Lakers Defeat Cayuga Behind De La Cruz’s Game-High 18 Points
CANANDAIGUA – The Lakers and the Cayuga CC Spartans entered Wednesday with identical 7-3 conference records. Both teams – facing off for the second time in the 2012-13 season – were fighting for the outright second spot in the MSAC standings. Playing in front of a packed crowd on sophomore night at Putt Moore Court – Finger Lakes established a late double-digit first half lead and after doing so – never looked back as it picked up a 69-61 victory.
The win – with two regular season games remaining on their schedule – supplanted the Lakers in the two spot for next week's conference playoffs. Cayuga – with the loss – slipped into third position in the standings. Finger Lakes – regardless of what transpires in terms of the outcomes of its final two regular season games – will host #7 seed Jefferson CC in the first round of the MSAC playoffs next Tuesday (2/19).
The Lakers – who swept their regular season series with the Spartans – were paced on the offensive side of the court by Richard De La Cruz. On sophomore night, the sophomore dropped in a game-high 18 points and was on the collecting end of a team-high 8 rebounds.
The Lakers established themselves a 28-13 lead heading towards the latter part of the first half of Wednesday's contest. Cayuga – showing no signs of quit despite its deficit – climbed back into the game by going on a 10-2 run late in the first half – closing Finger Lakes halftime lead to 30-23.
The Lakers – in the second half – put a halt to the sudden momentum shift created by the Spartans prior to halftime. Finger Lakes built a fifteen-point 45-30 lead – but again would be answered by Cayuga. After jumping out to a fifteen-point lead in the early stages of the final half – the Lakers would see their lead shrink to 45-39 as Cayuga would go on a 9-0 run.
The Lakers would then see their lead dwindle to 47-42 moments later after the Spartans went on their 9-0 run. After the score read 47-42 in favor of the Lakers – Finger Lakes would work its lead back up into double-digit numbers. The Lakers – this time – built a twelve-point 57-45 lead after Cayuga's charge.
After going up 57-45 – Finger Lakes – in spite of a pair of late-game made three-pointers stemming from Cayuga's Delquan Holmes – went on to secure an eight-point win.
The Lakers – who outscored the Spartans bench – 30-18 – received double-digit scoring efforts out of three of their players. Following De La Cruz in the double-digit scoring column with 17 bench points was forward Will Arberry. In 23 minutes worth of action – Arberry – who shot the ball particularly well – went 6-11 from the floor and was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
Rounding out the double-digit scoring column for the hosts was sophomore Ben Wilburn. On the night, he recorded 12 points all while registering 6 rebounds.
The Lakers – in addition to Arberry's performance off of the bench – received 8 points and a game-high 6 assists out of reserve Dominique Higgins. Both Arberry and Higgins each added 3 steals apiece to go along with their offensive efforts.
Cayuga – in a losing effort – was led offensively by the 15-point night of Holmes. Following him with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Spartans was Justin Staton. Jared Donalson chipped in with 9 points and 14 rebounds for Cayuga.
Finger Lakes – in its next contest – will travel to Syracuse, NY, where it will take on Onondaga CC this Saturday (2/16). Game time tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.