It was a pair of basketball games that completely embodied all that is the Dunkirk-Fredonia rivalry.

The games both came down the wire, but in the end the results were the same as earlier in the season with the Dunkirk girls defeating Fredonia on Monday before the Fredonia boys team repaid the favor with a victory over Dunkirk on Tuesday.

Fredonia’s Morgan Genovese looks to make her move around Dunkirk’s Khee Nance while teammate Sarah Cruver tries to set the pick during their CCAA Division 1 basketball game, Monday at Fredonia High School. (Photo by Stefan Gestwicki)

The Lady Marauders had no trouble the first time these two teams met, earning a 20-point win back in December, but this most recent game required a bit more finesse. Dunkirk had to use a 14-9 run in the fourth quarter to ensure the slim 47-38 win.

Lacey Clark led the Lady Marauders with a near 30-20 performance as she racked up 29 points and 19 rebounds. Clark really helped the Marauders stay in the game while Fredonia did its best to make Dunkirk’s Khee Nance a non-factor. Dunkirk improved to 7-2 in CCAA Division 1 with the win.

Fredonia was paced by Morgan Genovese’s team-high 17 points. Eight of those points came in the first quarter as she helped Fredonia grab a 12-11 lead after the first eight minutes. The Lady Hillbillies suffered their tenth league loss.

Dunkirk’s Jessica Gifford makes a pass during her team’s CCAA Division 1 win over arch-rival Fredonia, Monday at Fredonia High School. (Photo by Stefan Gestwicki)

The boys’ game was the first such Dunkirk-Fredonia contest in Dunkirk’s newly renovated gymnasium — and the place was packed. The fans were into the action all game and every basket elicited a deafening roar from the respective side. The environment was exactly what you’d want in a meeting of such intense rivals.

As far as the action goes, Fredonia overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to edge Dunkirk, 59-57. Sophomore John Piper came up big with some clutch baskets in the fourth quarter to lead the comeback.

Junior Dylan Meyer led all scorers with 26 points for Fredonia. Fourteen of those points came in the second quarter as he knocked down shot after shot.

Jacob Lockett, who came off the bench due to a recent bout with illness, led the Marauders with 16 points and eight rebounds. Alex Crossan added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Dunkirk, but was mostly quiet in the fourth quarter as Fredonia took the lead.

Fredonia improved to 7-2 in the division while Dunkirk fell to 4-5.

Dunkirk’s Marquel Ruiz looks to make a pass from the floor during his team’s 59-57 loss to Fredonia, Tuesday at Dunkirk High School. (Photo by Stefan Gestwicki)