Though the wins and losses all count in its overall record, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team knew that its trips to various tournaments late in December served a different purpose.
The point, as in years past, was to toughen up the Northstars and prepare them for both the challenges the rest of the regular season would provide, plus the month-long post-season gauntlet, should C-NS get that far.
In the first part of this, C-NS had no trouble, blowing past a pair of New York City foes (Nazareth and Monsignor Scanlan) during the Francis Lewis Tournament in Queens on Dec. 20-21.
But when the Northstars made it to Delaware for the Diamond State Classic that got underway a week later, it met Ursuline Academy, the Delaware state champions, and saw a third-quarter drought prove costly in a 47-40 defeat to the Raiders.
Trailing after one quarter, C-NS closed the gap to one, 25-24, by halftime, only to go cold in the third period, held to just two points as Ursuline ran out to a 39-26 lead, too much for the Northstars to overcome.
McKayla Roberts, in defeat, poured in 13 points, while Amani Free had 10 points. MaryKate Bonnani had a season-best eight points, but Samantha Tortora and Beth Bonin were held to one basket apiece, and Emilee Norris managed just five points.
Two days later, C-NS faced St. Anthony High School, from Long Beach, California, and quickly got back into the win column, starting fast and never looking back in a 63-48 victory over the Saints.
Turnovers that led to easy baskets in the first quarter pushed the Northstars to a 25-12 edge. Though it cooled off the rest of the half and saw St. Anthony’s close within four, 30-26, at the break, C-NS promptly shut things down, holding the Saints to five points in the third quarter and regaining control.
More than half of C-NS’s points came from successful free throws. Roberts kept drawing contact, and kept making foul shots, 11 in all, on her way to a team-high 23 points. Six of Bonin’s 10 points came at the line, with Free also earning 10 points and Norris improving to seven points.
A day later, the Northstars met Caravel Academy (Delaware), and against the Buccaneers it was tight until the fourth quarter, when C-NS cranked up its defense and produced a 43-34 victory.
Caravel, slowing down the game’s tempo, led 19-16 at halftime. But the Northstars stayed patient and, after tying it in the third quarter, limited the Bucs to three points in the final period as it slipped in front for good.
Spreading its production around, C-NS saw Roberts lead with 13 points, but Norris finish close behind with 12 points as Bonin finished with 11 points.
Far closer to home, Liverpool took a road trip east and nearly upended 6-1 Utica Proctor last Tuesday afternoon before taking a 42-39 defeat to the Raiders.
During the third quarter, the Warriors, down 22-14 after a low-scoring first half, came to life and almost caught up, pulling within one, 32-31. From there, it was close all the way to the end, but Liverpool could not quite catch up.
Jenna Wike still managed 13 points, while Drew Dufrane contributed 12 points. No other Liverpool player had more than two field goals, though, as Domizchelle Williams (13 points) and Ashante Smallwood (12 points) led Proctor to victory.
