OSWEGO, NY – Emily Barlow had just two points in the first round game of the Linda Shoults-Lala Ponzi Memorial Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
But, it proved to be the decisive bucket as the Bucs rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final quarter to advance to the championship game against nemesis Fayetteville-Manlius.
Lake Region from Maine made the long trek west to participate in the holiday tournament and behind 27 points from three-point range were able take command and as time wound down in the third quarter the visitors had built a 12-point lead.
However, at the end of the third, Amber Earl was fouled as she drove the lane.
She went to the line and cut the deficit to 10 with eight minutes to go.
In the third, Lake Region connected on five three-point shots and had a 38-28 lead.
In the fourth, Oswego started the claw back and when Katie Abramski drove to the hoop, scored and was fouled the three-point play cut the lead to 41-38.
Moments later, Michelle Canale fed a perfect pass to Abramski and with 3:45 to go the Bucs trailed 41-40.
Oswego’s Canale came up with a steal and drove the floor to make it 42-41 as Oswego took the lead.
Meghan Craffey then made a strong inside move to put the lead at 43-42.
Then the key bucket of the game came on the pass from Canale to Barlow for the Bucs 44-43 advantage with around 1:30 remaining.
Lake Region threatened down the stretch, but an offensive foul call against the visitors sent Canale to the line where she hit both ends of a one-and-one to cap the 46-43 win.
Abramski scored 14 for Oswego while Canale netted 11.
Lindsay Johnson had six, Michaela Auer four, Alexis Gillard four, Brooke Reifinger three, Barlow two and Earl two for the 5-2 Bucs.
Oswego will square off against Fayetteville-Manlius in the title game at 4:45 on Tuesday while the 3 p.m. consolation will match up Lake Region and Mexico.
Oswego Swimmers Win
The Oswego boys swimming and diving team splashed past the Nottingham Bulldogs 99-84 and improved their record to 3-2.
The Medley Relay team of Luke Familo, Geoff Taylor, Zak Handley and Zach Gerber won the opening event and from that point on the Bucs never lost the lead.
Josh Saternow’s 2:12.56 gave him the victory in the 200 Freestyle. In the same event, Jeremy Galvin’s 2:17.39 and Billy McSweeney’s 2:31.57 placed them third and fourth.
Drake Becksted won the 200 Individual Medley for the Bucs with a time of 2:09.40.
In the 50 Freestyle the trio of Handley, 25.70, Jim Dillon, 28.38 and Josh Costo, 29.78 placed them second, third and fourth.
Brian Semione won the diving event with a score of 204.85.
Mason Rabalais placed fourth in diving and also scored points for the Bucs.
Becksted won his second event of the meet in the 100 Butterfly.
In the 100 Freestyle Familo led the team with a 58.18.
Also swimming the 100 Free for the Bucs were Josh Costo, 1:08.10, Jordan Olinsky, 1:02.19, Mike Kelly, 1:12.75, Joe Corridino, 1:17.65 and Brian Abbott, 1:21.84.
Saternow’s 5:58.64 in the 500 Freestyle was his second victory of the meet.
Dillon’s 6:16.84 placed him second in the 500 and Alex Sherman’s 7:11.51 gave him a fifth place in the event.
The 200 Free Relay team of Handley, Gerber, Becksted and Saternow put on a demonstration of perfect starts and won the event.
In the 100 Backstroke, the Bucs were led by Familo and Galvin who place first and third.
Gerber, Taylor and McSweeney all swam very well in the Breaststroke and ensured a victory for the Bucs.
Coaches Rick Klein and Kevin Morgan agreed that they are very happy with the progress of the team.
“The boys have been practicing very hard and their performances continue to improve,” Klein said. “We are looking forward to the second half of the season, as well as the sectional and state meets.â€Â
