When it comes to excitement, all the Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball team needs is the presence of Central Square.
For the second time in as many months, the Northstars and Red Hawks engaged in a wild battle, this time going to overtime before CNS prevailed, 68-62.
The first time they had met, in the Dec. 1 final of the Fulton Savings Bank Tournament, CNS won when Laquan James hit a half-court shot at the buzzer.
This time around, the Northstars roared out to an 18-8 lead, only to see that entire margin go away by the third quarter as Central Square roared back.
Through a tense fourth quarter, neither side could break clear and, with the game tied 62-62, neither could score in the last minute of regulation, either.
So it went to four minutes of overtime where, once again, James took over. He hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 10-0 CNS run early in the extra period that all but sealed it.
James finished with 19 points, 10 of them in the OT, as Mike McCarthy also put up 19 points. John Howell came off the bench to score 10 points, as Jeff Falvey earned six points. Central Square’s Kyle Miller led his side with 24 points.
The Northstars look for two in a row Friday night, at Corcoran.
