Following their meeting with each other last Wednesday, the Westhill and Solvay boys basketball teams both returned to the court Friday – and both won. At home to face Skaneateles, the Warriors were in a hot battle for much of the night, but still fought past the Lakers 60-49 to improve to 9-2. Skaneateles picked up the pace in the first quarter and led all the way through it, but that 21-15 edge disappeared when Westhill made defensive adjustments and shut things down. By halftime, they were tied, 29-29. Then continued to stay close well into the fourth quarter before Westhill got clear, pushed there by Mike McMullen, who had 15 points (including three 3-pointers), and Dan Ross, who got 12 points. Tom Fisher put up 11 points, with Nate Nigolian earning nine points and Karleski adding seven points. In defeat, the Lakers got 13 points from Nick Pesarchick and 10 points from Kyle McQuiggan. Solvay, meanwhile, played Cazenovia and broke its skid, beating the Lakers 61-47.
Already with a 12-9 lead, Solvay inflicted its main damage in the game’s middle stages, outscoring Cazenovia 35-16 in the second and third periods. Surrey led with 13 points, with Mike Rowlands close behind as he got 12 points. Andrew Lucio had nine points and Dan Aiello picked up seven points. The Bearcats (4-8) visit Skaneateles on Wednesday and go to Jordan-Elbridge Friday night. Westhill, meanwhile, makes up a snowed-out Dec. 30 game on Monday against Clinton in advance of Friday’s big showdown with two-time defending Class B champion Hannibal.