Peru's Madi Marino (3) with the the three from the top of the key as part of a two point night. After over a 15 year hituas it would be the return of the Section VII Champions and on the first night it would be the girl's taking center stage and the second game of the day would see a battle inside the top 15 as it would be the #11 Saranac Spartans from Class B taking on #12 Peru Nighthawks from Class A. The Spartans would start by taking control of the game in the first quarter as they would have a 13-5 lead on the Nighthawks after the first eight minutes. The second quarter would be more evenly matched as the Nighthawks would win slightly with a 14-13 quarter, but the Spartans would have the 26-19 lead at the break. When the teams returned for the second half, the Spartans found their groove again, had a 12-8 quarter, and took the 38-27 lead into the final stanza. In the fourth and final quarter, the Spartans would put the closing marks on the game with a 12-7 quarter and secure the 50-34 victory. In the winning effort for the Spartans, Breanna Ducatte would lead the way with 18 points as they go to 16-3 on the season, enter the New York State tournament, and play the Section II champion on March 12th. As for the Peru Nighthawks, they will fall to 17-4 on the season as Reese Duprey would lead the way with 18, and they are also headed to the New York State tournament and will play the winner from Section II. Gallery

Saranac's PAige Ubu (2) with the drive and takes it around the defender on the score drive as part of a three-point night. Gallery

Saranac's Lilly Brown (12) rises for the layup and the score as part of an eight-point game. It would be the final game of the opening day of the Section VII Basketball Championship weekend; It would see the #1 Saranac Spartans and the #2 Northeastern Clinton Cougars tipping off for the Class B Girls' Championship. It would be a low-scoring game to get it underway, and see the Cougars have the 9-7 lead after the first eight minutes. However, in the second quarter, the Spartans would come alive and start to take control of the game with a 13-5 quarter and have a 20-14 lead as they went into the intermission. When the teams returned for the second half, the Spartans started to take control of the game with a 16-6 quarter and had a 36-20 lead as they went to the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans would put the game away with a 13-9 quarter and secure a 49-29 victory. In the winning effort for the Spartans, Madison Gagnier would lead the way with 16 points as they went to 15-3 on the season and earned a spot in the New York State Class B Girls' Basketball Tournament. As for the Northeastern Clinton Cougars, Peyton Scott would lead the way with ten points, and they finish their season at 9-12. Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Brynn Hite (2) goes up for the off balance shot with defenders around as she would have four points on the evening. Gallery

Saranac's Madison Gagnier (10) and Plattsburgh's Essence Gorham (12) raise for the opening tip, and the game is underway. It would be Champlain Valley Athletic Conference girls's Basketball action from Plattsburgh High as the Hornets would host #14 Saranac Spartans. It would take some time to get the first score of the game. We would be halfway through the first quarter before our first basket, but when the scoring came, the Spartans would string a few together and have the 11-3 lead after the first quarter. When the second quarter came around, the Hornets would find their shot, but they would not be able to chip into the deficit. The Hornets would win the quarter 12-11, but the Spartans would have the 22-15 lead at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Spartans would stay hot with an 11-8 quarter and take a 33-20 lead into the fourth quarter. With the Spartans having the game pretty much in hand, it would be a slower pace in the fourth quarter played, and the teams would tie for the quarter at eight as the Spartans would get the 41-28 victory. With the win for the Spartans, they go to 9-2 in the season as they return home next week. As for the Plattsburgh Hornets would fall to 3-6 on the season as they head into their game against the Beekmantown Eagles on Tuesday. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Essynce Gorham (12) with the block shot in Saranac's Brenna Duccatte as she was going for the score. 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

Saranac's McHenna Brown (2) goes in on the breakaway and lays it off the window for the score. It would be a matchup inside the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference in Plattsburgh tonight as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the #10 Saranac Spartans in girls' basketball action. The Spartans would show off why they are the tenth team in the state as they would get off to a quick start and take the 19-7 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the home Hornets would do their best to keep the game where it is as the Spartans would have a 17-13 quarter and take the 36-20 lead into the intermission. When the teams returned for the second half and the third quarter the Hornets would try and get back in the game with a 13-11 quarter but the Spartans would still have the 47-33 lead as they would go into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans would leave little to decide the game as they would outscore the Hornets 18-6 and take the 65-39 win. With the win the Spartans will go to 15-2 on the season as they head into their matchup next week with the Peru Nighthawks as the Plattsburgh Hornets fall to 8-9 on the season. Gallery

Saranac's McHenna Brown (2) with the tight defense on Plattsburgh's Aubree Mulligan (13) as she drives to the basket and attempts to score. Gallery