The Saranac Lake Red Storm would be crowned the 2026 Section VII Champions Challenge winner with the 67-32 victory over the Peru Nighthawks. It would be the fourth game of the 2026 Section VII Champions Challenge, featuring the Peru Nighthawks and the #18 Saranac Lake Red Storm as they go after the section big-school title. The Red Storm would come out surging, leading 16-2 after the first quarter. In the second quarter,, it would not be much better for the Nighthawk,s as the Red Storm has a 16-6 quarter and takesae 32-8 lead at intermissio When the teamsreturnedn for the third quarte,r the Nighthawks would findtheire sho,t but the Red Storm were still firin, and they would win the quarter 16-1, taking the 48-22 lead into the fourth. The teams would enter the fourth with the outcome pretty much known, but there would be no let-up in the Red Storm as they would have a 19-10 quarter and secure the 67-32 victory. In the winning effort, Red Storm, Cedar would lead the way with 23 points, as they would go to 20-4 on the season. As for the Nighthawks, Layden Delaronde would lead the way with 10 points, as they would fall to 13-7 on the season, with both teams focusing on the New York State Tournament. Gallery

The Peru Nighthawks would win the 2026 Section VI Big Schools Champions Challenge 47-41 win overthe Saranac Spartans. It would be the second game of the 2026 Section VII Champions Challenges at Clinton Community College, featuring the #9 Peru Nighthawks and the #12 Saranac Spartans as they go after the title of the best of the big schools. The Nighthawks would start great, they look to continue their storied season with a 19-7 quarte In the second quarter, the Spartans would get their shot, and their defense would be right three as they would double up the Nighhawks with a 12-6 quarter, but would trail 25-19 at the intermission When the teams would return for the third quarter the Spartans defense would still be there as they would have a 8-5 quarter with a 30-27 Nighthawks lead as they enter the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the offense for both teams would have an answer, but the Nighhawks would stand tall with a 17-14 quarter to secure the 47-41 victory. In the winning effort, the Nighthawks' Bella Berry would lead the way with 15 points as they go to 17-2 on the season. As for the Saranac Spartan, Madison Gaginer would lead the way with 24 points as they fall to 13-9 on the season and get ready for the New York State Tournament. Gallery

The Peru Nighthawks are crowned the 2026 Section VII Class A Champions with a 55-30 victory over the Beekmantown Eagles. It would be the final game of the 2026 Section VII Basketball Championship weekend at the Florence Gym at Clinton Community College, with the #1 Peru Nighthawks and the #2 Beekmantown Eagles for the Girls' Class A title. The Nighthawks would come out on fire as they would jump out to a 14-4 lead after the first quarter. They would keep it going in the second quarter, scoring 14-6 and taking a 28- 0 lead into the locker room. When they came out of the locker room, it would be more of the same for the Nighthawks with a 17-7 quarter as they would stand at 45-17 as they entered the fourth. In the 4th quarter, the Nighthawks would go into cruise mode, and the Eagles would win the quarter 13-10, but the Nighthawks would hold on for the 55-30 victory. In the winning effort for the Nighthawks, Reese Duprey would lead the way with 20 points as they punched their ticket to the New York State Class A Tournament. As for the Beekmantown Eagles, their season comes to an end behind Lucy Conroy's 13-point effortGallery

The Peru Nighthawks are crowned the 2026 Section VII Class A Champions with a 52-45 victory over the Plattsburgh Hornets. It would be the first game of the championship weekend from the Florence Gym at Clinton Community College as the #1 Peru Nighthawks and the #2 Plattsburgh Hornets would meet up for the Section VII Class A Championship. The upset-minded Hornets would start well, doubling up the Nighhawks in the first quarter with a 1- 4-7 quarter. In the second quarter, the Nighthawks would have answered, as they would take the quarter 18-6 and hold a 25-20 lead at the intermission. In the third quarter, the Hornets would answer back, scoring 15-9 and taking a 35-34 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Nighthawks would have the answer and put the finishing touches on the Hornets with aan18-7 quarter. In the winning effort for the Nighthawks, a trio would lead the way with 11 points: Eli Ledwith, Cogan St. Denis, and Mouhamadou Diatt, as they advance to the New York State Class A Tournament. For the Hornet, Troy Bushey would lead the way with 19 points as their season comes to an end. Gallery

Peru's Reese Duprey (5) with the block on Plattsburgh's Olivia Lamountain (3) as she drove to the hoop. It would be the #17 Peru Nighthawks traveling to the next town over and taking on the Plattsburgh Hornets as they look to stay undefeated inside the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference. The game would be tight through the first quarter, as both teams were feeling each other out and were tied at 10. In the second quarter, though, we would see the true Nighthawks come out, as they would have a 21-7 quarter to take a convincing 31-17 lead into the halftime break. When the teams returned for the second half, the Hornets would do their best to keep it close, but they couldn't get any closer, as the Nighthawks led 20-15 at halftime and secured the 51-32 victory. In the Nighthawks' winning effort, they go to 12-2 on the season, while the Plattsburgh Hornets fall to 8-6. Gallery