Though it took a home defeat to Fayetteville-Manlius on Jan. 23, the East Syracuse-Minoa boys basketball team had no time to fret about it.
The Spartans were back on the court 24 hours later, at Phoenix, and it led from start to finish in a 53-42 victory over the Firebirds that clinched a winning record for 2011-12.
ESM held Phoenix to six points in the first quarter and quickly gained a comfortable lead. Though the Firebirds closed within 23-17 at halftime, the Spartans doubled that margin in the third period with its most sustained offensive outburst of the night.
Keith Caiello set the pace with 19 points, hitting on a trio of 3-pointers. No one else hit double figures, but Bobby Campese managed nine points as Dan MacDougall chimed in with eight points and Tyler Johnson contributed six points.
Now with 10 wins of the season, ESM sought no. 11 on Friday, at Chittenango. It didn’t prove easy, but with Caiello enjoying the best night of his varsity career, the Spartans held off the Bears 72-68.
Caiello did most of his damage in the first half, constantly getting open outside shots and constantly converting. Overall, he would sink seven 3-pointers on his way to 31 points, with ample help from Sean Richardson (11 points) and Johnson (10 points) along the way.
Those shots helped the Spartans build a 37-24 halftime lead, but the Bears chipped away in an active second half as Devin Phelps (24 points) and Greg Jasek (23 points) led the comeback. Still, ESM held on, improving to 11-4 on the season.
ESM’s girls team would also enjoy a successful week, starting last Tuesday as it rose to the .500 mark (7-7) and locked up a playoff berth by beating Phoenix 51-38.
While never making any spectacular run, the Spartans outscored the Firebirds in every single period, gaining a 26-20 lead by halftime and making sure Phoenix never got closer.
Rebecca Nelson got most of her 14 points from hitting on three 3-pointers. Inside, Gabby Eure managed 11 points, while Julie Maselli poured in 10 points. Brittney Sears led Phoenix with 14 points.
Now looking for a winning mark, ESM attained it, at least for the time being, Friday night by toppling Chittenango 49-40.
The Spartans moved in front by holding the Bears to five points in the first quarter. From there, it matched baskets with Chittenango, withstanding Kaitlin Antelmi’s 26 points because it had far more offensive options.
Eure led with 10 points, just ahead of Nelson, with nine points, and Brooke Gilkey, who contributed eight points. Maselli and Stephanie Edmonds added to the depth with seven points apiece.
Each of the ESM teams would face Christian Brothers Academy Tuesday night before meeting Fulton later this week.
CBA’s boys team swept through the weekend, ripping Phoenix 66-40 on Friday night as it held the Firebird to 11 first-half points to take a comfortable lead. Charlie Russo’s 18 points included four 3-pointers, with Dylan Haines adding 15 points. Aaron Morgan had 10 points and Cam MacPherson chimed in with eight points.
Then the Brothers (8-6) made up its snowed-out Jan. 13 game with Mexico on Saturday, beating the Tigers 47-34. CBA opened on a 15-3 run, and while its offense was uneven the rest of the way, it never got seriously threatened as Kevin Bailey stepped up for 13 points and Russo added 12 points. Haines recorded nine points.
The CBA girls beat Phoenix 60-48 on Friday night, racing to a quick 16-7 edge and using a 19-7 push through the third quarter to get clear of the Firebirds. Marisa Romeo led with 19 points, while Kelsey Johnson (15 points) and Alyssa Pitonxo (11 points) also hit double figures.
