Unlike many seasons, the Jamesville-DeWitt and Christian Brothers Academy girls basketball teams did not go head-to-head this winter, but in the end these neighbors could not avoid each other.
After a third consecutive state title, the Red Rams had to get past the Brothers in Saturday’s Section III Class A semifinal at Onondaga Community College’s Allyn Hall, and while there were some lulls, J-D still rolled to a 61-24 victory.
Even with a solid regular season and a come-from-behind effort to win at no. 4 seed Oswego in the quarterfinal round, CBA knew its task against the Rams was a steep one.
And J-D made sure the Brothers never got into the argument. At one stretch during the first quarter, the Rams reeled off 14 consecutive points, combining its potent attack with a defense that forced CBA into a string of mistakes.
Mostly, it was the senior tandem of Jamie Boeheim working their way to the net. Boeheim set the tone with the game’s first two baskets, one an outside jumper and the other a steal and layup.
Hair took on a far greater role. All game long, her vast array of skills were on display, especially in the game’s middle stages, where she took charge whenever J-D needed a spark.
By the time she exited early in the fourth quarter, Hair had 22 points, nearly matching CBA’s entire output, while Gabby Stickle earned 11 points. Boeheim had nine points and Momo LaClair got seven points. Brooke Jarvis paced the Brothers with seven points.
J-D will now face no. 2 seed Indian River in the sectional final next Friday at 6 p.m. at the Carrier Dome after IR defeated Whitesboro 67-59 in its semifinal game, led by 30 points from Paige Leonard.
Earlier that day at OCC, Bishop Grimes had a chance to earn its own return trip to a sectional title game, but dropped the Class B semifinal to South Jefferson 54-45.
This game offered a chance for the no. 7 seed Cobras to earn a title-game rematch with top seed and defending champion Bishop Ludden, who had held on to beat Westhill 67-65 in the other semifinal.
South Jefferson brought a 21-1 record and no. 12 state ranking into the game, yet Grimes contained them well throughout most of the first half, playing consistent, tough defense.
However, it came at a price. Kyra Grimshaw and Abby Wilkinson, the Cobras’ top two scorers, both got into early foul trouble, which didn’t initially hurt the Cobras as banked-in 3-pointers by Maria Naylor and Jenna Sloan helped produce a 21-21 halftime tie.
With things still in doubt, the Spartans switched up its defense, going from half-court to full-court pressure, and the payoff came with a 10-0 third-quarter run as the Cobras spent most of the period in a prolonged drought.
Ultimately, Grimes fell behind 48-34, and while it made a brief surge to get within six, 48-42, with two minutes left, the Spartans were able to hang on.
Naylor had a game-high 15 points, all from five 3-pointers. Wilkinson had 12 points, with Sloan getting seven points. For South Jefferson, Jenna Zimmerman led with 13 points as Abby Piddock got 10 points. Alyssa Stevenson added nine points.
