With the count standing at six consecutive Section III Class AA championships, a pair of state titles and five straight trips to the state final four, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team can safely call itself a dynasty.
Mainly, it can do so because its success has continued after Breanna Stewart left for college domination at Connecticut, the Northstars getting all the way to the state title game at Troy a season ago before getting stopped by Ossining.
From that team, two big names – Elizabeth Miles and Sarah Roberts – are gone. But McKayla Roberts, Emilee Norris, Samantha Tortora, Beth Bonin and Amani Free lead a talented returning group that will get plenty of tests in the first month of the season, with tournament trips to Delaware and Queens on the agenda.
First, though, C-NS had to make a visit to Rochester to face Bishop Kearney last Saturday afternoon. And it proved to be quite an opening statement by the Northstars, who ripped past Kearney by a score of 66-38.
Eager to get going, C-NS stifled Kearney on the defensive side, holding them to three points in the first quarter. By the time Kearney got settled, the Northstars were also converting baskets on a regular basis, gaining a 38-18 edge by halftime.
A 16-6 run through the third quarter settled matters, and Roberts proved unstoppable. She poured in 26 points, including four 3-pointers, added six assists, grabbed four steals and picked up four rebounds.
Bonin also had a big day, with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tortora had nine points and five rebounds, with Jada Kims impressive in her varsity debut as she also netted nine points. Norris had six rebounds, three assists and three blocks, with Free grabbing seven rebounds.
Long before this, Liverpool got underway last Wednesday night hosting Christian Brothers Academy, and its offense would struggle throughout a 46-25 defeat to the Brothers.
All game long, the Warriors found it difficult to earn baskets in the face of CBA’s defensive pressure. Trailing 25-12 at halftime, Liverpool was one good run from getting close, but never was able to put it together.
In defeat, the Warriors got eight points and six rebounds from Jenna Wike, with Drew Dufrane adding seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. For the Brothers, Paige Nicholson led the way with 17 points, with Julie Cuomo adding nine points.
But the Warriors made quite a nice recovery in Friday night’s game at West Genesee, fighting hard for a 42-37 victory over the Wildcats.
A strong first quarter put Liverpool in front, 14-9. Then, for the rest of the evening, baskets were precious on both ends, with the two defenses making plenty of stops and the Warriors making sure that WG didn’t put together a sustained run to catch up.
Each of the eight Liverpool players that saw action earned at least one field goal, with Dufrane setting the pace through her 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Wike added seven points, three rebounds and three assists, while Donyai Starling pulled down eight rebounds to go with her five points.
Liverpool would take this 1-1 record into the first of two regular-season meetings with C-NS on Wednesday night before a weekend tournament in Norwich.
