Just when the Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball team finally got some good news, it had to rest a bit.
Five days passed from the Northstars’ 62-54 conquest of West Genesee in the consolation game of the Juggler Classic at SUNY-Utica Tech until its return to the court Friday to face Oswego.
Having lost to Nazareth in the opening round in Utica, few gave the 2-10 Northstars a great chance to beat West Genesee, who carried a 5-6 mark.
But in a first-half burst on inspiration, CNS jumped out to a 36-22 halftime lead, its outside shots falling as the Northstars would finish with eight 3-pointers before the game was done.
Despite a second-half Wildcat comeback, the Northstars held on behind Deyon Smith Jr. earning a career-best 17 points and John Howell adding 14 points.
Eric Munoz and Andy Falvey got seven points apiece, as Brett Smith finished with six points. Jack Conboy, in defeat, led WG by getting 17 points of his own.