Fans came out in force for the “Cider Street Rivalry” and chance to meet a Syracuse University Basketball legend.
The Westmoreland Boys Basketball program hosted former Syracuse basketball star Lawrence Moten when it took on rival Oriskany in front of a packed crowd at Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School on December 13. 
Moten, a guard and forward, played for Syracuse from 1991-1995. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,334 points and is the all-time leading men’s scorer in the history of the Big East Conference with 1,405 points.
Moten was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the second round of the 1995 NBA draft. He played for the Grizzlies for two seasons from 1995-1997 and for the Washington Wizards during the 1997-1998 season. From 1998 until his retirement in 2006, he played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), American Basketball Association (ABA) and in Spain and Venezuela. After his playing career, Moten served as vice president of player development for the Maryland Nighthawks of the ABA. In 2014, he was the head coach of the Premier Basketball League’s (PBL) Rochester Razorsharks, and guided the team to its fourth PBL title. Currently, Moten is a middle school guidance counselor in the Syracuse area.
During the boys’ junior varsity and varsity basketball games, Moten signed autographs and posed for photos. Proceeds from a raffle and 50/50 benefitted “Pass ‘Da R.O.C.K.,” a Syracuse non-profit founded by Moten, whose mission is to redefine the realities of inner city youth from desperation to hope.
Unfortunately, the Westmoreland Boys Varsity Basketball team lost to Oriskany in a nail biter, 57-54. The Redskins erased a nine-point deficit at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs 38 to 26 in the second half.
David Piersall and Matthew Doyle led Westmoreland with 18 points each. Piersall also had four rebounds and five assists, while Doyle collected 11 rebounds and blocked two shots. Oriskany was led by a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring at least nine points. Steven Armstrong netted 14, Gianni Falatico tallied 12 and Ryan Jock and Ryan Coleman each had nine.
The Westmoreland Boys Junior Varsity Basketball team also lost to Oriskany in a close contest.
The Westmoreland Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball teams take on the Redskins again later this season when they travel to Oriskany on January 23.