CENTRAL NEW YORK – After a busy holiday tournament slate which included three local tournaments, area high school boys basketball teams just hoped the snow would stay away enough to have more activity in the first full week of 2025.
When games did happen, they included some landmark victories, none bigger than East Syracuse Minoa knocking Fulton from the unbeaten ranks last Wednesday night in a tense 50-48 decision.
The Red Dragons entered the night 7-0 and no. 15 in the state Class AA rankings. Among Fulton’s wins was a double-overtime decision over Jamesville-DeWitt and winning at Fayetteville-Manlius’ holiday tournament.
ESM had not beaten Fulton since 2022, but with stellar defense stayed right with the Red Dragons throughout this game as neither side was able to draw clear.
Going into the homestretch it was even, 47-47, and it was Anthony Bryant grabbing a rebound and putting in the basket that ultimately proved the game-winner.
Holding Fulton to a single free throw the rest of the way, ESM was led on offense most of the way by Tyler Quarry, who earned 23 points. Bryant finished with 11 points and Rob Clifford added six points.
This happened as J-D was going through its own thriller with visiting Rochester McQuaid, a game that looked out of reach until a stunning late comeback helped the Red Rams defeat the Knights 61-55.
Off since a Dec. 29 win over Amsterdam, J-D was cold from the field early, limited to seven points in the first quarter. Gradually the Rams started to convert, but it still trailed 46-36 through two periods.
Then it all changed in the final period. The combination of Braden Baker’s defensive energy and a scoring outburst by Jackson Saroney produced a closing 25-8 charge.
Of Saroney’s 19 points, 14 of them came in the fourth quarter. Terrell Willis earned 14 points, with Alan Zanders getting 12 points and Steve Bazile contributing nine points.
Both teams won again on Friday, ESM toppling Oswego 76-68 by gradually rallying from a 23-14 first-quarter deficit and taking the lead by the third quarter.
Five Spartans scored in double figures led by Bryant and Clonan with 15 points apiece. Ezra Wilson-Hefti stepped up with 13 points, Chase Fredericks adding 12 points as Quarry got 11 points.
J-D, meanwhile, took out PSLA-Fowler 75-55, again starting slow but using a 26-10 second quarter to take charge. Zanders had 21 points and Willis 16 points, Bazile getting 14 points and six steals as Saroney earned 12 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Christian Brothers Academy rebounded from its 0-2 mark at its own Manny Leone Holiday Classic last Monday night by putting away Fowler 81-43.
Sharp in every phase of the game, the Brothers steadily built a modest margin and then, in the third quarter, put the Falcons away with a 25-4 blitz.
Ultimately CBA outscored Fowler 46-15 in the second half and Tavin Penix flourished again, earning 31 points and getting outside help from Drew Britton, who earned most of his 17 points from five 3-pointers.
Just as it went to no. 16 in the state Class A rankings with its 7-2 record, Bishop Grimes challenged undefeated Bishop Ludden last Friday night and lost, 75-66, to the Gaelic Knights.
Ludden was hot out of the gate and established a 27-17 advantage by the end of the first quarter. All through the next two periods it mostly stayed that way, and even when Grimes used a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to pull within four, the Gaelic Knights answered it, Jahzar Greene’s 3-pointer with 1:30 left all but settling matters.
Nate Abernethy led the Cobras with 25 points, helped by 15 points apiece from Garang Garang and Bol Garang. For Ludden Greene had 29 points, five rebounds and five assists. Liam Sheard got 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, while all of Joe Dunham’s 18 points came from six 3-pointers.