Connor Evans wanted one more chance to play high school basketball, one more opportunity to step on the floor and score a basket. To its everlasting credit, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball team gave it to him.
Sidelined by a knee injury for the entire season, Evans was allowed to suit up in last Thursday night’s season finale against Auburn, and the display of class by the Northstars, and sportsmanship by the Maroons, made the night a memorable one.
During football season in the fall, Evans, who had led C-NS to last winter’s Section III Class AA final before falling to Utica Proctor, got hurt. It turned out to be a torn ACL.
Thus, Evans had to watch as the Northstars, despite an all-out effort every night, went 3-15 and fell out of playoff contention. This meant that the Auburn game carried no meaning beyond an improvement in either side’s won-loss record.
But C-NS was determined to give Evans a proper send-off. He put on his uniform and started the game, and at tipoff, the Northstars gained possession and passed to Evans underneath the basket, who scored on a lay-up, earning a roar from the crowd and hugs from his teammates.
In return, C-NS allowed Auburn to put in an uncontested basket, and the game took off from there, a tight and exciting contest where the Northstars led 20-14 after one period, only to see the Maroons outscore them 26-9 in the second quarter to lead 40-29 at the break.
But it swung the other way In the third quarter, Auburn held to four points as C-NS charged back in front, 48-44. It stayed close the rest of the way, but the Northstars held on and beat the Maroons by a 63-60 margin.
Nick Antonello had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Brendan Gacek nearly had a double-double, too, earning 13 points and nine rebounds. Steven Theetge had 11 points and five rebounds. Auburn lost despite 20 points from Jonathan Bell and 19 points from Kevin DiCola.
This final stretch of the season for the Northstars commenced last Tuesday with a 59-54 home loss to Rome Free Academy.
Everything fell apart in the third quarter. Up 20-16 at the break, the Northstars’ defense got hammered as the Black Knights hit all kinds of shots during a 26-9 outburst, Lindell Reed leading the way with 20 points as Tyrone Cowell, Isaiah Harris and Elijah Smalls each got 10 points.
Try as it could, C-NS could not make up that deficit, though Gacek did get 20 points and seven rebounds, with Theetge adding 11 points and A.J. Nesci 10 points, plus seven assists.
Liverpool’s struggles continued in last Tuesday night’s home game against Corcoran, a team it beat early this season, but could not sweep as it lost, 71-58, to the Cougars.
Liverpool had claimed a wild, foul-filled 83-82 win over Corcoran in the Dec. 3 season opener. More than two months later, things were far more subdued, especially since the Warriors didn’t have its leading scorer, Tyler Sullivan, in the lineup due to an injury suffered in a Feb. 6 loss to Fayetteville-Manlius, when Sullivan collided with Jake Wittig.
The key moment came in the second quarter, when the Cougars broke things open, outscoring the Warriors 24-13 to build a 38-26 halftime lead. Marquis Gilbert led the way, eventually scoring 31 points, including four successful 3-pointers.
For the rest of the night, short-handed Liverpool was in catch-up mode, getting plenty of baskets, but not the sustained run it badly needed. John Marino led with 14 points, while Matt Hunter added 11 points, Nate Cutler 10 points and Joe Scro eight points.
As if that wasn’t harsh enough, Liverpool had to close the regular season Friday against 18-1 Henninger. The Warriors were tough and resilient, but still lost, 63-54, to the Black Knights.
After Henninger gained an early 17-8 lead, Liverpool, still without Sullivan, played on even terms the rest of the way. Freshman Naz Johnson had 15 points, with Marino and Will Cutler each getting 10 points and Sumit Singh adding six points.
Still, the Warriors could not put together the sustained run it needed, Henninger answering at every turn behind two seniors playing their final regular-season home games. Romero Collier had 20 points and 11 assists, while Shaitique Blatche had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Given the no. 9 seed for the Section III Class AA playoffs, Liverpool could meet Henninger again – but only if it wins Friday’s opening-round game at Baldwinsville, which tips off at 6:45 after the girls Bees meet Central Square in its sectional quarterfinal.
