating Cazenovia 68-60.

“Every night in Section III Class B basketball is a grind,” Cazenovia coach Paul Harney said. “Skaneateles knows that too and they came out and they played a gutsy performance. I don’t think we answered the bell. Right now we’re still trying to find our identity.”

Pete Knupp put Cazenovia in a quick hole, netting a 3-pointer

on Skaneateles’ first possession to give his team a 3-0 lead. Harney’s squad wouldn’t need long to get those points back. Kevin Ridings made a 3-point shot of his own, sparking seven unanswered points for the hosts and a 7-3 lead.

Cazenovia had two good chances to pull away after baskets by Ridings and Keaton Ackermann but Knupp and Jake Reed netted 3-pointers to keep the visitors within five points at the end of the first quarter.

Leading 16-11, the hosts tried one more time to pull away in the next period. Knupp opened the scoring, netting another 3-point shot, but TJ Connellan scored the next four points to put Cazenovia up 20-14.

Again Skaneateles had an answer, using a series of 3-pointers to take a 2827 lead, its first since early in the first quarter. A layup by Ryan Henderson knotted the score at 2929 but the visitors closed the quarter with another small scoring run to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.

After the break it was Cazenovia’s turn to come back. Ackermann made a pair of free throws then tapped a loose ball into the basket to give the hosts a 39-37 lead. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Skaneateles tied the game at 39-39 and 42-42, where it would stay until the end of the third quarter.

“We talked about increasing the tempo on offense,” Harney said of his words to his team. “And getting down there more and moving our feet on defense.”

Unfortunately for Harney, it was the visitors that got off to a quick start in the final period, netting three consecutive 3-pointers to regain a 51- 44 advantage. Cazenovia came as close as two points on another 3-point shot by Ridings but Skaneateles answered with a 6- 0 run to regain control. Knupp made eight of his last nine free throws to seal the win and hand Cazenovia its first loss of the season.

Things don’t get any easier for Harney’s squad. Cazenovia travels to Solvay next Tuesday.

“They’re going to play competitively too,” Harney said. “Solvay beat these guys so we have to come ready to play. We have a lot of questions here early.”