For the second time in as many months, the Fayetteville-Manlius girls basketball team worked its way past Christian Brothers Academy, and Kiley Shoemaker had much to do with it.
The Hornets’ senior center, who came into the contest averaging less than seven points per game this winter, exploded for 26 points and led her side’s fourth-quarter surge as F-M beat the Brothers 61-45.
Except for the team on top, this game little resembled the two teams’ first meeting, when the Hornets mostly relied on strong defense to beat CBA 49-28 in the Traci Zimmer Tournament at Central Square on Dec. 17.
Shoemaker only had seven points that night, a number she topped early in the second quarter of the rematch. She had 14 points overall in the first half, as she and reserve Madison Gates, with eight points, helped F-M overcome three early fouls that benched Charlotte Beers for much of the first half.
CBA’s own top scorer, Marisa Romeo, poured in 14 points during the first two periods, and Kelsey Johnson added seven points, but F-M still carried a 32-25 lead to the half.
Determined to reverse the results of their earlier encounter, the Brothers went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter and moved in front, 40-37.
Still trailing 41-39 going to the fourth quarter, F-M hit another gear. Shoemaker set the tone with four inside baskets as Rachel Miller and Lauren Getman also hit key baskets.
On the defensive end, the Hornets forced the Brothers outside and increased pressure on the ball, leading to a series of turnovers, including three steals from Beers. All told, the Hornets outscored CBA 22-4 in those last eight minutes.
Miller finished with 12 points and Getman contributed 10 points. Romeo, before fouling out, managed 21 points as Johnson finished with 14 points, but CBA had just five combined field goals outside of its pair of stars.
Both F-M and CBA were supposed to play again 24 hours later – the Hornets against Oswego, the Brothers against Mexico – but those games were snowed out.
