Amid what, at times, has proven a rough season for area high school boys basketball teams, Bishop Grimes continues to surge and Jamesville-DeWitt keeps battling its way toward victories, too.
No win by the Cobras this season may have proven bigger than last Tuesday night’s 68-56 victory over Chittenango, who reached the Section III Class B finals a season ago and returned most of its roster this winter.
When the Bears surged in the second quarter and took a 35-27 lead to halftime, Grimes appeared to be in trouble. But that was before a third period where the Cobras pressured on defense, scored on the other end and used a 25-10 push to go in front for good.
David Mo hit for 22 points, including five 3-pointers. T.J. Bradford got 13 points, with Nick Davis adding 12 points. Jack Gutchess got nine points and Skylar Gashi six points as Zach Falkenburg led the Bears with 16 points.
J-D had to battle through last Tuesday’s game with Cortland, but still prevailed 60-51 to move to 8-3 on the season. Steadily, the Red Rams built a 26-15 halftime lead on the Purple Tigers and protected that margin the rest of the way.
Payton Shumpert proved tough to stop, his 22 points including five 3-pointers. Takuya LaClair had 11 points, while Matt Cieplicki had nine points and Marcus Johnson contributed eight points.
Fayetteville-Manlius had to deal with undefeated, state Class AA no. 9-ranked Liverpool last Tuesday, but made it a festive occasion, even if the Hornets lost, 72-41, to the Warriors.
F-M had deemed this game for the inaugural “Teddy Bear Toss”, raising funds for charity by having fans collect teddy bears and throw them onto the court on the occasion of the game’s first 3-pointer.
Liverpool’s Peter Cerrone hit that 3-pointer in the opening minute. Once the teddy bears were cleared, the Warriors streaked out to a 20-6 lead by the end of the first quarter and didn’t get caught.
Khai Pugh, with 12 points, was the only F-M player to score more than two field goals. Liverpool spread out its attack as Noah Issakainen got 13 points and Allan Wilmes added 12 points. Nas Johnson finished with 10 points.
Bouncing back Thursday night, F-M defeated West Genesee 57-47, breaking open a close contest by outscoring the Wildcats 15-6 in the third quarter as Pugh, with 19 points, shared scoring honors with WG’s Will Amica.
The difference was that Pugh got help from Brad Procita, who earned six of his 12 points at the free-throw line, and Tyler Schneider, who hit a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 11 points overall. F-M held the Wildcats’ Lucas Sutherland to just nine points.
Before it went to Le Moyne College Sunday to face Bishop Ludden in the latest incarnation of the “Holy War” at the Pathfinder Bank Classic, Christian Brothers Academy took a 65-62 home defeat to Syracuse Academy of Science.
Steadily, the Atoms built a 56-40 lead through three periods, but the Brothers almost pulled off a miraculous comeback, charging late as Avion Othman finished with 18 points.
SirVocea Dennis and Ryan Mackenzie each got 12 points, with Aaron Clendenin adding 10 points, but SAS held on with Noreon Williams getting 17 points and Zachaeus Smith contributing 10 points.
Then it was CBA against Ludden, a game that the Brothers did not let get too far out of hand, even pulling within single digits in the final minute before falling to the Gaelic Knights 69-56.
Ludden took control with a 15-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters. From there, CBA fell behind as much as 21 points (50-29) before creeping within eight, 62-54, with less than a minute left.
Othman, with 22 points, again led the Brothers, with Clendenin (12 points) and Dennis (11 points) helping out. Ludden was well-balanced as Sh’ikem Lee had 16 points, with Jai Smith and Joe Connor each getting 14 points and NicButton adding 13 points.
East Syracuse Minoa was overwhelmed last Tuesday night at Auburn, falling 89-69 as the Maroons raced out to a 27-14 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Spartans calmed down, only to get outscored 29-20 in a wild, decisive third quarter as Evan Donovan (26 points) and Scott Minnoe (21 points) led Auburn’s efforts.
Still, four ESM players scored in double figures, paced by Kevin Richardson, who had 17 points as Gabe Holloman and Ermin Karic got 16 points apiece. Ermin Alemic added 11 points.
Several games set for Friday got postponed by weather, including a showdown between Bishop Grimes and Bishop Ludden, plus J-D’s trip to Fulton.
