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

Peru's Jordan Osborne (11) with the floater in the lane over a pair of Hornets defenders as they get the 52-32 win. It would be the crosstown battle and for the early lead in the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Peru Nighthawks at a packed gym. The game would be tight through the first quarter as they went back and forth, feeling each other out. Ryan Colburn would hit a bbuzzer-beaterto end the quarter, tied at 10. In the second quarter, the NNighthawks pulledaway, winning 11-5 and taking a 21-15 lead into the break. When the teams returned for the second half, the Nighthawks would stay on the gas with a 14-5 quarter to take a 35-20 lead into the 4th quarter. In the fourth quarter, both offenses would take off, as the Nighthawks outscored the Nighthawks 17-12 to cruise to a 52-32 victory. In the winning effort, the Nighthawks would stay undefeated on the season at 5-0, and the Hornets would suffer their first loss, falling to 2-1. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Diego Rios (2) breaks in on the uncontested lay-up for the Hornets score. Gallery

Peru's Trenten Taylor (15) and Plattsburgh's Bryan Kemokai (2) rise and battle for the game's opening tip. It would be Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Boy's Basketball action from Plattsburgh as the home Hornets would meet up with the rival crosstown Peru Nighthawks on a Friday Night. The game would start well for the Hornets as they would start by doubling up the Nighthawks at 16-8 after the first quarter. The teams would be a little more equal in the second quarter, but the Hornets would win the quarter slightly at 9-7 and take the 25-15 lead into the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Hornets would be hot, double up the Nighthawks again, this time at 20-10, and take the 45-25 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, with the outcome of the game no longer in doubt, the teams would empty the benches, and the Nighthawks would win the fourth quarter at 10-6, but it would not be enough on this day as the Hornets would get the 51-35 victory. In the winning effort, the Hornets will go to 8-4 on the season as they head on the road tomorrow with a nonleague game against the Ogdensburg Blue Devils. As for the Nighthawks, they dropped another one and are now 1-11 on the season, and they will return to action Monday as they go on the road to take on Schroon Lake/Newcomb. Gallery

Peru's Caron Chase (22) with the long-distance jumper over Plattsburgh's Bryan Kemokai (2) as they look to get back in the game. Gallery

Saranac's Henry Napper (14) breaks ahead of the pack and lays it off the window for the score as the Spartans get the 61-44 victory. It would be the third game of the opening day of the Clinton Community College Holiday Classic as the Saranac Spartans and the Peru Nighthawks would look up, and the Nighthawks would be looking for their first win of the season. It would be a close game at the start, as both teams feel each other out. The Spartans would have a slim 13-9 lead after the first quarter. The game would remain close through the second quarter as the Spartans would win the quarter 16-12 and take the 29-21 lead into the break. When the teams would return for the second half, they would find their offense and take control of the game with a 20-6 quarter and have a convincing 49-27 lead as they would enter the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans would empty the bench and let the rest get in the game, and the Nighthawks would win the quarter 14-6, but it would not be enough as the Saranac Spartans would get the 5-41 victory. In the winning effort, the Saranac Spartans would go to 2-3 on the season as they will take on the Beekmantown on the second day as they go for the title. The Nighthawks will be 0-6 in the season as they will get the Malone Huskies. Gallery

Peru's Jordan Osborne (1) with the breakaway score as he gets ahead of the pack and lays it off the window. Gallery