As part of its first week of work in 2010, both of West Genesee’s basketball teams matched up against powerful opponents from Corcoran Tuesday night. In the case of the boys Wildcats, it nearly sprung a big upset on Syracuse’s south side, taking the Cougars to the wire before absorbing a 59-54 defeat. Just 2-5 on the season, WG found itself matched up with Corcoran, whose only defeat had come to Henninger in the Dec. 30 finals of the Mayor’s Cup. Through the first three periods, the Cougars stayed out in front. But WG, despite getting just seven points in the third quarter, hung close, and a 42-32 deficit got whittled down to one in the game’s final minute. What’s more, the Wildcats had the ball, with a chance to go out in front — but Corcoran’s Marsean Brown made a crucial steal, converting it into a lay-up on the other end, and WG would not get as close again. In a well-balanced attack, Brian Burns and Nick Wood each finished with 13 points, as Burns hit on four 3-pointers. Eric Spencer had 12 points, while Colin Monroe produced 10 points. Corcoran saw Brown (16 points), Algeron Torrence (15 points) and Riley Stroman (12 points) hit double figures. Back in Camillus, the West Genesee girls team found unbeaten Corcoran, the state’s no. 2-ranked Class AA team, far too much to handle in a 68-38 defeat. From the time the Cougars started 18-4, the Wildcats were in catch-up mode. Deanna Apps would produce 13 points and Carly DiCocco added 11 points. But the Cougars had six players earn six or more points, led by Ayanna Bradley’s 13 points, and its constant defensive pressure wore WG down.