Northeastern Clinton's Bailee LaFountain (10) with the score on the layup as she charges down the lane for the score. It would be the first round of the NYSPHSAA Class C Tournament and it would be a matchup inside the top ten teams as the #7 Northeastern Clinton Cougars would take on the #3 Greenwich Witches for the right to head to the quarterfinals from Clinton Community College. The game would start off great for the #3 Greenwich Witches as they would race out to a 17-4 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Cougars would dust off the early game nerves and fight back into the game with a 15-4 quarter to trail by just 2 at the break 21-19. When the teams returned for the second half the Witches would find would get back on track and would expand their lead to ten points with a 19-11 quarter for the 40-30 lead as they enter the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Witches would be able to keep a spell on the Cougars with a 9-4 quarter for the 49-34 victory. With the win, the #3 Greenwich Witches would advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament and have a match-up with the #13 Canton Golden Bears with a ticket to the final four on the line. Gallery

The Schroon Lake Wildcats would be crowned the 2023 Section VII Class D champion with a 59-50 win over the Crown Point Panthers. It would be the last game of the championship Sunday from Clinton Community College as this would be for the Class D Section VII title and we would have the #1 Schroon Lake Wildcats and the #2 Crown Point Panthers. It would be tight through the first quarter but the #2 Crown Point would have the upset in mind as they would have the 16-13 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the game would stay tight as neither team would be able to get on a sustained run but the Wildcats would win the quarter 16-13 and the teams would go into the break tied at 29. When the teams would return for the third quarter the game would stay tight but the Wildcats would get a bit of separation with a 13-9 quarter and take a 42-38 lead into the fourth. In that fourth quarter, the Wildcats would just have too much leave down the stretch for the Panthers as they would win the quarter 17-12 and get the 59-50 victory. With the win, the Schroon Lake Wildcats will advance to the NYSPHSAA Class D Tournament and will face North Warren from Section II for the right to go to the final four at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. Gallery

The Seton Catholic Knights crowned the 2023 Section VII Class D champions with the overtime 43-37 victory over the Boquet Valley Griffins. It would be game three of championship Sunday and we would be back on the girl's side of the ball as the #1 Seton Catholic Knights would meet up with the #2 Boquet Valley Griffins to decide the winner of Section VII Class D action. The game would start odd good for the Knights as they would get off to the early lead as would double up the Griffins with a 16-8 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the tables would flip and the Griffins would fight their way back in the game with good defense as they would win the quarter 8-4 but the Knights would have the 20-16 lead at the break. When the teams came back for the third quarter the Griffins would continue their comeback with an 11-8 quarter making it a one-point lead for the Knights at 28-27 as they enter the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter the two teams would fight back and forth as they would battle for the crown and with under 5 seconds left in the game Abby Schwobel would score to tie the game at 34 and force overtime. In the overtime, the Knights would be just a bit more than the Griffins as they would win the frame 9-3 to secure the 43-37 victory. With the win, the Seton Catholic Knights advance to the NYSPHSAA Class D Tournament and will take on Notre Dame-Bishop from Section II for the right to head to the NYSPHSAA Final Four. Gallery

The Moriah Vikings have crowned the 2023 Section VII Class C champions with a 55-38 win over the Northern Adirondack Bobcats as they advance to the NYSPHSAA Class C Tournament. It would be the second game of championship Sunday for Section VII Basketball and this would be in Class C Boy's action as the #1 Moriah Vikings would take on the #2 Northern Adirondack Bobcats. The game would get off to a fast start, which would be good for the Moriah Vikings as they would double up the Bobcats in the first quarter and have a 22-11 lead. In the second quarter, the Vikings would continue to impress as they would pull away with a 14-5 quarter and have a 36-16 lead as they entered the halftime break. When the teams would return for the second half the Vikings would not show any let up as they would 11-10 quarter and take a commanding 47-26 lead into the fourth quarter. In that fourth quarter, the Vikings would let up and just coast the quarter as the Bobcats would win the quarter at 12-8 although the Vikings would hold on for the 55-38 victory. With the win, the Vikings will advance to the NYSPHSAA Class C Tournament and will play Chatham from Section 2 at Clinton Community College on March 8th with the winner getting Canton for the right to go to Final Four. Gallery

The Northeastern Clinton Cougars would be crowned the 2023 Section VII Class C champions with a 49-29 victory over the Northern Adirondack Bobcats. It would be the opening game of championship Sunday for Section VII Basketball and it would feature the top two seeds from Class C on the Girl's side as the #2 Northeastern Clinton Cougars and the #1 Northern Adirondack Bobcats. The Cougars would get off to a quick start in the game and take a 14-3 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bobcats would get their shot going although it wouldn't be good enough as the Cougars would have a 13-10 quarter and take a 27-13 lead into the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter the Cougars would stay hot and have a 14-9 quarter and take a 41-22 lead into the fourth. In that quarter the Cougars would fall back and use the clock to their advantage and have a 9-8 quarter for the 49-29 victory. With the win, the #7 Northeastern Clinton Cougars advance to the NYSPHSAA Tournament and will take on #3 Greenwich on March 8th in the opening round of the tournament. Gallery

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals have been crowned the 2023 NEWHL Champions for the fifth straight season. It would be the championship game of the Northeast Women's Hockey League and it would feature the #1 Plattsburgh State Cardinals hosting the #2 Cortland State Red Dragons for the right to go to the NCAA Tournament in front of a crowd of over 600 fans. It would be a tight and physical game through the first period and neither team would be able to turn the red lamp on and they would end the opening 20 where they started tied at zero. The Cardinals would finally get the opening goal of the game 2:23 into the second period when Ciara Wall would score on the rebound and give the Cardinals the 1-0 lead and that is where the game would remain for the rest of the period. Then on the powerplay, just 4:02 into the third Sara Krauseneck would score as she rushed the net to give the Cardinals the 2-0 lead. From there the Cardinal's defense would stand tall and hold on for the victory as they would only give up 16 shots in the game. In the winning effort, Ashley Davis would stand tall for another shutout as the Cardinals would capture their fifth straight NEWHL title and will wait and see if they get the overall number one seed in the tournament when the brackets are relieved Sunday evening. As for the Cortland Stand Red Dragons, their season will come to end at a record of 20-7. Gallery

The Beekmantown Eagles have crowned the 2023 Section VII Class B champion with a 58-50 win over the Saranac Lake Red Storm. It would be time for the Section VII Class B Boy's Basketball finals from Clinton Community College and it would feature the top two seeds as it would be the Saranac Lake Red Storm and the Beekmantown Eagles. It would be a high-scoring but tight game through the first quarter as the Eagles would have a 16-14 lead. The game would stay tight through the second quarter although the defenses would be on display for the quarter as the Saranac Lake Red Storm would win the quarter 8-6 and tie the game at 22 as the teams would enter halftime. When the teams returned for the third quarter the game would remain tight as the Eagles would win the quarter by a slim 12-11 score and take a 34-33 lead into the fourth quarter. In that fourth quarter, the Eagles would be just to much for the Red Storm as they would win the 24-17 and secure the 58-50 victory. In the winning effort, the Beekmantown Eagles would be crowned the 2023 Section VII Class B Boy's Basketball champions and will advance to the NYSPHSAA Tournament and take on the Section X representative next week. Gallery

The Saranac Chiefs are crowned the 2023 Section VII Girl's Basketball champions for the second year in a row with a 50-3 win over the Ausable Valley Patriots. It would be the first game of championship weekend for section vii basketball from Clinton Community College. It would feature the #3 Ausable Valley Patriots and the #1 Saranac Chiefs for the Class B Girls finals. The game would get off to a slow start for both teams as it would be just an 8-4 Chiefs lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the defenses would still be the name of the game as the Chiefs would win the quarter 9-2 and take the 17-6 lead at halftime. When the teams returned for the third quarter the offense would come out of the locker room with them although the Chiefs would still be on top with a 15-15 quarter and take a 32-21 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, it would be more of the same as the Chief's offense would be the name of the game with an 18-9 quarter. As the Saranac Chiefs would be crowned the 2023 Section VII Class B Girls Basketball champions with a 50-30 win and with the win they will advance to the New York State Public Athletic Association Tournament and will take on the Section X representative next weekend. Gallery

The Beekmantown Eagles have crowned the 2023 Section VII Division II Boy's Hockey champions wth a 9-3 win over the Saranac Chiefs. It would be the Section VII D2 Boy's Hockey championship from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena and it would feature the top 2 teams as the top-seeded and number 2 in the state Beekmantown Eagles would host the number 2 seeded and number 20 in the state Saranac Chiefs. Although there would be a wrinkle this year as luck would have it with the state tournament brackets both teams would be locked into the tournament so that there would be an even eight teams. With that being said both teams would be giving it their all though so they could have that sectional championship banner hanging from the rafters and the opening goal of the game would come three minutes in on the Sam Bingel goal to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Although the 1-0 lead would be short-lived as the Chiefs would answer right back 28 seconds later on the Ethan Barnes goal to tie the game at 1. The Eagles would come back though and retake the one-goal lead at 2-1 on Louis Sweenor's goal at the 8:44 mark of the period. With just over a minute left in the period the Eagles would take the 3-1 lead on Sam Bingel's second goal of the period. The game would stay there till the 9:05 mark of the second period when the Eagles would extend the lead to 4-1 when Keegan Seamone would light the lamp. Although the Chiefs wouldn't go quietly as Landon Duprey would score with 3:40 left in the period to make it a 4-2 game. Although as the period was ending Sam Bingel would score with two seconds left in the period to take the 5-2 lead into the third period. In the third period, the wheels would fall off for the Chiefs as they would give up four goals from Zach Lapier, Copper Burdo, Luke Moser, and Parker Pryce while the Chiefs would answer back with one goal from Nolan Miner as the Eagles would get the 9-3 victory. In the winning effort, Austin Dosier would make 28 saves as they advance to the New York State Division II Quarterfinals and will take on the defending state champions Pelham Pelicans on March 4th. While for the Chiefs Joey Mitchell would make 26 saves as they also head into the New York State Division II Quarterfinals and will travel to take on the Queensbury Spartans on March 4th as they look to head to Buffalo for the state final four the following weekend. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Bennett Stockdale (15) with the game-opening goal on the rebound in front of the net. It would be the semi-finals on the SUNYAC Playoffs from the sold-out Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena as the #2 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #3 Geneseo State Knights for the right to head to the conference finals. The game would start off well for the home Cardinals as they would get the opening goal of the game at the 9:52 mark of the first period on the Bennett Stockdale for the 1-0 lead. The game would stay there all the way till the 9:45 mark of the second period when Brendan Young would score for the Cardinals and give them the 2-0 lead. The two-goal lead would be short-lived though as the Knights would get on the board two minutes later on the Domenic Garozzo goal and make it a 2-1 game. The game would stay there till the 4:32 mark of the third period when Luk Jirousek would light the lamp for the 3-1 game. Then with just over six minutes left in the game, Jake Lanyi would score for the Cardinals and make it a 4-1 lead. The Cardinals would add one more with just over thirty seconds left in the game when Carson Gallagher would get the empty netter for the 5-1 victory. In the winning effort, the Cardinals will advance to the SUNYAC championship and take on the top-seeded Oswego State Lakers for the conference's auto bid to the NCAA Tournament. Gallery