Here was the Fayetteville-Manlius girls basketball team’s big chance to get noticed as it took its shot at two-time defending Section III Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse on Friday night. And the Hornets did put out a first-rate effort, but again found Northstars junior Breanna Stewart far too difficult to handle as it lost by a score of 66-47. As CNS has risen to the top of the local Class AA ranks, it has largely done so at the Hornets’ expense. The Northstars beat F-M in both the 2009 Section III finals and in last year’s sectional semifinals. Given the records of both teams this year, it’s likely they could reunite in the post-season, so it was vital for F-M to show that it wasn’t completely intimidated – and for CNS to reassert its dominance. In a way, they both succeeded in their respective missions. Pushing the tempo from the start, CNS used its active defense to harass F-M all over the court. Eventually, that paid off as, with a 10-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters, it pulled away to a 26-10 lead, threatening to make it a rout. Yet the Hornets made sure the rout never materialized, even though two starters, Ali Pliszka and Charlotte Beers, had three fouls apiece in the first half. Pliszka had six of her 18 points late in the first half as part of an 8-2 run that cut the Northstars’ margin to 35-25 at the break. Gradually, CNS restored its lead through several factors, including the aggressive play of Brittany Paul, who harassed F-M’s guards on one end and, on the other end, delivered 17 points, six of them in the fourth quarter. Kelsey Mattice chimed in with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and capped her night with a behind-the-back pass to set up Paul’s final basket. Mostly, though, it was Stewart in the spotlight again. Her first basket of the night was a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and though F-M’s front line did everything within its power to deny her space, it usually led to free throws – and Stewart made 12 of the 13 foul shots she attempted. Aside from Pliszka, Bri Dolan finished with 12 points, while Alexis Rios had 11 points. Beers, with the foul trouble, had just one field goal, and all of Kiley Shoemaker’s four points were free throws – a direct result of the power of Stewart’s inside presence. The Hornets did not have the easiest time in last Tuesday’s game at Henninger, struggling on the offensive side but still beating the Black Knights 43-28. All through the first half, F-M had difficulty generating baskets. The only break was that Henninger wasn’t taking full advantage, allowing the Hornets to limp into halftime ahead 14-12. A strong third quarter more than doubled F-M’s output, and it pulled clear. Pliszka finished with 15 points, with Beers adding 10 points and Rios adding eight points. F-M’s boys team continued its season-long struggles, unable to contain Henninger on its home court in a 65-49 loss to the Black Knights. Early on, the Hornets had some hope, leading 13-11 going into the second quarter before Henninger doubled F-M’s output 20-10 in the second period to move ahead for good. Unable to keep up, the Hornets saw John Schurman stick out, the freshman recording 21 points. No one else hit double figures, though, as Mike Palermo (eight points) came closest. Henninger saw all five of its starters get eight or more points, with Markell Stith (16 points) and Tevin Chisholm (14 points) leading the way. F-M then got a second shot at defending Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse, a team it lost to 94-44 back on Dec. 30. But on the same court, the same thing happened as the Northstars beat them 76-30, all of the damage coming in the late three periods as CNS outscored the Hornets 56-16. Kevin Putnam led the vistors with eight points as Elliott Boyce (17 points) and Zach Coleman (15 points) set the CNS pace.