CICERO -- This week's Bryant and Stratton CNY Central Athlete is taking a different approach. For the first time ever, the award goes to the entire Cicero-North Syracuse girls varsity basketball team after defeating Section V opponent Gates-Chili 75-54 to win the school's first ever girls basketball state championship.
The Northstars, who are led by future Connecticut Huskie Breanna Stewart, went 22-2 in the 2010-2011 season. But it takes more than one player to reach success.
"All summer we've worked our butts off." said senior guard Megan Salle. "We ran the track, we were in the weight room and actually at halftime, one of our coaches said we've worked so hard to get to the point to win the state championship, and it feels amazing."
For all of the recent success that Breanna Stewart has been a part of recently, winning a state championship is one that she feels is one of her greater accomplishments.
"I think it's definitely on top right now." I mean we've wanted to do this all season long and then we did it...you can only have so many opportunities to win a state championship and we won."
According to head coach Eric Smith, he is very proud of his team for pulling off his goals.
"For the kids, unbelievably satisfying. It shows the hard work, dedication, a goal, the drive to get to something pays off sometimes. For young kids, it's great to see."
C-NS now advances to Federation play, where they will go up against PSAL member Murry Bergtraum at the Times-Union Center in Albany on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2:00 P.M
