Cortland Standard .net

The Cortland High boys’ basketball team overcame a slow start Tuesday night to score its seventh straight win, 57-47 over visiting East Syracuse-Minoa.
The Purple Tigers, now 3-0 in the OHSL Freedom National Division and 8-2 overall, trailed 15-7 at one point in the first quarter and were behind 16-10 heading into the second.
That’s when they took control on their Shafer Gymnasium home floor, outscoring the Spartans 20-2 in that eight-minute stretch to take a 30-18 halftime lead. CHS led 39-21 at one point in the third quarter to complete a 32-6 run from that 15-7 deficit, and was on top 43-29 entering the fourth.
ES-M, now 0-5 in the Freedom American Division and 3-8 overall, could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Center Chris Luke had another double-double for Cortland, the 6-foot-10 junior scoring 17 points and hauling down 11 rebounds, while senior point guard Sage Brown had a game-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds, eight assists and three deflections.
Junior guard Nick Craig (four assists, four deflections) and senior guard Trae Libbey (three deflections) had 10 points each while heading up the defense. Senior guard Aidan Stehm had a team-high five deflections.
Senior guards Jason Underwood and Brandon Breen had 13 points each for the Spartans, whio out-rebounded CHS 35-34, while senior forward Jah-meer McDuffie added 12.
CORTLAND JVs romped past ES-M 68-34 to improve to 2-1 league and 7-3 overall. Sophomore forward Duff Steve and sophomore guard Gary Reagan led the way with 17 points apiece and sophomore guard Seth Crosby added 12. Freshman forward Derrek Madonna paced the Spartans with 10 points.
The Purple Tiger squads visit Fulton Friday night, the JV game set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.