As it crept toward the halfway point of the regular season, the Oneida boys basketball team had to feel quite good about where it stood.
In five Tri-Valley League games, the Indians have lost just once, to Utica-Notre Dame, and moved further ahead when it won at rival Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Dec. 20.
A non-league defeat to Fowler followed, but Oneida rested for a week, then returned to action Saturday with one of its best all-around efforts of the season in an 83-61 home win over the Camden Blue Devils.
In this game, the makeup of a snowed-out Dec. 12 affair, Oneida blazed out to a 26-15 lead by the end of the first quarter. Camden kept up for a while, but the Indians gradually pulled clear during the second half in a torrent of hot outside shooting. For the game, Oneida had 12 3-point field goals, a season high.
Instead of relying on one or two stars, like Ryan Karmer or Justin Didio, Oneida made sure everyone got into action. In fact, all 13 players that saw court time got at least two points, and with the exception of Didio (he made just a pair of free throws), they all got field goals, too.
David Cieri, who led with 15 points, didn’t make a 3-pointer, but his teammates sure did. Kramer hit on a trio of 3-pointers for most of his 13 points. Matt Tamburro also connected three times beyond the arc, finishing with 12 points, as Nick Dreimiller added 10 points. Joe McCormick and Trey Didio hit on two 3-pointers apiece, accounting for all their points.
Oneida looks for back-to-back wins Tuesday night at New Hartford before a key Friday trip to Whitesboro.
