By PAUL GOTHAM
PALMYRA, N.Y. — Ian Goodness finished with a game-high 20 points including 11 in the second half as host Palmyra-Macedon Red Raiders held off a pair of second-half surges to defeat Geneva, 38-33 in Finger Lakes East action, Thursday night.
Goodness snapped a near six-minute scoring drought in the third quarter with back-to-back buckets.
“We regrouped defensively,” Pal-Mac head coach Trevor Sanders said of his squad’s ability to absorb a third-quarter Geneva run. “That allowed us to settle down a little bit offensively.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE.
Aiden Nice and Jake McPike connected on 3-pointers late in the second quarter as Pal-Mac took a double-digit lead at 21-11 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Geneva responded with eight straight points to start the third.
“We told them at halftime, I was like ‘guys, they’re coming,'” Sanders said of the Panthers. “‘They’re going to make a run. We just got to weather it.’”
Doeda Torres converted on a pair of steal and layup opportunities. The senior guard added another bucket before Brian Whitley finished at the rim to make it a one-possession game at 21-19.
Doeda Torres scores back-to-back buckets to open the third. Geneva pulls within 6. pic.twitter.com/fb9HduFpod
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 6, 2023
“Holy cow, Coach (Ed) Collins has got them going,” Sanders said of Geneva’s head coach. “They’re always a tough team to play against. He’s got those kids working hard for him.”
Goodness hit a floater along the baseline and followed with a corner three next trip down the floor. Brennan Pipitone also connected from long range, and Pal-Mac took a 29-21 advantage into the fourth quarter.
“It was good to settle down for those defensive possessions when they were making that run,” Sanders noted. “Defensively, limiting them to one shot, boxing out, getting the rebounds and taking care of the ball. That was the biggest thing.”
Goodness opened the fourth with another triple, and Pal-Mac had its largest lead of the game at 32-21.
Torres and De’Sean Bruce scored on back-to-back possessions to the deficit to five at 35-30 with two minutes remaining in the game.
Sophomore guard Carter Young finished in the lane late in the shot clock to push the lead back to seven.
Carter Young in the lane gives @palmacsports a 37-30 lead. pic.twitter.com/HulIjcoZuL
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 6, 2023
“Ian’s a great player, but we also had some other kids step up there for us. We had our sophomore point guard be able to handle the ball a little bit which relieved some of other off guards.
“It’s always good to get a win in the league especially against Geneva.”
The victory came after Pal-Mac (6-4) dropped a pair of holiday tournament games last week including a 76-52 loss to Class AA Union-Endicott of Section IV.
“It’s always good to get that win for the team morale. It’s up to our boys to feed off that and keep the energy high.”
Nice finished with five points in the win. Robert Kinslow had two. Keagan Hoesterey (3) and Noah Brooks (2) also scored for Pal-Mac.
Torres led Geneva (3-3) with 14 points. Timothy Moorer, Brian Whitley and DePatrick Overstreet added four apiece. Andrew Avedisian (3) and Daniel Carter (2) also scored for the Panthers.
Leave a Reply