By Ralph Echtinaw

The Sharks basketball teams hit a bad patch last week, losing thrice to Standish-Sterling and Ithaca.

It might have been four losses if the girls Dec. 13 home game against Standish-Sterling wasn’t postponed on account of several players getting sick.

The boys team played at Standish-Sterling Central High School the same day. The Panthers broke out to a 22-6 first quarter lead on their way to a 68-39 win.

The Sharks were led by Thomas Zacharko (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks), Noah Tripp (9 points) and Landon Pestrue (5 points, 5 rebounds)

Last season the Panthers beat the St. Louis boys 51-25 and 67-48. 

The slide continued on Friday, Dec. 16, as both teams had a good first half against Ithaca in the Shark Tank but fell apart in the second half.

Girls game: Ithaca 61, St. Louis 41

The lady Sharks led the Yellowjackets 30-20 with a few minutes left in the first half. But Ithaca cut the Shark lead to five by halftime.

Ithaca took the lead with 3:26 left in third period, and two minutes later held a 10-point lead.

St. Louis was led by Josie Schrot (19 points) and Natalee Hoyt (9 points). 

Delaney Seaman led the way for Ithaca with 23 points.

Ivy Davenport had 15 points. Lauryn Humphrey had 12 points.

Ithaca coach Khris Nevins singled out three players for outstanding defense: “Big defensive night out of Olyvia Saxton, Natasha Nowakowski, and Libby Maurer,” he said. “I’m very happy with the way our team responded to a slow start in the first half. Coming out in the third quarter and doing what we talked about at halftime was the difference for us. St. Louis is very well coached team. Kudos to Coach Knauf and his staff. Very bright future for St. Louis girls basketball.”

Boys game: Ithaca 78, St. Louis 50

The Sharks started strong and led Ithaca 33-30 at the half. Jacket coach Josh Rayburn must have had an effective halftime message, as the Jackets were running and gunning for most of the last 16 minutes of play. 

The Sharks were led by Thomas Zacharko (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Wisdom Zanquo (19 points, 3 steals) and Josh Dew (9 rebounds).

See pictures from both Ithaca at St. Louis games on the Sentinel Facebook page.

Looking ahead

The lady Sharks (4-2) travel to Morrice Tuesday to face the 5-1 Orioles.

The gentlemen Sharks (1-2) take on Morrice (3-2) in the Shark tank Tuesday. The JV game begins at 6 p.m. The varsity game follows at 7:30 p.m.

Those will be the last games before the Christmas break.