ONONDAGA COUNTY – In their own unique manners, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls basketball teams picked up victories in the week leading up to the holiday break.
Back on Dec. 17, the Northstars, a week after its season-opening loss to Bishop Ludden, rode the hot shooting of Alexa Kulakowski to an impressive 71-29 win over Henninger.
Kulakowski could not miss in a first quarter where her 3-point barrage produced 20 points for herself and a 29-3 overall edge for the Northstars.
Though she cooled down a bit, Kulakowski still set a career mark, her 31 points topping the entire Henninger roster as Kathleen Taru picked up 14 points and Sydney Nesci contributed nine points.
Then, a day later, Liverpool hosted West Genesee in the curtain-raiser for the Zebra Classic, relying on a dominant fourth-quarter performance to put away the Wildcats 48-36.
Despite its 0-6 record, WG had played most of its early-season opponents close, and erased an early 16-4 deficit to tie it, 19-19, by halftime, helped by Naveah Wingate and Gianna Washington both going to the bench with three fouls.
Avoiding further foul trouble, Wingate and Washington returned and, after a closely-fought third quarter, combined with their teammates to shut out the Wildcats for much of the final period.
Wingate boosted her total to 20 points, while Jakeira Stackhouse earned all eight of her points in the second half. Julia Wike had seven points and Kaylyn Sweeney added six points as Erin DiPaola, with 11 points, paced WG.
Then C)NS took its turn against the Wildcats last Tuesday night, and wasted little time seizing command as it held WG to just five points in the first quarter.
Gradually, the margin increased, to 25-14 at halftime and 33-20 before a final period where the Northstars had its best production of the night to close out a 51-33 decision for its second win in a row.
Kulakowski again led the way, and while not quite as productive as she was against Henninger, her 23 points still le the way as Alita Carey-Santangelo stepped up to earn 14 points and Taru added six points.
