All the long road trips and tough national opponents are in the rear-view mirror of the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team. Ahead lies a quest for a third straight Section III Class AA title – and perhaps much more.
First, though, came the regular-season part, and the Northstars toyed with two opponents in the last full week of January.
When the Northstars made up its snowed-out Jan. 21 game against Central Square Tuesday night, it didn’t require much sweat as CNS tore past the Red Hawks 66-22.
With the starters in throughout the first half, CNS didn’t stop until it had a 42-10 lead. From there, the reserves gradually took over as Stewart put up 17 points, with Cara Gannett stepping up as she earned 12 points, the same total as Kelsey Mattice. Brittany Paul and Sarah Bowles each had seven points.
Much the same thing happened Thursday night, at West Genesee, where the Northstars showed little mercy in dismissing the Wildcats 74-36.
The first quarter alone saw CNS move ahead 24-6. Continuing to pound away, the Northstars added a 27-5 sprint through the third quarter that made it 68-15.
More than half of WG’s points came in the fourth quarter, with the starters long gone. Stewart finished with 19 points as Paul gained 16 points and Gannett continued to improve, earning 12 points. Mattice had eight points as Bowles and Abbey Timpano produced six points apiece.
CNS (12-2) now gets to rest, its next game not for more than a week as it waits until next Friday’s trip to Baldwinsville.
