Though it didn’t see much game action in the opening weeks of 2019, the Jamesville-DeWitt girls basketball team was still hard at work, mostly in practice sessions as a busy and tough stretch loomed.

When it took the court against Central Square last Tuesday night, the state Class A no. 4-ranked Red Rams had played just one game in 23 days.

And so an uneven performance on offense was understandable, but the defense made up for it as J-D beat the Redhawks 51-31.

Clamping down from the outset, the Rams held Central Square to three points in the first quarter, giving it ample time to establish a big lead, one that grew to 30-10 by halftime.

Breezing from there, J-D had Momo LaClair put in 13 points, while Gabby Stickle earned six of her 11 points at the free-throw line. Tracey Edson added nine points as, for the Redhawks, Julia Mann had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Two nights later, against Fulton, the Rams pounded the Red Raiders 70-23, peaking in the second quarter during a 23-5 outburst as all 12 players that saw action earned at least one field goal.

Helped by four 3-pointers, LaClair led J-D with 16 points. Andrea Sumida earned seven of her 13 points at the free-throw line as Edson got eight points. Stickle had seven points as Sydney Baker, Fiona McNeil and Kailey McKenna each got five points.

Fayetteville-Manlius won big last Monday, handling Utica Proctor 62-35 as the Hornets shut down the Raiders throughout the first half, holding them to just six points.

Building a 33-6 edge, F-M eventually saw Lexie Roe earn 19 points, mostly from four 3-pointers, to go with three assists and three steals. Alexis Schneider had 13 points, with Lily Fish getting 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Kendra Broddus got five rebounds.

A night later, the Hornets made it back-to-back wins, toppling Corcoran 47-35 in a game closely contested throughout the early stages, but turning in F-M’s favor when it outscored the Cougars 16-10 in the third quarter.

Then the Hornets held Corcoran to four points in the final period to assure the victory, Roe getting a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds as Schneider gained 11 points and nine rebounds. Fish had nine points, 10 rebounds and four assist as Elena Paolini got six rebounds and Ava Angello contributed five rebounds..

Then, completing a 3-0 week, F-M got a big 67-64 win over Nottingham on Friday, controlling most of the game as fast starts to each half allowed the Hornets to lead 53-38 by the end of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs made up a lot of ground late, but the Hornets still prevailed as Roe set a season mark with 30 points, and Nottingham couldn’t focus on her because Fish poured in 19 points.

With these wins, F-M improved to 8-7 overall, assuring itself of a berth in the Section III Class AA playoffs.

Bishop Grimes went to Homer last Tuesday and fought its way to a 47-39 victory, improving to 5-6 overall with Abby Wilkinson gaining 21 points and 10 rebounds. Lora Marial had 13 points and seven rebounds as Jenna Sloan got eight points and six rebounds.

East Syracuse Minoa lost, 47-20, to Auburn early last week, the entire story written during a first quarter where the Maroons somehow shut out the Spartans and amassed a 26-0 lead.

ESM actually kept up with Auburn the rest of the way, though no one had more than Julianna Barton’s total of five points. All 10 of the Maroons’ players that saw action got at least one field goal.

Rebounding on Thursday night, ESM topped ITC/Fowler 40-24, earning a first-quarter shutout on the way to a 26-3 halftime lead. Angelina Thomason finished with 12 points, while Holly Carr contributed nine points.

On Wednesday night, Christian Brothers Academy took another close loss, 54-52, to Rome Free Academy, not quite able to make a late comeback after trailing the Black Knights 48-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jarvis gained 18 points, with Victoria Hall gaining 10 points. Heitzmann and Emily Hall each got seven points. RFA got 17 points from Tailyn Frost and 10 points apiece from Jace Hunzinger, Amya McLeod and Kelsey McCaskill.

More frustration followed on Friday night against Syracuse Academy of Science as CBA led this game going to the fourth quarter, but could not hold on, falling 65-60 to the Atoms.

Trailing 16-12 after one period, the Brothers zoomed out in front in the second quarter and still led, 46-45, going to the fourth quarter, where Jarvis continued to dazzle, working her total to 25 points, and Heitzmann, helped by five 3-pointers, added 17 points as Emily Hall got eight points.

Yet SAS still inched in front, pushed there by the duo of Erykah Pasha and Freey Pleasants. Pasha had 22 points and 11 rebounds, with Pleasants gathering up 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.