A 6-0 tear through December helped put the Jamesville-DeWitt girls basketball team in a place its male counterparts know quite well – the state Class A top 10.
To be exact, the Red Rams are in the no. 9 spot, and following its two wins in the Pete Hyde Tournament at Johnson City on Dec. 28 and 29, J-D returned to action in the OHSL Freedom division and remained in top form against a pair of city foes.
First, the Rams took out Fowler 64-25 last Wednesday night, complementing its usual strong defense with an attack that produced baskets on a consistent basis throughout the game.
Leading 35-10 at halftime, J-D did not let up as all 10 players that saw action got at least one field goal. Kayleigh Cavanaugh led the way with 15 points, while Cydney Goodrum put up 11 points. Abbey Smith had eight points as Katie Maroney, Arriell Mussi and Alyssa Robens each had six points.
A non-league game against Corcoran followed on Saturday afternoon, and though it was a close call, J-D kept its poise and pulled out a 44-39 win over the Cougars.
Though not quite resembling the powerhouse it has been in years past, Corcoran traded baskets with the Rams through an active first quarter. Both teams struggled the rest of the half, though, and at the break J-D clung to a 22-20 lead.
Even as the Rams added to its margin in the third quarter, it could not quite get away, needing to work until the wire to remain unbeaten.
Cavanaugh led that effort, getting eight of her 19 points at the free-throw line, while Goodrum earned 10 points. No Cougars player scored in double figures, though LaBreya Steward and Mary Morgan (nine points each) came close.
Meanwhile, the J-D boys team, ending an 11-day break (it had last played at Mexico on Dec. 23), only had one game in the first week of 2012, hosting Fowler and easily topping the Falcons 71-41.
Over the first three periods, the Rams built a 55-26 lead, which allowed everyone on the roster to see some action.
Tyler Cavanaugh led with 14 points, while Dajuan Coleman put up 12 points. Jafar Kinsey and Brandon Schunck each had nine points, with Jordan Evans (eight points), Casey Williams (seven points) and Dan Canfield (six points) close behind.
Both of the J-D teams had their lone regular-season encounter with East Syracuse-Minoa on Tuesday night. As the girls side stays home Friday to face Nottingham, the boys Red Rams go to Erie, Pa., to meet elite competition at the Burger King Classic.
