Back when the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team earned its 55-49 win over Corcoran in the first full week of the regular season Dec. 4, it signaled that the Northstars could put together a championship-caliber effort, at least at home. However, when those same two teams collided again last Friday night in Corcoran, it was the Cougars’ turn to shine, using both productive front-line offense and swarming perimeter defense to beat the Northstars 67-48. For CNS, it was the team’s first defeat of the season, ending a nine-game win streak, and proved to be a case where the star player did not get a ton of help throughout the night. Corcoran had concluded that trying to contain the Northstars’ big, imposing freshman center, Breanna Stewart, was not worth immense amounts of energy. So in this game, Stewart drew defensive attention, but not a big amount of double or triple teams. Stewart would finish with 22 points, six rebounds and six blocks. Stewart and Corcoran’s star forward, Irene Hudson, would end up on equal terms as Hudson also got 22 points. The perimeter proved to be a different matter. Unlike the first meeting, when CNS got all sorts of open looks and converted them, it found little room outside to maneuver, managing just two 3-pointers before the night was done. Above all, Marybeth Egan got affected. Shadowed all night by Corcoran guards Ayanna Bradley and Brittini Ray, Egan had just one field goal, a grand total of two points, far below her 15-point-a-game average. CNS, following a rought first quarter, stayed tight and only trailed, 28-21, at halftime. Gradually, the Cougars got away, negating modest efforts that Shanon Hickin (eight points) and Brittany Paul (six points) enjoyed. Both teams tuned up the right way. As Corcoran was blasting Rome Free Academy 64-41, the Northstars were shutting down Central Square in a 55-27 romp. Well rested (it had not played since Dec. 28), CNS never allowed the Red Hawks to do much as long as the starters were out there. Through the course of the first three periods, the Northstars gained a 55-15 edge. With Egan (nine points) and Stewart (six points) getting a chance to relax, Hickin and Paul each picked up 10 points, while Ashley Waldron earned seven points. Without any time to fret after the Corcoran loss, the Northstars come home Tuesday to face 10-2 West Genesee and its star senior, Alyssa Sutherland, before another big test Friday at Fayetteville-Manlius, where senior Torie Lee just passed 1,000 career points.