As the Christian Brothers Academy girls basketball team was quick to find out, an undefeated mark meant little when paired up against rival Jamesville-DeWitt. Down by as many as 11 in the first quarter, the Red Rams clawed back, got even, and had lots of chances to go in front before a late burst helped the Brothers pull away to a 51-36 win. It took nearly 11 minutes for J-D to land a field goal against CBA’s hard-charging defense. And it was 17-6 early in the second quarter, a chance for the game to get away quickly. But by slowing the game down and taking J-D out of its rhythm, fought back within four, 19-15, by halftime. It continued in the third quarter, as the Rams’ fierce defense, plus timely baskets on the other end, produced a 23-23 tie. However, J-D never got in front, and though it hovered until the fourth quarter, CBA steadily regained control, using a 9-0 run midway through the final period to separate, capped by Leanne Ockenden’s long 3-pointer from beyond NBA range. Both of CBA’s stars stood out, as Niagara University-bound Kayla Stroman had 23 points and Ockenden chimed in with 15 points. Ellen Voorheis added six points. J-D had Alyssa Gratien produce 12 points and Jessica Kramer earn 10 points, but lost forward Micha Williams to an injury early in the fourth quarter. Though both CBA and J-D won their Tuesday tune-ups for the neighborhood clash, the methods of the two sides were vastly different. The Brothers went to Fulton and unleashed yet another high-octane offensive show, roaring past the Red Raiders 71-31. An 18-5 start was nice enough, but CBA saved the heavy stuff for a third quarter where it outscored Fulton 27-7 and more than doubled its margin. Ockenden got nearly half her 25 points from a quartet of 3-pointers, while Stroman threw in 18 points. Voorheis (nine points) and Michelle Damico (seven points) offered the support. In sharp contrast, J-D had to grind through a taxing home game against Phoenix that saw the Rams have little fun on its way to a 33-18 win over the Firebirds. All night long, the Rams, rusty from a two-week layoff, found it difficult to convert, as Theresa Hernandez (14 points), Alyssa Gratien (nine points) and Jessica Kramer (seven points) accounted for 14 of the team’s 15 field goals. At least the Rams could play defense, never letting Phoenix get more than seven points in any single period as the visitors managed just seven field goals the entire night. Even with that win, J-D was still scheduled to clash with state-ranked Mexico on Thursday, the night before CBA. When it got snowed out, the Red Rams got an unexpected extra dose of rest. Meanwhile, the Brothers, following the J-D game, got less than 24 hours to breathe, but still had enough energy left at the end of Saturday’s game against Rochester Mercy (Section V) to earn a 62-45 victory. Even though it sprinted to a 22-10 edge, the Brothers cooled off, held to just five points in the second quarter as Mercy made up a part of that deficit. Not until the final period, when the defense stepped up and held Mercy to just four points, could CBA feel safe. Damico stepped up, pouring in 15 points to offer help as Ockenden earned 19 points (including five 3-pointers) and Stroman added 17 points. CBA, as a whole, made 10 3-pointers, two short of the OHSL record. Staying busy this week, the Brothers (7-0) meet Fowler and East Syracuse-Minoa, while J-D has trips to Fulton and Fowler, with the make-up of that snowed-out Mexico game on Thursday night in between.