Ever since falling to Liverpool for a second time on Jan. 18, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball team has put together its best stretch of the season.
That good play continued last Tuesday night, when the Northstars hosted West Genesee and got another tremendous performance from Mike Tricarico as it beat the Wildcats 70-56.
Having seen WG at its own holiday tournament Dec. 27-28, and knowing how close it had come to beating Henninger and Nottingham in three separate games this month, C-NS didn’t get too rattled when the visitors inched into a 19-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Instead, the Northstars made a crucial charge, outscoring WG 20-9 the rest of the half, which allowed it to successfully withstand the Wildcats’ comeback attempt in the second half and pull away in the late going.
Tricarico had a double-double, gaining 27 points and adding 10 rebounds. Xavier Brown also had 10 rebounds, his work giving extra shots to the likes of Brian DeMonte, who had 18 points, and Mike Lumia, who earned 14 points. WG lost despite 20 points from Phil Allen, 17 points from Shane Temara and 14 points from Mike Henry.
Friday’s game against Auburn got snowed out and must be made up, part of a busy homestretch for the Northstars that, this week, includes a visit from Utica Proctor (who beat Henninger last Saturday) and a Friday trip to Oswego.
