Every excuse was in place for the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team opening its 2024-25 season at Baldwinsville last Tuesday night.
Mainly, the Northstars hadn’t played a game and the Bees were already 4-0, but all that game experience did not include going through a close battled – and C-NS proved ready for it as it took control in overtime and prevailed 59-50.
Other than leading scorer Kat McRobbie-Taru, most of the lineup returned for C-NS from the side that again reached the sectional final in 2024 and again lost to Liverpool, just as it had in 2023.
Against B’ville, regulation ended 47-47. The Northstars held B’ville without a point for more than seven minutes, including much of the fourth quarter, yet still couldn’t get away, only building a 42-39 advantage before an Olivia Davis 3-pointer ended the drought with 1:40 left and tied the game.
This led to a tense exchange down the stretch, a three-point play by the Northstars’ Leah Benedict answered by a 3-pointer from Maddy Polky.
With 30 seconds to play Meadow Werts converted to put C-NS back up 47-45. Working down the clock, the Bees passed it around until Davis drove and hit a lay-up with five seconds left.
When Werts could not hit a close-in shot as time ran out, it went to overtime 47-47, but the four-minute extra period belonged to C-NS as a go-ahead Werts 3-pointer was followed by baskets from each of the Northstars’ other four starters.
Benedict and Olivia Cook hit on layups. After a 3-pointer from Polky, it was Jilly Howell and Grace Villnave hitting on back-to-baskets to all but put the game away.
The great defense showed by C-NS in the second half mirrored an 11-0 run it made early in the game, which B’ville countered with a 14-0 spurt of its own as it led by as much as 12 in the first half before taking a 28-20 lead to the break.
Benedict, who had a game-high 19 points, led C-NS back, while Werts, Howell and Cook all finished with10 points. Natalie Hollingshead led B’ville with17 points, but was shut out in the fourth quarter and OT as Polky added 16 points.
As a follow-up on Saturday C-NS knocked off Section II power Averill Park 50-46, a major victory given that it took place on the same Hudson Valley Community College court in Troy where the state final four is held each year.
Earlier in the week Liverpool returned from a split of two weekend games in Western New York, starting Dec. 7 with a wild 74-70 defeat to Rochester’s Bishop Kearney.
Down 55-40 after three periods, Liverpool made a stirring fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Kearney 21-6 the rest of regulation, but could not carry it over into OT despite 28 points from A’briyah Cunningham as Gianna Washington earned 12 points, Gia Kinsey 10 points and Lyric Noel nine points.
A day later, Liverpool rebounded to beat Lancaster St. Mary’s 82-73, this time jumping out 22-9 in the first quarter. After St. Mary’s made up most of the ground, Liverpool was able to get clear in the fourth quarter with a 25-17 push.
Cunningham had one of her finest showings yet, her 35 points mostly from 15 successful field goals. Kinsey was joined by Gracie Sleeth as they both earned 12 points, with Angie Kohler adding 10 points. Noel gained eight points.
Far easier was Thursday night’s 72-27 win over Fayetteville-Manlius where, after the Hornets hit some early shots, Liverpool cranked it up, ultimately outscoring F-M 37-6 over the course of the last two quarters.
Cunningham’s 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals led the way, while Angie Kohler put up 13 points and nine rebounds. Kinsey had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds and Washington gained eight points.
Liverpool would take a 5-1 record into SCAC Metro division games this week against West Genesee and Henninger before a Saturday showdown with Class B contender Marcellus.
