It would take something exceptional to end Cicero-North Syracuse’s run of Class AA girls basketball state final four appearances in Troy – and Bethlehem provided it.
Hitting all kinds of big shots from the field and at the free-throw line down the stretch, the Section II champion Eagles defeated the Northstars 59-54 in Saturday’s AA regional final at Colgate University’s Cotterell Court.
Above anyone else, it was the sister tandem of Jenna and Gabby Giacone that ended C-NS’s state title dreams. Jenna Giacone had 20 points, while Gabby, along with teammate Emily Wander, finished with 14 points apiece.
“The two sisters are tough,” said C-NS head coach Eric Smith. “And we didn’t have enough tall people to defend them.”
C-NS was coming off a record-setting seventh consecutive Section III title, but had another streak on the line. Five straight years, from 2010 to 2014, the Northstars had also prevailed in the regional round to get to state championship weekend at Troy’s Hudson Valley Community College.
In Bethlehem, though, the Northstars had an exceptional challenger, creating physical mismatches that C-NS’s smaller lineup would have to counter through precise execution. And it almost worked.
The Northstars pushed in front, 15-8, late in the first quarter, capped by a McKayla Roberts 3-pointer. But with Gabby Giacone notched 12 of her 14 points in the first half, C-NS saw that lead vanish, Bethlehem continually finding open looks and converting them until it led, 29-23, going into halftime.
Less than a minute into the third quarter, Gabby Giacone picked up her third foul. When she went to the bench, C-NS pounced with a 10-4 run, including back-to-back baskets from Beth Bonin, that erased the Eagles’ lead.
From that point on, neither team would separate. Up by a point, 37-36, going to the final period, the Northstars answered Emily Wander’s 3-pointer with one from Roberts to go back in front, 40-39, but that was the last time C-NS would lead.
Staying patient on offense, Bethlehem waited until there was good shots – and hit them, whether it was Wander, or Jenna Giacone, taking them. C-NS kept drawing fouls on the other end, and Samantha Tortora hit six straight free throws, keeping the game tied, 48-48.
Then, with 2:41 left, Olivia Hughes hit a 3-pointer from the wing, putting Bethlehem ahead for good. Less than a minute later, Jenna Giacone hit her own jumper that made it 53-48, and after a Roberts free throw, Giacone’s basket with 48.9 seconds left stretched the Northstars’ deficit to six.
Roberts refused to let C-NS surrender, hitting free throws and a 3-pointer with 23.4 seconds left to cut the deficit to 57-54. Both times, though, when Wander was fouled, she made both ends of the one-and-one, sealing Bethlehem’s victory.
All told, Roberts had 20 points. Bonin and Amani Free had nine points apiece, with Tortora getting eight points and Emilee Norris seven points before fouling out in the waning seconds.
Of course, Norris is the only graduating senior for C-NS, who returns everyone else in 2015-16. Smith said that it won’t be any problem keeping his team motivated next winter as it seeks more history.
“This (loss) hopefully can fuel our off-season work, so we don’t have that feeling again,” said Smith. “But we have kids who will work hard and compete.”
