CENTRAL NEW YORK – Few girls basketball teams in Section III can match the strong play of Bishop Ludden in January, something that did not let up after it beat state Class B no. 1-ranked Bishop Grimes on Jan. 10. Against another big rival in Westhill Tuesday night, the Gaelic Knights’ scoring balance, combined with a suffocating defense which only got better as the night went on, produced a 60-34 victory. Ludden’s second four-game win streak of the season was made possible when, in the second quarter, it excelled on both ends, outscoring Westhill 26-11 in those eight minutes after only leading 14-13 through one period. While the Gaelic Knighs’ defense held Westhill to 10 points in the second half (just two in the fourth quarter), Sophia Chemotti piled up 16 points, adding eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Ava Carpenter set a new career mark with 10 steals to go with her 15 points and six assists. Abby Reynolds earned 10 poins and Elizabeth Gaughan got nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. Unable to keep up with that quartet, Westhill was still led by Eva Tarolli, who notched 11 rebounds to go with her six points, and Kara Rosenberger, who had 11 points and six rebounds. Sydney Medeiros got eight points and Sophia Lasher six points. In between the Grimes and Westhill games there was a clash last Sunday against Class C contender Hamilton where Ludden again leaned on its defense to beat the Emerald Knights 54-38. Hamilton hung in there in the early going and only trailed 27-21 at halftime, but it only managed a handful of field goals in the second half as the Gaelic Knights slowly pulled away. Carpenter again did it all, from 14 points to six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Chemotti earned 12 points, four assists and three steals, with Elizabeth Gaughan getting 10 points and Grace Olivia stepping up earning nine points. Based on these results, Ludden may have figured that it would continue the rest of the week – but that changed at home Thursday night when Baldwinsville arrived and knocked off the Gaelic Knights 54-43. Having lost to Cicero-North Syracuse the night before after a long layoff, the state Class AAA no. 21-ranked Bees held Ludden to a season-low four points in the first quarter and then matched everything the Gaelic Knights produced the rest of the half. Down 32-19 at halftime, Ludden just could not make up ground, despite Carpenter’s 14 points, five rebounds and six assists along with Reynolds’ 10 points and 13 rebounds and Gaughan’s 16 rebounds. To lead B’ville, Olivia Davis notched 15 points all from five 3-pointers, helped by Natalie Hollingshead earning 12 points, Maddy Polky 11 points and Capri Hartman eight points. Despite this setback and the task of a fifth game in nine days Ludden stood up to it Saturday at Central Valley Academy earning a 55-44 victory over the Thunder to move its record to 9-3 overall. Now it was the Gaelic Knights starting fast, a 15-6 advantage through one period growing to 33-19 by halftime as Carpenter managed 18 points and five steals. Reynolds had 13 points and eight rebounds, Gaughan getting close to a triple-double with nine rebounds, eight points and seven assists. Chemotti also had seven assists.