CENTRAL NEW YORK – At least for its first three games, the Bishop Grimes girls basketball team displayed a dependable winning formula.

The Cobras had won Dec. 8 at West Genesee and, returning to that same general area three days later, proved stingy and clinical in a 60-39 victory over Westhill.

Nearly perfect at the start, Grimes bolted to a 20-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, which allowed it to absorb a second-period drought and still lead 25-21 at the break.

Gradually, the second half restored the early margin – and then some, with Jenna Sloan doing everything as she finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and two block.

Unlike with Westhill’s Catherine Dadey (who had a game-high 21 points), the Cobras could spread it around. Naywel Aweil had 13 points and 11 rebounds, plus four steals and three assists, while Rosalie Vincent had her own double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Natalie Musolino earned seven points.

All of this made Wednesday’s 34-25 defeat to Skaneateles a bit more surprising.

Grimes simply could not get its attack going against a stingy Lakers defense except for Sloan’s 10 points and Ayeil’s seven points. Maddy Ramsgard (15 points) and Ayla Pas’cal (10 points) would pace Skaneateles.

Christian Brothers Academy continued its strong start with last Tuesday’s 41-35 win over Jordan-Elbridge, a game where the Brothers trailed at halftime and still found itself tied, 27-27, going to the fourth quarter.

Then CBA outscored the Eagles 15-9 the rest of the way, seeing Amelia Bonacci work her total to 15 points as Sydney Vaughn got eight points and Chianna Williams added seven points.

Fayetteville-Manlius sported a 3-1 record going into Monday’s game at Oswego and, helped by a punishing defense, rolled past the Buccaneers 42-17.

Oswego managed just six field goals all night. Meanwhile, each of the 10 Hornets players that saw action got on the scoreboard, spreading it around as Ashley Schneider led with 10 points, Lauren Hoffman got eight points and Evie Kawa contributed seven points.

When F-M met up against its neighbors from East Syracuse Minoa a night after topping Oswego, it was again the Hornets’ defense at the forefront during a 44-19 victory over the Spartans.

Remaining balanced on the other end, F-M saw Kawa lead with 11 points, Angello gain 10 points and Lydia Davidson step up with eight points as Lauren Clark got six points. Angelina Polcaro led ESM with nine points.

Prior to this, ESM fell 55-32 to Henninger on Dec. 10, the Black Knights jumping out 21-2 on the Spartans in the first quarter in a move that proved decisive.

Aniyah Jones had 10 points for ESM, helped by seven points from Polcaro and six points from Maura Leib. Henninger’s Tayajah Scott hit four 3-pointers to account for most of her 21 points.

Jamesville-DeWitt also won on Dec. 10, again leaning on its defense during a 38-33 victory over Cortland.

‘The Red Rams limited the Purple Tigers to four points in the first quarter. Then its attack got going, which led to a 23-14 halftime margin that weathered Cortland’s late-game push.

Aniyah Neal earned six of her team-high 12 points at the free-throw line. Ava Sandroni gained 10 points, while Victoria Payne finished with eight points.

Up against Liverpool Tuesday night, J-D was on even terms with the Warriors most of the night, but a third quarter where it got outscored 15-4 proved costly in a 52-38 defeat.

Neal, who had 13 points, was the only J-D player to score in double figures. By contrast, Liverpool had three of them as Naveah Wingate and Gianna Washington got 13 points apiece and Julia Wike added 11 points.