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L’pool girls hoops returns to state final four by Phil Blackwell
The path the Liverpool girls basketball team would have to take to reach this year’s state Class AAA final four mirrored what it already accomplished a year ago. First it knocked off archrival Cicero-North Syracuse in the Section III final. Then it returned to SRC Arena last Saturday and had to defeat Section II champion Colonie in a hardfought regional final. And the rematch with Colonie would spill into overtime before the senior tandem of Gianna Washington and A’briyah Cunningham pushed the Warriors past the Wolf Pack 73-65. Between them, Washington and Cunningham had seven points in the last 90 seconds of OT which finally allowed Liverpool to break clear of a Colonie side who could not quite avenge its 54-47 defeat to the Warriors 12 months earlier.
“These players don’t ever stop, and they don’t quit,” said Liverpool coach Mike Wheeler. Deadlocked at 64-64, it was Washington whose driving layup gave Liverpool the lead for good. Even bigger was Cunningham flying in for a rebound basket on the Warriors’ next possession with less than a minute left. From there Washington, Cunningham and eighth-grader Gia Kinsey hit on five of six free throws, stretching out the final margin after neither team had a lead of that size all game long. Cunningham, limited to six points and a handful of minutes against C-NS in the sectional title game due to an injured hamstring, saw more action here, making her first impact in the waning seconds of the first quarter where, in a single motion, she executed a steal, converted a layup, was fouled and sank the ensuing free throw. Another steal and basket by Cunningham put Liverpool in front 19-17 early in the second
period, and it went back and forth the rest of the half until Liverpool, with a 9-2 spurt, took a 33-29 advantage to halftime. Kinsey had 11 first-half points including a trio of 3-pointers and again hit early in the third period to make it 36-29, the largest lead either team would have in regulation as again Colonie battled back and caught up. Clinging to a 49-48 edge going to the fourth quarter, the Warriors would again heavily lean on defensive pressure, holding Colonie without a field goal for more than four minutes. Washington said that throughout the game Liverpool switched from 2-3 to 1-3-1 zone looks. “They didn’t really know what we were going to do,” she said. Fouled with 29.5 seconds to play, Washington hit both free throws to tie it 59-59, and after a defensive stop, got the ball with 3.3 seconds left at midcourt, but Washington missed on a possible game-winning layup attempt, forcing OT. The back-and-forth battle continued until
Liverpool leaned on its veteran players on both ends, whether it was Washington and Cunningham or it was Sleeth and Angie Kohler on the defensive side. With her OT production Washington ran her total to a season-high 22 points, closely followed by Kinsey and her 21 points. Cunningham finished with 11 points. Now they all go back to Troy’s Hudson Valley Community College and the state final four for the third year in a row, meeting Syosset Saturday at 1:30 in the state AAA semifinal, the winner to go to Sunday’s title game at 11:45 a.m. against Lancaster or Albertus Magnus. “I like our team’s chances,” said Wheeler. “They know what it takes to win big games. I’ll put these players against anybody”. Washington agreed. “We’re hungry for it (a state championship),” she said. “We want nothing more than to finish the job.”
C-NS HS to present ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ Cicero-North Syracuse High School will present a hysterical musical adaptation of the 1835 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea,” with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer. Showtimes will be 7 p.m. on March 21 and 2 and 7 p.m. on March 22. All performances will be at the North Star Theater at the North Syracuse Junior High School. Danielle Rausa is director, John Nadler is technical director and Karen Seamans is choreography and pit director. In the musical, the kingdom is an unhappy one. King Sextimus has been cursed by a witch to not speak again until “the mouse devours the hawk!” Queen Agravaine has assumed power and has decreed that no one in the kingdom may wed until Prince Dauntless is married to a true princess of royal blood. Can Princess Winnifred steal the prince’s heart and pass the royal test? Will King Sextimus ever speak again? Will Sir Harry see Lady Larken banished forever? Come join the fun and find out! To buy tickets visit my.hometownticketing. com/agency/438f4936-2706-4d40-bccd-19e6f24b84e2. Reserved seating is $15, general admission
is $12 and tickets for students and senior citizens are $10.
Cast:
Princess Winnifred - Lucy Barrera Prince Dauntless - Brigg Liberman Queen Aggravain - Gabriella Pinoargotte King Sextimus the Silent - Noah Seitz Lady Larken - Brooke Todd Sir Harry - Ethan Meives Jester - Joey Cox Minstrel - Aiden Ketchum Wizard - Evan Brzostek Sir Studley - Andrew Dolson Princess #12 -Lady Ann - Kobe Henderson Sir Paul - Kaden Brown Sir George - Avery Dietrich Sir Ringo - Evan Dwyer Sir John - Max Rodriguez Lady Rowena - Abby Goncalves Lady Mabelle - Halia Dice Lady Merrill - CeCe Bielec Lady Lucille - Emelia Salisbury Nightingale - Aliani Fernandez Kitchen wench - Tory Parody Dance Captain - Mia Lieu Ladies in Waiting - Ava Siciliano, Emberlyn Hand, Kinley Hurlburt, Brooklynn Gilbert, Adelyn Winslow, Katlyn Chrisley and Briar Raymond.
Pit Orchestra
Kenzie Keiser, Christina Main, Emma Wall, Abigail Johnston, Jamison Walker, Brooke Mahaffy, Katie Barney, Mark Morris, Ian Cosgrove, Keira Blackmer, Bethany Brandt, Sadie Rithotz, Jacob Hartough, Yelena Valdes-Garcia, Evan Champ, Michaela Spink, Briana Kurpiewski, Aidan Schwerdt, Meghan Woodworth and Kerry Dromgoole.
Production team
Student producer - Jayden Romano Stage manager - Kendra McCarthy
Backstage
ASM: Kayleigh Stevens, Delaney Compeau Props: Mallory Coyle Scenic designers: Meghan Cannella, Paige Viau Master builder: Meghan Cannella
Photographer: Kaden Recore Runner: Cooper Jantsch
Lighting
Video
Director: Killian Heffron Technical director: Addy Vulcano Camerad: Mae Kelly, Connor Bovaird and Tommy Koons
Lighting design: Ryan Williams Assistant LD: Michael Marano Stage electricians: Aiden Marano, Joe Cannella Spotlights: Eliana Zapanta, Joey Nadler Musical l Page 11
Public hearing set on town of Cicero comprehensive plan By Anna Edwards
On Wednesday, March 12, the Cicero Town Board held a public hearing to consider the Town of Cicero Comprehensive Plan. A comprehensive plan guides future land-use decisions and serves as a map for development. Comprehensive plans are flexible in their content and are used as a guide for the future, but they are not legally binding. The public hearing was an opportunity for the community to present their thoughts on the plan and the board to listen. JohnSteinmetz,arepresentativefromColliers Engineering & Design, presented an overview of the comprehensive plan. He explained the process of drafting the plan based on the public input that had been received. “This is a decision-making tool. It’s meant to provide guidance on a wide variety of decisions and help establish a framework for future programs, future investment, public investment, private investment, etcetera,” Steinmetz said. He said the plan emphasizes the community’s priorities for the next five to 10 years. The plan lays out goals that the community wishes to address and a vision to make those
goals a reality. “What are the priorities that you want to coalesce around as a community to accomplish?” Steinmetz said. The outline for the plan was put together using public input, census data, and an examination of the trends impacting the community. Planners looked at population changes, age-distribution changes, housing characteristics, employment characteristics, the roadway network and land use patterns. Out of these research came a framework of policy areas. One policy area includes housing and where people live in the community. After hearing from residents, a major goal of the plan is to protect the heart of Cicero and its existing neighborhoods. The second policy area is transportation and travel. The goals are to strengthen transportation within the town and manage increased traffic. The document introduces ways to improve walkability and bikeability. The plan also addresses how Cicero will grow as things change in the community. This includes parks and recreation, enhancements for residents’ quality of life regarding ed-
ucation and public services for the community. A fourth piece of the document addresses economic development. It includes leveraging future investment, supporting growth in the town and balancing investment while maintaining Cicero’s community environment. There is also a focus on preservation. Steinmetz said as new projects come into the town, it is important that they do not impact the environment in a negative way. “We’re talking about our natural resources, promoting green infrastructure, sustainable land-use practices and mitigating the impacts of investment,” he said. The plan laid out land-use decisions including maintaining residential neighborhoods, accommodating agricultural activity, improving upon retail establishments, enhancing pedestrian connectivity, and developing certain areas. This comprehensive plan has been in the works for multiple years. Public input started with an online portal where community members offered opinions. Common concerns were increased public access to the waterfront, a desire to improve walkability and the ability to bike safely, im-
provement of roadway safety and encouraging development away from Route 11. A steering committee has been formed to help with the process. Steinmetz said the committee first met in February 2023 and has met about eight times since. “The plan was developed with the assistance of a steering committee- a very active, very engaged group of individuals, residents, and property owners that really helped bring us home to where we are this evening,” he said. Once the steering committee finished working, the plan was presented to the town board for consideration and review. This is the current step in the process. Community members expressed both support and concerns regarding the comprehensive plan at the meeting. Supporters expressed gratitude surrounding new opportunities for Cicero and its residents. Concerns included increased costs, lack of labor to support projects, the inability for development on wetlands, Micron’s influence in Cicero, and loss of waterfront land. Residents asked that the plan does not create too much constraint and that it remains aware of residents’ needs and affordability.
Volume 132, Number 12 The Star-Review is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206. Periodical Postage Paid at Syracuse, NY 13220, USPS 316060. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Star-Review, 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206.
history: North Syracuse 100th anniversary mystery.
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sports: C-NS, Liverpool bowlers vie for state honors.
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Editorial ��������������������� 4
Obituaries ��������������� 3,5
history ��������������������� 2,5
PennySaver ���������������� 6
letters ������������������������ 4
Sports ����������������������� 11