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

Saranac's Henry Napier (14) slices through the defense and lays it off the window for the score. It would be the last game of the opening day of the Section VII Championship weekend as the #1 Saranac Spartans would meet up with the #2 Saranac Lake Red Storm for the Boys' Basketball Class C Championship. It would be a tight, high-scoringgame to get it started as the Red Storm would have ta19-17 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the game would stay close, but the Red Storm would extend their lead by 1 with a 13-12 quarter and take the 32-29 lead at intermission. When the teams returned for the second quarte,r the Spartans would bringtheire offense with a 22-13 quarter and take the 51-45 lead into the fourth quarter/ Although in the fourth quarte,r the Red Storm would battle back witha 23-17 quarter and force overtime as they would be tied at 68 In the overtime the Red Storm would take control with a 10-5 quarter and secure the 78-73 victory, In the winning effort for the Red Storm Alius Martele would lead the way as they earn there spot in the New York State Class B Tournament as for the Saranac Spartans Carson Duffield would lead the way with 27 points as there season would come to end. Gallery

Saranac Lake's Mik Denkenberger (5) goes in off balance and throws it off the window for the score as they win the title. < href="https://kcphotovideo.zenfolio.com/p856662902">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

Saranac Lake's Mik Denkenberger (5) drives the lane through the defenders for the score as they fall 57-54. The #12 and Champlain Valley Athletic Conference-leading Saranac Lake would travel down to take on the Plattsburgh Hornets, as we are inside three weeks left in the season. The game would start tight as both teams' shots fell, and the Hornets would lead 14-12 at the end of the first. The fast-paced offense would continue for both teams in the second quarter, as the Hornets outscored the Hornets 18-12 and took a 32-24 lead at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Red Storm defense would be on display, holding the Hornets to just 9 points. But the Hornets' defense would be right there as well, and the Red Storm would only have 12, and it would be 41-36 Hornets headed to the fourth. In the fourth quarter, the Red Storm would give the HHornets their worst, as they tied the game a couple of times down the stretch and won the quarter 18-1. The Hornets would hold on for the 57-54 victory. In the winning effort, the Hornets get back to .500 on the season at 5-5, while the Red Storm falls to 11-2. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Ryan Colburn (23) with the mid-range jumper for the score as they would get the 57-54 victory. Gallery