Long before it could worry about the two rivals right behind them in the SCAC Metro division, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team had to make sure it stayed ahead of one main rival.
The state Class AA no. 15-ranked Northstars hosted Liverpool Thursday night, and gradually imposed its will over the Warriors just as it had the first time they had met, eventually prevailing by a score of 69-39.
But while the scores were similar, this game did not really resemble the 64-32 decision four weeks earlier at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall.
Back then, Jessica Cook, on the way to earning her 1,000th career point, tore up the Warriors for a career-best 38 points, plus 16 rebounds. She would not need anything close to those totals the second time around.
Productive early, C-NS led 18-11 after one period, but then its defense really stepped up, limiting Liverpool to seven points in the second quarter and just two points in the third period.
Meanwhile, Cook was gaining 19 points, but fellow forward Juila Rowe nearly matched her, setting a season mark with 18 points as Alita Carey-Santangelo had nine points and Alexa Kulokowski had seven points.
Other than Karlyssa Shifflett, who had 14 points (mostly from four 3-pointers, and Sarah Miles, who had nine points, the rest of the Warriors had just seven field goals as Naveah Wingate was held to two points
They arrived at this game in far different circumstances, C-NS having handled Henninger 69-21 last Tuesday night as Liverpool ran into Fayetteville-Manlius and took a 63-54 defeat.
The problem the Warriors had against the Hornets was that its offense never really got going until the second half, when F-M already held a 35-18 advantage built through a fine all-around effort in the first two periods.
Wingate had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding three steals as Miles had 10 points and five rebounds.
Karlyssa Shifflett and Julia Wike each had eight points, with Melaina Nappa getting seven points as Hornets standout Lexie Roe poured in 28 points to lead her side, adding seven rebounds.
Meanwhile, C-NS jumped out 27-3 on Henninger in the first quarter, led 45-8 by halftime and made sure everyone on the roster saw significant court time to give the starters a breather.
Cook only had 12 points, topped by Kulakowski, who got 14 points. Rowe had 10 points as Alexandra Miller got seven points. Carey-Santangelo, Crystal Leonardi and Nicolette Kasch had six points apiece.
C-NS is home again next Tuesday to face F-M before a Friday trip to Corcoran as Liverpool has to travel next week to Baldwinsville, Nottingham and Norwich.
