Back from a long rest, the Christian Brothers Academy girls basketball team found out that, at least for the time being, it does not rule the OHSL Freedom division.
In a trip to Cortland Tuesday night, the Brothers went through a prolonged mid-game slump that proved to be the difference in a 54-50 loss to the Purple Tigers.
This was a battle of unbeaten teams. CBA was 4-0, but it had not played since Dec. 22 (a win over Mexico), a break of two weeks. Cortland came in with a 6-0 mark, but also had not taken the court for a game during the holiday break.
CBA made the initial push, bolting out to an 18-8 lead, helped in no small part by Cortland star Courtney Tennant going to the bench in early foul trouble.
Just as quickly, though, CBA started to go cold, partially due to its own errant shots, and partially due to a Cortland defense that took away all the options and contested every inch of space.
Thus, the Brothers had just 13 total points over the next two periods, plenty of time for the Purple Tigers to assert itself and, by the end of the third quarter, seize a 38-30 lead.
CBA made a spirited late push, pulling within 51-50 on Michelle Wiese’s basket with 1:22 left. But Cortland teammates Maggie Brown and Aubrey VanGorder both hit on free throws in the final minute to put the game away.
Leanne Ockenden led her side with 17 points, but no other CBA player hit double figures as Victoria Johnson and Michelle Damico each had nine points. Wiese and Katie Webster got six points apiece.
On Cortland’s side, Tennant overcame her early foul trouble and finished with 14 points, while Maggie Reagan had eight points in the pivotal third quarter and matched Brown with 11 points.
Meanwhile, Jamesville-DeWitt, who plays at CBA next Friday night, returned from a 2 1/2 week break last Tuesday and methodically took Mexico apart in a 63-33 romp over the Tigers.
Earning its fifth win in a row, the Red Rams bolted out to a 25-6 first-quarter edge, then added a 14-2 domination of the third period, just to be sure.
Jessica Kramer set the pace, with 19 points, while Alyssa Gratien had 13 points and Theresa Hernandez contributed 10 points. Caitlin Cariseo had seven points.
