Resuming action just before January came to a close, the East Syracuse-Minoa basketball teams both took defeats.
On the boys end, the Spartans hung with 9-7 Fulton for much of Friday night’s game, but still absorbed a 71-64 loss to the Red Raiders.
In a wild first quarter, Fulton stormed to a 23-15 lead, forcing ESM into a long, exhausting chase that consumed the rest of the night. Every Spartan push got answered as the Red Raiders’ Max Ambuske hit six 3-pointers on his way to 24 points.
No one on the Spartans could match Ambuske’s run, though Tyler Dattmore came close as he finished with 18 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Ken Cannon finished with 12 points, with Quadear Mike earning 11 points and Greg Raab working his way to 10 points.
As this was going on, the ESM girls team played at Fulton and ran right into star freshman Ashlynn Pamitesso during a 71-48 defeat.
The Red Raiders outscored the Spartans in each period, mainly on the work of Palmitesso, who finished with 24 points, including three 3-pointers.
ESM’s balanced attack featured Olivia Luciani with 10 points, while Arnela Mesic and Carissa Ficarro got eight points apiece. Ashley Bonaventura and Chelsea Medler finished with six points apiece.
The loss kept the Spartans (7-9) from reaching the .500 mark, as it went to Cato-Meridian Monday and is home Friday to face Mexico. ESM’s boys team was at Fayetteville-Manlius Tuesday and takes a Friday trip to Mexico.