Perhaps it benefited the Fayetteville-Manlius boys basketball team to cool off for a full week following its long-awaited 69-61 win over Henninger on Jan. 18.
With the Black Knights’ “jinx” behind them, the Hornets slid into the crowded state Class AA rankings (no. 29 out of 30), rested up and prepared for the regular-season homestretch, with the top seed for the Section III playoffs in sight.
Once again in front of a raucous Friday-night home crowd, F-M met Auburn, and led by John Schurman and Jake Wittig, the Hornets set a torrid pace, blasting past the Maroons 88-56.
As he always does, Wittig set the pace from the point-guard spot, and it was a fast one. F-M put up 53 points in the first half alone, pulling away from Auburn as Wittig amassed 14 assists and seven steals to spark things.
Though Schurman is always the target of opposing defenses, he still finds open shots. That translated into six 3-pointers on this night as the junior finished with 28 points, to go with eight rebounds.
Tomer Nesher offered lots of support, earning 17 points and four rebounds, while T.J. Wheatley pulled down 10 rebounds and eight points. Louis Avellino and Josh Manzi each had seven points, with Wittig adding six points. Trent Ward and James Feocco led Auburn with 14 points apiece.
F-M stays at home all of this week, too, entertaining Oswego on Tuesday before Baldwinsville arrives on Friday night.
