ONONDAGA COUNTY – In their own manners, boys basketball teams from Bishop Grimes and East Syracuse Minoa continued to find some early-season success.
Grimes had started on Dec. 3 in dramaatic fashion, beating Nottingham 57-55 in the Peppino’s Invitational when Erik Wall converted with 3.8 seconds left to break a 55-55 tie.
Far easier for the Cobras was last Tuesday’s 72-43 victory over Skaneateles, where it broke the game open with a deep, well-balanced attack that outscored the Lakers 44-20 over the course of the second and third quarters.
Erik Wall, with 11 points, led the way, but four others – Jacob Fell, Chris Kulakowski, Jon Farstler and Nate Abernethy – earned nine points apiece, with Deng Garang adding eight points.
All of this was a prelude to a big game Tuesday night when Grimes hosts reigning sectional Class B champion Chittenango before facing University Prep Saturday in the Zebra Classic at Liverpool High School.
As for ESM, it followed up an impressive Dec. 2 opening win at Skaneateles by doing the same last Tuesday against Whitesboro, rolling past the Warriors 65-37.
A 14-4 first quarter set the tone, and ESM remained relentless on defense most of the way, getting clear with a third-quarter scoring barrage where it netted 23 points to Whitesboro’s 10.
Andrew Graham and Cole Thomas led the Spartans with 11 points apiece. Austin Betts, with 10 points, was close behind as Tristan Henderson had eight points, Tyler Quarry seven points and Anthony Bryant six points.
Christian Brothers Academy won last Tuesday night against visiting Baldwinsville, topping the Bees 62-51 thanks to a strong finishing kick.
Up 30-23 at halftime, the Brothers saw B’ville outscore them 20-12 in the third quarter to go out in front, but CBA answered well thanks to a three-pronged attack.
Braeden Burns finished with 18 points, while Steve DeRegis got 17 points, including three 3-poitners, and Luke Boule had 12 points. For B’ville, Jason Bifulco (16 points) and Eli Taft (13 points) led the way.
Manlius-Pebble Hill fell to 0-3 last Wednesday with a 61-41 defeat to Fabius-Pompey, much of it due to a second half where the Falcons outscored the Trojans 26-12.
However, the Trojans broke its skid Friday with a 67-28 romp over Pulaski where James Wildhack outscored the Blue Devils all by himself, with most of his 30 points coming from eight 3-pointers. Qon Ewing threw in 22 points, with Kevin Frastastitnav adding 11 points.
Jamesville-DeWitt returned to the court Saturday and lost, 67-58, to Section II’s Saratoga Springs, the Red Rams’ third consecutive defeat after falling to CBA and West Genesee the week before.
