Saranac Lake's Caleb Akey (11) with the jumper along the baseline as he tries to avoid the block attempt of Northeastern Clinton's Ashton Turner (10). It would be the opening game of the second day of the Section VII Basketball Championships from Clinton Community College of 5 on the schedule today. It would see the top-seeded Saranac Lake Red Storm taking on the #3 Northeastern Clinton Cougars in the class B Boys Basketball finals. The Cougars would be looking for the upset from the beginning as they would get off to the early lead at 13-10 after the first eight minutes of the game. In the second quarter, the Cougars would stay hot as they used the quarter to pull ahead with a 17-10 quarter to have a 30-20 lead at the intermission when the teams returned for the third quarter the Red Storm would regroup and come out looking to take the game back over with a 19-15 quarter to cut the lead nearly in half at 45-39 Cougars. In the fourth and final quarter, the Cougars would keep it together and regain the edge with a 16-12 quarter and get the ten-point win and a 61-51 section vii class B boys basketball title. In the winning effort for the Cougars Collen Castine would lead the way with 23 points. With the win the Northeastern Clinton Cougars advance to the NYSPHSAA Class B Tournament and will play the winner of section ii on March 6th at Averl Park. Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Jordan Brown (2) with the wide-open three from the wing. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Dan Hartmn (11) with the runner in the lane over Beekmantown's Evan Dixon (22) as part of a four-point game. It would be the second game of the tripleheader of the Section VII Championship of Basketball Day 1 from Clinton Community College. It would be the only boys' game of the first day as the #1 Beekmantown Eagles and the #2 Plattsburgh Hornets would meet up for the Class A Finals. The game would start with the Plattsburgh Hornets having the upset on their mind and they would show it with a 19-13 quarter to get the game started. In the second quarter, the Eagles would start to find their shot, take a bite out of the Hornet's lead with a 13-8 quarter, and make it a one-point game at the half with the Hornets holding onto the 1-point lead at 27-26. When the teams returned for the second half the see-saw affair would continue as the Eagles would get that 1 point and have a 14-13 quarter to make the game even as they headed into the fourth quarter tied at 40. In that fourth quarter, the offenses on both sides would come alive but the Eagles would be just too much down the stretch as they would have a 20-14 quarter and get the 60-54 victory. In the winning effort, Beekmantown's Josh Sands would lead the way with a game-high 20 points and go to 16-5 on the season. With the win, the Beekmantown Eagles enter the NYSPHSAA Tournament and will play the winner of section ii on Wednesday from Averill Park. Gallery

Beekmantown's Josh Sands with the hoop as he is falling back towards the floor as part of a 20 point evening. Gallery

Saranac's Madison Gaginer (22) with the block shot as Northeastern Clinton's Callie Racine (41) drivers to the hoop along the baseline. It would be the last game of the opening day of the Section VII Basketball Championships and it would feature #1 Saranac Spartans and the #2 Northeastern Clinton Cougars for the Class B Girl's championship. It would be a slow start for both teams as the Spartans would have a slim low-score lead of 6-4 after the first quarter. The offenses would start to wake up in the second quarter as the Spartans would have a 9-6 quarter and a 15-10 lead at the intermission. When the team returned for the third quarter it would be an even matchup with more scoring but the Spartans were still slightly better with a 14-13 quarter and took the 29-23. In the fourth quarter, the Cougars would try everything that they had to be able to get over on the Spartans and would outscore them 13-10 but it would not be enough as the Spartans would get the 39-36 victory. In the winning effort, the Spartans would end the Cougar's undefeated season and go to 19-3 on the season as Brenna Ducatte would lead the way with 13 points. With the win, the Saranac Spartans will enter the NYSPHSAA Class B Girl's State Tournament and will play the winner of Section II in the opening round on Wednesday. Gallery

It would be the battle of the tens as Northeastern Clinton's Bailee LaFountain drives toward the basket and scores over Saranac's Molly Denis as they were making their fourth-quarter charge. Gallery

Beekmantown's Olivia Hagadorn (12) with the three from the corner as part of a four-point afternoon. It would be the opening game of Section VII Basketball Championship weekend from the campus of Clinton Community College and it would feature #1 Beekmantown Eagles and #2 Peru Nighthawks in the Girl's Class A Finals. The Nighthawks would come into the game with upset on their mind and in the first quarter they would show it with a 10-4 quarter. In the second quarter, it would be the complete opposite as the Eagles would settle and their offense would come as they would win the quarter 10-3 and have a slim 14-13 lead at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter the teams would play very evenly as the game would be tied at 26 as they head into the fourth quarter. In that fourth quarter the Eagles would have a 16-10 quarter as there would be over a third of the points scored in just that quarter along the Eagles would get the come-from-behind victory at 42-36. In the winning effort, the Eagles would go to 10-11 on the season as they enter the NYSPHSAA Girl's Basketball State Tournament Gallery

Peru's Lauren Prescott (2) and Reese Duprey (5) along with Beekmantown's Payton Viau (10) hit the floor and battled for the loose ball under the Beekmantown basket. Gallery

Canton's Austin Mesler (28) with the goal as he is flying through the air stretched out as part of a six-goal evening. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host fellow north country foe the Canton Kangaroos in nonconference action from the fieldhouse complex as they are in the middle of an early season homestand. The game would be tight through the first quarter as both teams were feeling each other out and the game would be tied at three at the end of the first scoring for the Cardinals would be Cam Morin, and Donald Woods (twice). In the second quarter, the home Cardinals would start to pull away as they would have a 5-2 quarter on goals from John Eiseman (twice), Anthony Faber, Cam Morin (second of the afternoon), and Logan Jones as the Cardinals would have an 8-5 lead at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter the Cardinals would stay hot and start to take control of the game with another 5-2 quarter on goals from Tim Keenan (twice), Donald Woods (third of the game), John Eiseman (third and fourth of the game), as they take the 13-7 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals would take control and put the icing on the cake with an 8-1 quarter on scoring from Logan Jones (second and third of the game), Kyle Ruland, Austin Mesler (second of the game), Cam Morin (third and fourth of the game), Jimbo Farrelly, Spencer Fucheck and Ely Bruhns as the Cardinals secure the 21-8 victory. In the winning effort for the Cardinals Donald Woods would lead the way with three goals and four assists on the day while Dan Clements would make 6 saves in the win. As for the Kangaroos Austin Mesler would lead the way with six goals on the day. The Cardinals will end their homestand on Friday as they will host Russell Sage. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Logan Jones (24) with the tight shot on net as part of a three goal evening. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Cynthia Banosky (20) battles for the grounder in the offensive zone with Russell Sage's Alexandra Queeney (12). It would be the season opener for the Plattsburgh State Women's Lacrosse team and they would welcome the Russell Sage Gators at the Fieldhouse Sports Complex. The Cardinals would not be a perfect host though and have a 5-2 lead after the first quarter on goals from Cynthia Barnosky (twice), Fiona Fitzgerald, Erica Dickinson, and Maddy Garcia. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would stay hot with a 4-1 quarter with scores from Caitlin Nash, Abby Guasconi (twice), and Nicole Resnick for the 9-3 lead after the first half. When the Cardinals would return for the second half and third period the offense and defense would be there as they would have a 6-0 quarter thanks to goals from Maddy Garcia, Cynthia Barnosky, Fiona Fitzgerald (twice), McKenzie Francis Chubb, and Erica Dickinson for the 15-3 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals would calm down and have a 3-2 quarter on goals from McKenzie Francis Chubb, Maddy Garcia, and Cynthia Banosky as the Cardinals would get their season started right with an 18-5 win. In the winning effort, Cynthia Banosky would lead the game and get 9 points on the day with 4 goals and 5 assists. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Erica Dickinson (12) with the shot on net as part of a three-goal afternoon for the Cardinals. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Logan Rodriguez (24) goes right back up with the offensive rebound for the Hornet's score. It would be time for some playoff basketball at Plattsburgh High as the Hornets would host long-time rival the #3 Peru Nighthawks in the semi-finals of the Section VII Class A Boy's Basketball Tournament with the winner getting the #1 Beekmantown Eagles at Clinton Community College on March 1st. The upset-minded Nighthhawks would get off to a good start and have the lead through the early stages of the game but the Hornets would find their shot and have the 21-20 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Hornets would start to pull away from the Nighthawks as they would have a 21-10 quarter and take the 42-30 lead into the intermission. When the teams returned for the second half and the third quarter the Hornets would stay hot as they would double up the Nighthawks with a 20-10 quarter and take a 60-40 lead into the 4th quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Hornets would put the icing on the cake with a 20-14 quarter and secure the 80-54 victory. In the winning effort, the Hornets would go to 15-6 on the season and meet with the Beekmantown Eagles for the Section VII Class A Boy's Basketball crown while the Peru Nighthawks season comes to an end at 3-18. Gallery

Peru's Kobe Harris (25) drives down the lane and goes up and under for the score to keep the Nighthawks in the game early. Gallery

Beekmantown's Edward Sweenor (10) flips it over the shoulder of the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid goalie Cassidy Goodman (31) four one of his four goals on the night. It would be the Section VII Division II Boy's Hockey Championship and it would feature the upset-minded #3 Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers taking on the #1 and top ten state-ranked Beekmantown Eagles from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena in front of nearly a 1000 fans. The Eagles would get on the board early with the Zach Lapier goal at the 3:04 mark of the first period. Lapier and the Beekmantown Eagles would strike again with 2 more goals 41 seconds apart at the 5:38 and 6:19 mark of the first period to give the Beekmantown Eagles the 3-0 lead on the Zach Lapier. With just over 4 minutes left in the opening period, the Eagles would strike again and take the 4-0 lead this time coming from Edward Sweenor. The game would stay that wall to the third period as there was no scoring in the second period and the teams would just go back and forth with each having their chance but were just unable to light the lamp. However, the Eagles would make up for the no scoring in the second period as they would score twice in the first 32 seconds of the third period as Edward Sweenor would score twice to complete his hat trick and give the Eagles the 6-0 lead. Not being outdone by his teammate Zach Lapier would strike again for his fourth on the night just 39 seconds later and the Eagles now led 7-0. Then with just over ten minutes left in the game, Edward Sweenor would strike to even back up with Zach Lapier who have four goals each to make it an 8-0 lead for the Eagles. Then 6:38 left in the game the other Lapier kid on the team Carter LaPier would score and take the 9-0 lead and win as the Beekmantown Eagles were crowned the 2024 Section VII Champions and will play the Queensbury Spartans in the Quarterfinals of the NYSPHSAA Division 2 Tournament on March 2nd in Queensbury, New York with the winner headed to Buffalo, New York, and the State Frozen Four. Gallery

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid's Andrew Gay (20) and Beekmantown'ss Parker Broughton (3) meet with the hard open ice hit as they are going after the puck. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Riley Calhoun (10) jammin away at the puck as she tries to get the Cardinals goal. It would be time for the playoffs in the first year of the SUNYAC Women's Hockey as the #1 seeded Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #4 Morrisville State Mustangs in the semi-finals from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena with 570 passionate fans in attendance. The home Cardinals would waste little time getting out to the lead as they would take the 1-0 lead 5:40 into the game on the Julia Masotta goal. Then the Cardinals would expand their lead to 2-0 at the 10:31 mark of the period on Julia Masotta's second goal of the game. The game would stay there till the 3:30 mark of the second period when Ciara Wall would score on the powerplay to make it 3-0. Then with a second left in the period the Cardinals Julia Masotta would complete her hat trick to give the Cardinals the 4-0 lead after the second period. The game would stay there till there was 3:59 left in the game when Hailee Easson would score for the Mustangs to break up the shutout and make it a 4-1 game. However, the Cardinals would answer right back 57 seconds later to make it a 5-1 game and win on Julia Masotta's fourth goal of the afternoon. In the winning effort, the Cardinals advance to the first SUNYAC Women's Hockey Championship next weekend at the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena against the Cortland State Red Dragons for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Emily Kasprzak (22) cuts around Morrisville's Allie Davidson (10) as he skates in on the attack for the shot on net. Gallery

Saranac Lake/Lake Placid's Scottie Nicholas (1) with the pad save on Saranac's Adrian Barnes (8) as part of a 51-save effort to get the Lakers win. It would be the second semi-final of the night in the Section VII Boy's Hockey Tournament as the #3 Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers would travel to Plattsburgh and the Amer-Can North Sports Center and take on the #2 seeded Saranac Spartans with the winner getting the #1 Beekmantown Eagles for a sectional title. The favorite Saranac Spartans would get the opening goal of the game at the 9:24 mark of the first period on the Landon Duprey goal to make it 1-0. The Spartans wouldn't waste time making it 2-0 15 seconds later on the Ryan Campbell goal. Then with just 22 seconds left in the period, the Spartans would jump out to a 3-0 lead on the Evan Patrie goal. The Lakers would come out firing and make it a 3-1 game 41 seconds into the second period on the Evan Willette goal. The Lakers would stay hot and make it a one-goal game at the 5:20 mark of the period on the powerplay goal of Adrian McCormick. Then within a 2:27 stretch in the second period, the Lakers would explode for three goals to take a 5-3 lead with goals from Evan Willette, Will Landerault, and Adrian McCormick. The Spartans would answer back with 36 seconds left in the second period on the Ashtyn Caitlin goal to make it a one-goal game at 5-4 at the end of the second period. The game would stay there till the 10:45 mark of the third period when the Lakers's Kyle Duffy would score to make it a 6-4 Lakers lead from there the defense would clinch down and they would add an empty netter from Evan Willette for the hat trick and the 7-4 victory. In the winning effort, Scottie Nicholas would make 51 saves as they would advance to the Section VII Boy's Hockey Championship against the Beekmantown Eagles. Gallery

Saranac's Ashtyn Caitlin (11) with the shot off that rings off the post and out for one of the many missed chances for the Spartans on the night.Gallery