Far away from the intense spotlight shown on CBA, the area’s other boys basketball teams had their own interesting experiences in the last week of the regular season.
Jamesville-DeWitt would go to Fowler last Tuesday night and, ending a brief two-game skid due to losses to CBA and Bishop Ludden, defeat the Falcons 76-57.
Isaiah Williams, who had struggled at Ludden, poured in 29 points, matching a career high from a Jan. 30 win over Homer. Dom DeRegis also got back in gear, earning 15 points, while James Boeheim contributed 12 points and Jacob Eich added six points. Omar Short and Olufela Blue led Fowler with 17 points apiece.
In a far tougher game Friday night, J-D hosted Cortland, but was up to the task, winning 67-60 in a game that was close throughout the first half, but turned when the Rams outscored the Purple Tigers 16-9 in the third quarter.
To overcome 23 points from Nick Craig and 20 points from Sage Brown, J-D needed a more diverse attack, and got it. Williams led with 18 points, but DeRegis, with 14 points, was close behind, while Boeheim and Adrian Autry both hit a pair of 3-pointers, getting 13 and 12 points, respectively.
East Syracuse Minoa locked down its Class A sectional playoff spot in an impressive effort against visiting Oswego last Tuesday night, Jah-Meer McDuffie leading the way as the Spartans bashed the Buccaneers 64-45.
During a decisive second quarter, ESM nearly blanked Oswego, outscoring them 18-3 to establish a margin it would protect the rest of the way as McDuffie poured in 29 points, including eight successful free throws.
Eyan Underwood offered plenty of support to McDuffie, gaining 16 points, while Brandon Breen had nine points and Ty Barkins got six points. McDuffie and Underwood easily surpassed the Bucs’ top scorer, Zach Gillard, who had just 10 points.
The winning continued Thursday for the Spartans as it pulled away from Chittenango 60-41, ESM gaining a first-half lead and then using an 18-4 push through the third quarter to pull clear. McDuffie led the way, getting 20 points, while Underwood continued his strong late-season work and earned 14 points. Breen and Gabe Howard had six points apiece.
Bishop Grimes was back in action Wednesday night, defeating Hannibal 61-47. A so-so first half left the Cobras clinging to a 22-21 lead at the break, but it used a 21-12 push through the third quarter to gain control.
Steve King spent a lot of time at the foul line, earning 12 of his 18 points through sinking free throws. Outside, Luciano Vigliotti and A.C. Ater combined for five 3-pointers as Vigliotti got 13 points and Ater 10 points. Johnny Wike had seven points and Austin DiRienzo earned six points.
In Friday’s opening round of the Section III Class A playoffs, ESM, the no. 10 seed, visits no. 7 seed Oneida, and the winners gets no. 2 seed CBA in the quarterfinals. J-D, the no. 4 seed, meets no. 13 seed Homer and could get Cortland again if the Rams win and Purple Tigers take out Oswego.
Manlius-Pebble Hill’s late-season surge continued last Tuesday night, against Fabius-Pompey, as the Trojans, clinching a playoff spot, beat the Falcons 53-44.
A 17-9 start got MPH in front, and then it fended off F-P’s many comeback attempts by leaning on Joe Cerio, who amassed 30 points, 15 of them from successful free throws.
Marcus Johnson added nine points, while Jon Cerio gained seven points. No one on the Falcons’ roster had more than the 12 points put up by Gabe Ray as Adrian Vilardi added 10 points.
A night later, the Trojans lost, 78-68, to Tully, watching as the Black Knights steadily built a 60-43 lead through three quarters before a belated comeback attempt.
This happened despite another big night from Joe Cerio, who poured in 35 points, most of it from eight 3-pointers. Johnson had 16 points, with Gerrit Church adding 13 points. Brad Phelps (26 points, nine rebounds, four assists), Evan Visconti (17 points, six rebounds) and Anthony Baker (14 points, 11 rebounds) led Tully’s effort.
MPH’s sixth game in nine days took place Thursday, a 48-27 defeat to Onondaga where the fatigue of the crowded schedule started to show. A close game at halftime got away when the Tigers shut out the Trojans 18-0 in the third quarter as Jon Cerio was held to eight points.
But it led the Trojans to the no. 11 seed in the 18-game sectional Class D bracket, the Trojans visiting no. 6 seed Owen D. Young in Friday’s opening round.
