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North senior Aleyah Carmona (3) scored 12 points to help the Vikings earn their first victory of the season, 45-43 over City Series rival East.

Sometimes one game can make all the difference.

The North Vikings girls basketball team is 1-15 this season – not typically a record to write home about, but this past Monday the Vikings celebrated their first victory of the season, 45-43 over City rival East.

The victory snapped a 38-game losing streak that had spanned parts of three consecutive seasons, including a winless 2010-11 campaign.  The program's last win came February 4, 2010 in a 49-44 decision over Ellet.

“After the game the team was very excited,” first-year coach Marcus Lawson said.  “Many members of the team felt that the win was long overdue.”

Senior Aleyah Carmona and sophomore Sabria Meadows each scored 12 points to pace North, which entered the fourth quarter trailing 34-33.  Dragons sophomore Airelle Sibley scored a game-high 27 points in the losing effort.

“(After the game), I emphasized the fact that their hard work translated into Monday’s victory,” Lawson said.  “The coaching staff believes that in basketball, as well as in life, that resilience is essential.”

And Monday night the Vikings’ resiliency paid off, as the team avoided a second-straight winless season.  Now, North is looking to build off of Monday’s success as the end of the year approaches.

“We are all relieved that this streak has been broken and look forward to establishing our own winning streak,” Lawson said.

Establishing a winning streak this season won’t be easy for the Vikings as their remaining schedule boasts four teams with strong resumes.  Starting Thursday night, North plays back-to-back games with perennial City Series powerhouses Firestone and Kenmore, before finishing its league schedule against Buchtel.  The Vikings’ season finale will come against currently undefeated Woodridge.

More girls hoops: Round 3 nearing

While North recorded its first victory on Monday, the City Series front-running Falcons and Cardinals could clinch their spots in the City Series championship game Thursday night.  If Kenmore defeats Garfield, both teams would be locked into the rematch.

The Cardinals defeated the Golden Rams 101-37 in the two squads’ first meeting.

Kenmore and Firestone split the regular-season meeting with the Cardinals taking the first meeting and the Falcons evening the series at home.  Kenmore’s win came by a score of 42-38, while Firestone took an even closer 62-61 decision earlier this month.

Boys Hoops: The battle for No. 2

By virtue of their fast start the East Dragons boys basketball team is near locking up its own spot in the City Series Championship game.After remaining perfect through the first seven City games East holds a two-game lead on the rest of the league.  Barring a collapse where the Dragons lose at least three of their final five league games – and probably four losses would be needed – East should be making an appearance in the title game.

Who the Dragons will face is still very much a mystery as three teams are all within a game of each other in the league standings.  Firestone and Kenmore are tied at 6-2 in the City, with Buchtel just one loss back at 4-3.

The trio of challengers all have head-to-head meetings with one another, not to mention matchups with East.  Kenmore and Buchtel start the rematches this Friday on the Griffins' home court.  The Cardinals topped Buchtel 68-56 in the teams’ first game against each other.

Next Tuesday, Firestone will start a streak of four games in 11 days where they will face all three city rivals and a game with Walsh Jesuit.

Wrestling: Falcons, Cardinals stand out at Dies

At last weekend’s 25th Anniversary of the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at Firestone High School, the host Falcons were the top of four City Series teams competing, and their 49.5 team points placed them in 26th place.  Junior Vince Musci and sophomore Edmund Williams led Firestone with eighth-place finishes in the 182- and 170-pound weight classes, respectively.

Kenmore 220-pound senior Steve Vinson was the only other City placer with a seventh-place finish by virtue of a pin on Garfield Heights senior Drevon Mbua in the finals.