In separate venues Tuesday night, the Christian Brothers Academy basketball teams would get past East Syracuse-Minoa once more. On the boys end, the partans hosted the Brothers, and got off to a terrific start — but it could not be sustained as it took a 62-51 loss. ESM played some of its best defense of the season in the first quarter and bolted out to a 15-8 lead. Adjusting, CBA erased most of that deficit in the second period and only trailed by one, 27-26, going into halftime. Now it was the Spartans struggling for baskets, getting just nine points in the third quarter as CBA moved out in front to stay. Troy Bullock led the rally, with 19 points, while Jameel Balenton got 11 points. Pat Wiese had nine points, with Yosh Karbowniczak (eight points) close behind as Greg Thomson and Pete Corasaniti earned six points apiece. As for ESM, Sharif Nero led both sides with 20 points, while Quadear Mike gained 13 points and Greg Raab had 10 points. Together, they accounted for all but four of ESM’s field goals. Meanwhile, the girls Spartans went to Buddy Wleklinski Court to face CBA, who kept its share of first place in the league by prevailing 63-50. Right from the start, the pace was a quick one, and both teams liked it as they played to a 19-19 tie. But it was ESM cooling off in the second quarter, giving CBA a chance to seize control and go up 36-26 going into the break. Though they played on even terms the rest of the way, CBA maintained that edge, and Leanne Ockenden had a lot to do with it. Held to 10 points in the Brothers’ hard-fought win at Jamesville-DeWitt on Jan. 14, Ockenden rebounded for 27 points on this night, including four 3-pointers. She got help inside, too, as Victoria Johnson earned 15 points and Michelle Damico had nine points. ESM wasn’t too quiet, either, as Chelsea Medler worked her way to 18 points. Alex Cassella had 11 points, while Mallory Buckley got seven points. Arnela Mesic and Olivia Luciani had six points apiece. Both Spartans teams are facing J-D later this week – the girls on Thursday at ESM, the boys on Friday at J-D as part of that school’s annual Athletic Hall of Fame festivities.