CENTRAL NEW YORK -Typically, an event like the boys basketball Peppino’s Invitational would grab center stage at a venue like Christian Brothers Academy, which hosted the second day of annual season-opening showcase last weekend.
But with CBA football playing for(and ultimately winning) a state Class AA championship, the Brothers would be at less than full strength when it opened last Friday against Jamesville-DeWitt on the Red Rams’ home court and then followed up facing Cicero-North Syracuse a day later.
Despite the circumstances, CBA found itself with a double-digit lead on J-D in the third quarter, only to have the Red Rams roar back with a strong all-around effort and win by a 58-50 margin, the first by J-D in this series since 2019.
An evenly-played first half ended with the Brothers out in front 25-23, and it stretched out that lead as the second half got underway, only to have J-D get key contributions from the bench and, with hot outside shooting, make up most of the ground.
Then, in the final period, the Rams outscored CBA 19-8, proving clutch at the free-throw line, too. Trent Hughes converted seven foul shots on his way to 19 points overall.
Alan Zanders had 13 points, with Jack Hazelton getting 10 points and Jackson Saroney adding nine points. Most of CBA’s production came from Tavin Penix, who had 18 points, and Nick Genovese, who got 13 points.
Fayetteville-Manlius was here, too, taking its own shot at J-D on Saturday night, and it turned out to be a thriller that spilled into overtime before the Rams were able to outlast the Hornets 74-66.
A big second quarter had allowed F-M to overcome an early deficit and lead, 32-31, at the break. They would go back and forth the entire second half, constantly trading the lead before J-D, in the four-minute OT period, finally took command.
Hughes, in particular, burned the Hornets, setting a new career mark with 31 points that included a trio of 3-pointers. He got help from Saroney, who finished with 14 points, and Zanders, who got 10 points.
In prevailing, J-D overcame 30 points from the Hornets’ Chris Shanguhyia, who converted on six 3-pointers. Ryder Baldwin connected four times beyond the arc on his way to 16 points as Chris Cleary added eight points.
Right after that, CBA met C-NS and lost, 74-43, to the Northstars, who steadily pulled away behind the trio of Andrew Benedict, Nate Francis (17 points apiece) and Rosco Polos (16 points) as Ethan Harris paced the Brothers with 15 points.
F-M had already played once last Wednesday night, dropping a tight 51-48 decision to Utica Proctor as it never really was able to recover from the Raiders holding it to just five points in the first quarter.
In catch-up mode the rest of the way, the Hornets did get 19 points from Shanghuyia. but he didn’t have much help as James Kuss got eight points and Cleary seven points. Qua-Dir John led Proctor, picking up 24 points.
Bishop Grimes played at CBA Saturday against Nottingham, a battle of possible Class A contenders – and the Cobras were quite impressive in a 60-42 victory over the Bulldogs.
A close game turned when Grimes, who went 16-6 a season ago, held Nottingham to five points in the second quarter. This established a 28-18 advantage that the Cobras would nurse well the rest of the way.
Nate Abernethy, back for his junior season, had nearly half of Grimes’ production, finishing with 25 points overall. Dan Shaw and Deng Ayeil each finished with eight points, while Frank Sgroi and Vince Reader had six points apiece.
Of all the local sides, only East Syracuse Minoa did not play in the Peppino’s event. The Spartans began its season last Friday against Institute of Technology Central and lost, 49-36, to the Eagles.
No ESM player scored in double figures, though Tyler Quarry and A.J. Bryant came close with nine points apiece. Austin Betts added six ponts as Nyquan Gilbert and Antwan Aiken led ITC with 13 points apiece.
