In their own ways, both of Baldwinsville’s basketball teams would endure deep frustration during their joint appearance at East Syracuse-Minoa’s Vince Celi Memorial Tournament, but still manage to come out of it with equal 1-1 marks. For the boys Bees, the rough part came at the end of last Thursday’s opening-round game against Auburn, which got snatched away in a 66-65 defeat. Once up by 21 late in the first half and by 11 early in the fourth quarter, B’ville saw that lead vanish, but still was in front when Tim Marshall went to the free throw line, his team up 65-63, with 13.3 seconds left. With a one-and-one chance, Marshall missed the front end. Auburn rebounded, and Mike Charles, from the deep left corner, took a fall-away 3-pointer that swished with 3.6 seconds left, putting the Maroons up by one. Still with a chance to win, B’ville turned it over as the clock ran out. Having dropped its season opener to Auburn 75-63 on Dec. 6, the Bees were better prepared for the rematch, appearing to take charge when it went on a 26-3 run during the second quarter, leading to a 40-19 edge on the scoreboard. Though the Maroons cut it to 42-27 at halftime, the Bees stayed in control during the third quarter and, with less than six minutes left, had a 59-48 lead. In a span of less than three minutes, though, the Maroons used a 13-1 run to charge into the lead. Trent Ward, with 24 points, and Charles, with 20 points, led that comeback. As time wound down, the tension built. B’ville and Auburn exchanged baskets, and when Mike Aiello sank two free throws with 22.4 seconds left, B’ville moved back in front 65-63. Auburn went for a quick basket, Ward missing a 3-pointer, and Marshall grabbed the rebound. Fouled instantly, Marshall could not get the free throws the Bees needed, setting up the Maroons’ dramatic finish. Jayson Brower led B’ville with 20 points, just ahead of Kevin Drain, who earned most of his 18 points in the first half. Aiello and Ben Diorio had 10 points apiece. B’ville ended up in Friday’s consolation game against Mexico, who lost to ESM 58-53 in the other opening-round game. This time, there would be no late letdown, the Bees turning back the Tigers 75-58 in large part due to Drain’s dominance in the paint. Constantly finding his way to open space for easy baskets, Drain helped B’ville break out of a 12-12 tie in a productive second quarter, the Bees gaining a 36-26 lead. Then Drain really got going, as he scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half to earn an All-Tournament team spot and help his side pull away. Marshall added 12 points, while Cameron Skipworth gained nine points off the bench, just ahead of Aiello (eight points) and Diorio, who got seven points. By contrast, the B’ville girls team, off since a Dec. 18 defeat to Auburn, could not find any sort of rhythm at any point in last Thursday’s 52-28 defeat to ESM. Through the first three periods, the Bees rarely converted baskets against a determined ESM defense, the deficit steadily growing to 34-10 by halftime and 48-17 by the time they reached the fourth quarter. During the game, no B’ville player had more than four points, done by Hope DeFazio, Gabi Jordan, Sarah Abraham and Emily Buis. By contrast, six ESM players had five or more points, with Nicole Cassella (13 points) and Amanda Marsh (11 points) leading the way. Somehow, B’ville turned it around on Friday and beat Auburn 56-54 to finally break its four-game skid and avenge a 50-43 defeat to those same Maroons just 10 days earlier. Nothing about this game was easy. Tied 11-11 after one period, the Bees saw the Maroons grab a 29-23 edge by halftime, only to fight back in the third quarter, making up most of the deficit and pulling within one, 42-41. Down the stretch, it was the Bees hitting the crucial baskets, especially Jordan, who broke out for a season-best 22 points and getting ample help from freshman Emily Pascale, who had 10 points, and DeFazio, who contributed eight points. Anna Giannone led Auburn with 17 points. Each of the B’ville sides play Corcoran on Friday after the boys Bees have a Wednesday game with Rome Free Academy.