Weather made the Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball team stew for a week in the wake of its Jan. 4 loss to Henninger.
As it turned out, though, the unscheduled rest helped the Northstars refresh – and it turned around and won three times in a span of six days to improve to 7-2.
When the Northstars went back on the court last Tuesday night at Oswego, it methodically took the Buccaneers apart in the first half and breezed to a 72-54 victory.
All through the first half, CNS maintained full control, continuing to build its margin until it had a 40-19 edge. That sort of domination did not last, but Oswego could not inch much closer.
Ten different players scored, with Zach Coleman again leading the way as he posted 21 points. Elliott Boyce had a season-best 15 points, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers as Riley Moonan and Vaughndell Brantley each finished with seven points.
CNS then hosted Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday, the same team it throttled 94-44 on this same home court on Dec. 30.
The sequel proved no different, as the Northstars this time crushed the Hornets 76-30. Other than an active first quarter that saw F-M make a fair share of baskets, it was never a contest as CNS outscored them 56-16 in the last three periods.
Boyce’s fine play continued as he led the Northstars with 17 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Coleman gained 15 points as Josh Williams and reserve Bryan Quartier got eight points apiece. Brantley, Moonan and Shakir Thomas each got six points.
On Sunday, the Northstars went to Erie, Pa., to play in the Martin Luther King Jr. Classic against Erie East – and won again, this time using a big late run to prevail 61-48.
For much of the first three quarters, CNS was shaky on the offensive side, and Erie East pounced, steadily building a 43-33 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter.
What followed was the single most impressive run of the entire season as the Northstars stunned the Warriors with a 26-3 outburst that covered eight minutes of clock.
Ten of those points came from Coleman, who earned 19 points overall. Boyce was right behind, finishing with 16 points as Andrew Johnson came off the bench to earn 10 points.
CNS is back home Tuesday to face Nottingham and will make a Friday-night trip to Central Square.
