By John Schiano
MaxPreps.com
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Who would have blamed the Northstars had Cicero-North Syracuse given up on its girls basketball season two days after it started?
Two-year starting point guard Morgan Nandin broke an ankle a minute into the second game of the season, leaving a sophomore to run the offense. A mortal-lock 20-win season looked as though it was about to be reduced to 16 or 18 wins and some nice parting gifts after another loss in the Section III Class A semifinals.
But a funny thing is happening: C-NS is getting along just fine with its remaining backcourt players sharing responsibilities and staying focused on fundamentals. It’s resulted in a 4-0 start following Saturday’s 48-34 triumph over Rush-Henrietta during the Syracuse vs. Rochester Shootout at Pittsford Sutherland.
Now that Shenise Johnson has graduated to the University of Miami, Rush-Henrietta is no threat to win a fourth straight New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship. But the Royal Comets and defending Section III champion Syracuse Corcoran, a 55-49 loser to C-NS last week, will both be contenders in their respective regions, so the Northstars are building an early-season body of work that demands attention in the aftermath of a 19-4 season that ended with a loss to Oswego in the sectional semis.
"I'd say we're better together, more of a team and more of a complete package than we were last year," senior guard Marybeth Egan said. "Offensively we share the ball and look for each other, and we're balanced. . . . Our potential is that we can go very far."
The confidence is merited when you have a 6-foot-3 freshman center who’s good now and could be great by 2012. Breanna Stewart, a second-year varsity player, scored a game-high 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 11 shots against Rush-Henrietta.
She showed fluid moves, an ability to use either hand and a willingness to part with the ball when it meant setting up a teammate for an open 12-footer.
“Our theory is to work it into the post and then work it out,” Egan said after scoring 12 points.
"We're deep and we have a 'bail-out' player," coach Eric Smith said. "We can throw it into Bree and she can get us points when we're not getting any. And defensively she'll bail us out when we get beat on the dribble."
The Northstars actually don't have too many worries in that department. Though they certainly miss the 5-foot-5 Nandin, who broke her ankle a minute into a 60-48 win over Utica Proctor, sophomore Kelsey Mattice is handling the point just fine for now while Egan and Ashley Waldron provide stability.
If Nandin – a Syracuse University recruit in softball – gets back on the court, C-NS could be championship material in March.
More Girls Basketball
* Oswego scored the final seven points to defeat Fairport, 58-57, in the most competitive match-up in the loaded Syracuse vs. Rochester Shootout. Trailing 57-51, Brooke Reifinger made a layup, Cari Reed (17 points) hit a three-pointer and Chris Scaccia (10 points) made two free throws after being fouled with 3.2 seconds left.
* Mexico dominated Greece Arcadia, 62-46 on the strength of Evie Josbena's 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Chrissy Sawyer added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Angie Josbena had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
* Corcoran topped Pittsford Mendon, 55-50, as Irene Hudson posted 13 points and 14 rebounds.
* Pittsford Sutherland beat Jamesville-DeWitt, 55-44, with a 21-8 third-quarter run. Bridget Ryan had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Jess Graen chipped in with 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
* Greece Athena went on a 20-7 first-quarter run and beat Liverpool, 59-30. Nicole Bini scored 16 of her 19 points in the first half.
* Newark senior Alyssa Fenyn, a Virginia Tech recruit, scored 31 points in a 78-24 rout of Midlakes to go over 2,000 career points. In the same game, teammate Marissa Bunce hit for 19 points to reach 1,000 for her career.
Boys Basketball
* Well-traveled Boys & Girls senior guard Lamont Samuell Jr. hit a layup with 34.5 seconds left to give the Kangaroos their first lead of the second half and set up a 58-55 upset of Christ The King at St. John’s University in the PSAL-CHSAA Challenge.
Samuell, who attended Paul Robeson as a sophomore and Adelphi Academy last year, scored a game-high 19 points, including two free throws with nine seconds left.
* In a battle between the Buffalo area's best teams, Niagara Falls beat Nichols, 57-56, on sophomore Kenny Stokes' layup with 25 seconds left.
Nichols had two shots to win, but Chris Stegeman’s long jumper missed and a follow by 6-9 junior Will Regan rolled off the rim.
"An incredible game — just so much fun,” Nichols coach Greg Plumb told The Buffalo News. "This early in the season, with everyone in the stands on their feet, how can’t you have fun? Obviously we lost, but it’s one of those character things for us. It’s early in the season, and it’s all about February."
* Brandon Triche had the first of what could be several “career games” before he sets foot on the Syracuse University campus next fall. The senior guard scored a personal-best 38 points and added nine rebounds and seven assists to lead Jamesville-DeWitt to an 86-76 victory over Rush-Henrietta at Henninger High.
The defending state Class A champions extended their winning streak to a state-high 22 games by roaring to a 52-30 halftime lead.
"Nobody around here is going to beat J-D," Henninger coach Erik Saroney predicted to The Post-Standard. "That's the best team I've seen since that (state champion) Niagara Falls team which had Paul Harris as a senior and Jonny Flynn as a sophomore."
Rutgers recruit Dane Miller led Rush-Henrietta with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Odds And Ends
* Roslyn officials took an aggressive approach toward addressing fan behavior by forfeiting a boys basketball game the Bulldogs were leading with under a minute left Thursday.
Roslyn fans twice rushed the court, which forced the game against Valley Stream Central to be suspended with Roslyn leading, 75-71.
"We have decided to forfeit the game because of the behavior of our fans," district officials announced in a statement the following day. "We want to send a strong message that we will not compromise the safety of our students or community for the sake of winning games, and that it is our paramount responsibility to uphold the district's policies and standards of sportsmanship."
* Niagara Catholic sponsored a boys soccer team in 1992 when the turnout for football was too low to field a team. Now the school will try to field squads in both sports at once next fall.
The school played a handful of soccer scrimmages this fall to test the waters after about two dozen students showed up at an organizing meeting in September..
John Schiano, who has written about high school sports in western and central New York for more than 25 years, covers New York for MaxPreps. He may be reached at johnschianosports@gmail.com.
