Since they both lost games in the holiday-tournament season, the Christian Brothers Academy and Bishop Grimes boys basketball teams decided to meet each other Saturday night.
And it proved a close and exciting affair, with yet another great performance from the Cobras’ Mike Stone – but when it was done, the Brothers had prevailed 62-57.
Even in the face of CBA’s trademark defense, Stone converted on a wide range of baskets in the first half, enough to help Grimes earn a 33-30 halftime lead.
All told, Stone would get 29 points, 10 of them from free throws. But he, and the rest of the Cobras, cooled off in the third quarter, just as CBA was starting to hit some outside shots in a 22-11 spurt that put them ahead. Fatigue may have
set in, too, as Grimes was playing its fourth game in six days.
To stay in front, the Brothers made eight of nine free throws in the final period and were 13-for-16 for the half. Greg Thomson and Rob Cuomo both finished with 18 points as Andy Drescher added 10 points.
CBA won despite a quiet effort from Shakir Evans, who had just five points. But it kept anyone from Grimes, other than Stone, from reaching double figures, and held Mike Sugamosto without a field goal as Casey Evans (eight points), Connor Sohl and Jon Carnegie (six points each) could not make up for it.
Back at the start of the week, Grimes, not suffering a letdown after its crucial Feb. 4 win over Bishop Ludden, got another big effort from Stone and beat Solvay 65-54.
Solvay had won five of six games and had just knocked off Westhill behind a 29-point, 14-rebound effort from center Dan Aiello.
But Aiello never got close to that mark here. Sugamosto and Carnegie combined to hold him to 10 points, something that teammate Deon Knighton-Kearse (20 points) could not fully overcome.
Meanwhile, Stone hurt the Bearcats early with a variety of shot, then hit some late free throws to prevent a Bearcats comeback. All told, Stone had 30 points, aided by Sugamosto’s total of 12 points as Carnegie and Evans each got eight points.
On Wednesday night, both CBA and Grimes won big. The Brothers bashed Chittenango 71-34, streaking its way to a 36-13 halftime lead and a 62-24 margin by the fourth quarter before the starters rested.
Evans, with 12 points, was one of 12 players who found the scoreboard. Andy Drescher and Brian Anderson each had nine points, with Charlie Russo getting eight points and Aaron Morgan seven points.
Meanwhile, Grimes, even without Sugamosto in the lineup, roared past Jordan-Elbridge 70-29, also giving its reserves extended minutes. Stone still had time to produce 17 points as Carnegie earned 13 points. Sohl, Gai Ater and Christian Freeman each had seven points as Mike Bespiaty contributed six points.
And on Friday, the Cobras took out Cazenovia 66-37 as Stone surpassed the 1,500-point mark, getting 20 on this night as Sugamosto returned and earned 18 points. Evans had eight points.
On the girls side, CBA won last Wednesday, handling Fulton 59-39 as it gained a 51-28 lead through the first three periods and improved to 12-4 on the season, 10-1 in the OHSL Freedom division.
Ellen Voorheis, in particular, lit up the Red Raiders as she got 27 points. Marisa Romeo added 14 points as Kelsey Johnson produced nine points. Fulton’s Jessica Palmitesso reached 20 points.
To follow up on Friday, the Brothers tamed the Mexico Tigers 55-35, streaking to a 28-9 halftime lead and cruising from there. Romeo, with 17 points, and Voorheis, with 13 points, led the way as Olivia Pitonzo (seven points) and Kelsey Johnson (six points) also made solid contributions.
Bishop Grimes ran into state-ranked Jordan-Elbridge last Tuesday night, taking a 56-35 loss to the Eagles. After scoring the game’s first five points, the Cobras only had six points the rest of the half, J-E eventually building a 30-11 edge by the break.
Amelia Heiselman did finish with 11 points, including three 3-pointres, while Erannan Shattuck earned six points. J-E’s Kali Davis had 18 points as star center Molly Hourigan amassed 17 rebounds, nine points and eight blocks.
As if that wasn’t enough, Grimes also had to face unbeaten Cazenovia Friday on the Lakers’ Senior Night at Buckley Gym, which led to a 59-34 defeat. Vaught led the Cobras with just eight points as, for Cazenovia, Ellen Burr poured in 20 points and Ashley Stec added 13 points.