Leading Scorers: Warriors – CJ McNeil 22 Jaxson Mueller 18 Thomas McDonough 12 Lukas Lilac 10 Salamanca – Lucas Brown 26 Andy Herrick 13
Key Stat: Trailing 46-41 to start the fourth frame, Stillwater outscored Salamanca 23-10 over the final eight minutes.
Take Away: In a back-and-forth Class C semifinal, Stillwater used a big fourth period, and clutch free throw shooting, converting 23 of 28, to post the victory, sending the Warriors onto the state championship game on Saturday in a 7 p.m. tip with Newfield at the Cool Insuring Arena.
The Warriors put four players in doubles and held a 23-4 advantage in made free throws with both McNeil and Lilac being perfect from the stripe.
With the win Stillwater moves to 23-3 on the year and will face a 22-4 Newfield squad in the title run, who won their semifinal in similar fashion, using a big fourth period while putting four players in doubles, to get past Pierson 66-62.
Leading Scorers: Warriors – Jaxson Mueller 22 Luks Lilac 14 CJ McNeil 10
Take Away: In a tight game throughout, that needed an extra session to decide things, Stillwater trailed 53-52 with seconds remaining when Jaxson Mueller scored on a putback with four ticks left on the clock sending the Warriors onto the state final four and a class C semifinal matchup with Salamanca on Friday at 2:45 at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.
While neither team was able to connect from behind the arc in the Hudson Valley Community College arena, Mueller dominated inside adding 17 rebounds to his game-high 22 points, with all his points coming from inside the paint.
With the victory the Warriors move to 22-3 on the season, and return to the state semifinals for the first time since 2006.
Leading Scorers: Warriors – CJ McNeil 19 Lukas Lilac 17 Jaxson Mueller 10 Wildcats – Ben Marra 17 Brady Cole 14
Key Stat: Stillwater outscored the Wildcats 19-11 in the final frame.
Take Away: Trailing 42-39 after three periods the Warriors used a fourth period rally to post the come-from-behind “W” in the Class C-CC playoff of the Section II boys basketball tournament on Monday in Cohoes. Stillwater put three players in doubles, and Mueller and Thomas McDonough controlled the boards with 10 rebounds each, while McNeil handed out five assists in the Warriors victory.
Stillwater advances to the regional final on Saturday at HVCC where they’ll face the winner of Moriah / Madrid-Waddington, in 2:30 tip.
Key Stat: Hartford took control with a 27-11 third period
Take Away: After an evenly played first half that ended with the Tanagers holding a 34-32 advantage, Hartford hung 27 on the board in the third quarter, taking a 61-43 lead into the final frame where they closed things out to earn the Class D title.
Upson’s game-high 25 points led Saratoga Catholic who finish the year at 8-15 but played well in a sectional run that took the Saints to the Class D title game.
Key Stat: Duanesburg held an explosive Greenwich squad to 16 first-half points.
Take Away: Greenwich fell behind 15-2 early before losing sophomore Adrianna Rojas late in the first period with an injury. The Eagles led 17-7 after the first frame and 32-16 at the break. Trailing 44-23 late in the third, Greenwich put together a 12-4 run fueled by the eighth grader Kuzmich’s 10 points, to trim the deficit, but could pull no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
The young Witches with just one senior on the roster, finish a remarkable 23-1 on the year with a Wasaren championship and a sectional run to the C finals.
Leading Scorers: Warriors – CJ McNeil 31 Jaxson Mueller 24 Witches – Jesse Kuzmich 19 Joe Skiff 14 Jayden Hughes 13
Key Stat: Stillwater ran out to a 10-0 lead to start the game.
Take Away: The Warriors quickly built a double-digit cushion and maintained that advantage for most of the night. Stillwater led 36-25 at the break and increased the margin to 41-26 after the third frame. Tournament MVP McNeil was 14 of 16 from the free throw line, and drilled three first quarter triples, fueling the Warriors fast start. Mueller scored 10 of his 24 points in the third period and controlled the paint throughout for the Warriors.
Greenwich finishes an excellent season with an extended sectional run and a 16-8 mark.
With the win Stillwater advances to face the Class C champion Maple Hill on Monday in Cohoes, in a 6 p.m. tip.
Leading Scorers: Crusaders – Danny Bologna Jr. 21 (7 3’s) Darien Moore 17 Seimir Roberson 17 Bengals – Zachary Rice 26 (4 3’s) Joey Poulin 21
Key Stat: A 21-10 second period gave the Crusaders a double-digit cushion.
Take Away: CCHS held a 42-30 halftime advantage and pushed the lead to 56-37 midway thru the third, before Tamarac made it’s run. The Bengals scored 17 unanswered and eventually pulled even with the Crusaders at the 3:11 mark of the final frame before CCHS closed things out, to earn the Class B semifinal victory. Tamarac finishes an excellent year with a 20-3 mark and the Wasaren championship.
Key Stat: Greenwich held an 8-1 advantage in made threes.
Take Away: The Witches jumped out to a 21-6 lead after the first eight minutes and won going away in their Class C semifinal game in Colonie. With the win Greenwich moves to 23-0 on the year and will face #1 Duanesburg, Saturday at HVCC in an 11:00 run.
Stillwater 57 Hoosic Valley 35
Leading Scorers: Warriors – Jaxson Mueller 14 Carter Wincheins 13 Thomas McDonough 11 CJ McNeil 11 Valley – Logan Reilly 10
Key Stat: Leading 27-21 at the break, Stillwater used a 19-7 third period to take control.
Take Away: The Warriors put four players in doubles and won every quarter to post the semifinal “W” in Class CC. Next up for Stillwater is a meeting in the finals with Greenwich, on Friday at 6:45 at the Cool Insuring Arena.
Fonda 46 Mechanicville 39
Leading Scorers: Fonda – Kienna Christmas 14 Marilyn Whitcavitch 11 Red Raiders – Lila Christensen 8
Key Stat: Fonda built a 17-9 lead after the first period.
Take Away: Trailing 17-9 after the first, the Raiders cut the deficit to 37-33 entering the final eight minutes, where Fonda prevailed in the Class B girls’ semifinal.
Greenwich 58 Hoosick Falls 55 (Monday)
Leading Scorers: Witches – Jesse Kuzmich 21 Jayden Hughes 13 Falls – Jake Sparks 19 Connor Jones 12
Key Stat: With the game ties at 55-55 with :45 remaining, freshman Joe Skiff drilled a game-winning triple.
Take Away: In a close game throughout the Panthers Dylan Baker tied the game with 1:00 left, before Skiff bottomed the difference-make, sending Greenwich to the Class CC championship game and a meeting with Stillwater on Friday at the Cool Insuring arena.
Saratoga Catholic 58 North Warren 40 (Monday)
Leading Scorers: Saints – Alison Motler 23 Ashley Upson 17 Katie Cronin 16 North Warren – Nicole Buckman 17 Megan Bruno 16
Key Stat: The Saints won every quarter.
Take Away: Spa Catholic led 22-12 at the half, and pulled away after the break, notching the Class D semifinal victory, sending the Saints into a final’s matchup with Hartford at 4:15 on Saturday at HVCC.
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