Saranac Lake's Zack McCarthy races in on the breakaway and scores as part of a ten-point night. 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 takes a 32-8 lead at intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Nighthawks would find their shot, but the Red Storm were still firing, 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

Peru's Deacon Whitmarsh (3) rises above the rest for the score as part of a seven-point night. Gallery

Peru's Camden Sweeney (23) scored with the three from the wing over the Hornets defender for the score. 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

Plattsburgh's Ryan Colburn (23) and Peru's Deacon Whittmarsh (3) go for the opening tip of the Section Class A championship. < href="https://kcphotovideo.zenfolio.com/p804202791">Gallery