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

Moriah's Emmy Nephew (24) with the three from the wing as part of a game high 19 points as they get the 57-42 win. It would be the first game of the second annual Section VII Champions Challenge, and it would feature a pair of top-15 teams in their own class, as the #7 Moriah Vikings would meet the #11 Schroon Lake Wildcats. The Vikings would come out on fire and jump out to a big lead, as they had a 20-3 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Wildcats would find their shot and go toe-to-toe with the Vikings, winning the quarter 13-12, but they would still trail 32-16 at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Vikings came out with the better start, outscoring the Bears 13-8 and taking a 45-24 lead into the fourth. In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats would do their best to get back in the game, but the deficit would just be too much as they would have an 18-12 quarter, but the Vikings would get a 57-42 victory. In the Vikings' winning effort, Emmy Nephew led the way with 19 points, as they improved to 17-3 on the season. As for the Schroon Lake Wildcats, Olivia Hartwell would also chip in with 19 points as they go to 16-6 on the season, and they both get ready for the New York State Playoffs. Gallery

Schrron Lake's Olivia Hartwell (13) with the three from the top as part of a game-high 19 points. Gallery

It would be a matchup between the top 2 teams in Section VII Boy's Hockey as the #1 Beekmantown Eagles and the #2 Plattsburgh Hornets from the Ronald B Stafford Ice Arena in front over 1,100 fans the bigest attendances for the chamionship in years with the winner getting a berth in the New York State Division 2 State tournament and the winner getting the #5 Malone Huskies back here on Saturday March 7th. The Beekmantown Eagles would be opening the goal of the game at the 9:11 mark of the first period from the quicker wrister off the stick of Mason Carter, with Jacobey Weeden and Jackson Deyo picking up the assist on the lone goal of the period to end the first 1-0 Eagles. The Hornets would come out buzzing in the second period and get the equalizer at the 1:41 mark of the second period when Westen Studley would light the lamp with help from Jacob Wheelin and Colby Chase. The Eagles would have an answer, though, at the 5:20 mark of the period when Edward Sweenor would beat Owen Chapple glove side to retake the 2-1 lead with thanks to Braeden Nephew and Evan Bruyette, and that's where the scoring would stop for the second period. The Eagles would extend their lead to 3-1 at the 8:36 mark of the third period when Mason Carter would get his second of the night with help from Pryce Parker and Jack Rovers to give them the big two-goal lead. The Hornets would answer back quickly, though, just 25 seconds later, when Alex Hanshaw would beat Jack Bell to make it a 3-2 game down the stretch. The defense for the Eagles would stand strong down the stretch, hold off the Hornets' swarm, and secure the 3-2 win for the championship. In a championship effort for the Eagles, Jack Bell would make 23 saves as they won the Section VII title and will meet up with the #5 Malone Huskies on March 7th for a chance at the trip to Buffalo and the final. As for the Hornets, Owen Chapple would make 25 saves as their season comes up just short of the title. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Sam Bezio (10) with the hard hit on Beekmantown's Jack Rovers (21) that breaks up the play and sends the puck over to his brother Ben Bezio (11). Gallery

Moriah's Alyssa Cartwright (8) with the three from the corner over Northern Adirondack's defender. It would be the next-to-last game of the weekend as the #1 Moriah Vikings would meet up with the #2 Northern Adirondack Bobcats for the Section VII Class C Championship from the Clinton Community College Florence Gym. The game would start at a high-scoring pace as both teams came out of the locker rooms, and the Vikings would have a 22-17 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter,, the Bobcats would stay on fire, go 13-4, and take a 30-26 lead into the intermission as they looked for the upse When the teams returned fromthe locker room,m the Vikings offense would also make its retur,n and the Bobcats would beshut downn as they would have a 15-4 quarter and retake the lead at 41-34 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the teams played pretty evenly, but t. Still, they had no answer as the Vikings outscored them 14-11 and secured a 55-45 victory. Th.ereberth in the New York State Class C Tournament as Emma Harrington led the way with 13, while. At the same time, right there, BobBobcats 'ason would come to an end as Ava Moore led the way with 19 points. Gallery

Northern Adirondack's Ava Moore (15) drives the hoop for the scoring chance Gallery

Peru's Elianna Trumper (1) with the mid-range jumper for the score as the Nighthawks win the championship. It would be the final game of the 2026 Section VII Basketball Championship weekend at the Florence Gym at Clinton Community College, with the #1 Peru Nighthawks and the #2 Beekmantown Eagles for the Girls' Class A title. The Nighthawks would come out on fire as they would jump out to a 14-4 lead after the first quarter. They would keep it going in the second quarter, scoring 14-6 and taking a 28- 0 lead into the locker room. When they came out of the locker room, it would be more of the same for the Nighthawks with a 17-7 quarter as they would stand at 45-17 as they entered the fourth. In the 4th quarter, the Nighthawks would go into cruise mode, and the Eagles would win the quarter 13-10, but the Nighthawks would hold on for the 55-30 victory. In the winning effort for the Nighthawks, Reese Duprey would lead the way with 20 points as they punched their ticket to the New York State Class A Tournament. As for the Beekmantown Eagles, their season comes to an end behind Lucy Conroy's 13-point effort Gallery

Beekmantown's Lucy Conroy (13) comes in on the breakaway for the score as part of her team high 12 points. < a href="https://kcphotovideo.zenfolio.com/p839638500">Gallery

Saranac's Elizabeth Recore (4) with the three from the corner as the Spartans get the 38-36 victory. It would be the start of the second day of action at the Clinton Community College Florence Gym, as the #1 Saranac Spartans would take on the #2 Northeastern Clinton Cougars for the right to advance to the New York State Class B Tournament. Defense would be the name of the game, as the Cougars would start at just 6-2 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the offense would come alive on both sides, as the Spartans won the quarter 13-12 but trailed 18-15 at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, it would be another low-scoring affair, as the Spartans won the quarter 11-9, and the Cougars took the slim 27-26 lead into the final 8 minutes. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans would let their defense stand strong as they would come back and win the quarter 12-9 to get the 38-36 victory In the winning effort for the Spartans Madison Gaginer would have 18 points as they advance to the New York State Class B Tournament and the Northeastern Clinton Cougars season would come to end as Grace Praire would have ten points. Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Lexi Roberts breaks in for the score as she lays it off the window, scoring eight points. Gallery

Schroon Lake's Taylor Bush (24) with the three from the corner as part of the 45-27 victory. It would be the second game of the Saturday portion of championship weekend for Section VII from Clinton Community College, Florence Gym, as the #1 Bolton Eagles would meet the #2 Schroon Lake Wildcats in a battle for their spot in the New York State Class D Tournament. Defense would be the name of the game through the first quarter, as the Wildcats would have the slim 7-6 lead. In the second quarter, it would stay tight, but the Wildcats would build on their lead with a 14-10 quarter and take a 21-16 lead into the intermission. When the teams came out for the third quarter, the Wildcats' offense was on fire, scoring 15-4 as they cruised to a 36-20 lead and headed to the fourth. With the big lead, the Wildcats would clinch down and play defense as they would have a 9-7 quarter to secure the 45-27 victory. In the winning effort, the Schroon Lake Wildcats punched their ticket behind Olivia Hartwell's 331-point game. As for the Bolton Eagles, their season ended behind Jadynee Engloff's 10-point afternoon. Gallery

Bolton's Jaydnee Egloff (10) with the jumper between a pair of defenders as they look to get back in the game. Gallery

Bolton's William Hen's (11) with the save as the ball is going out of bounds to keep the play alive. It would be the last boys' championship to be settled on the weekend as the #1 Bolton Eagles would meet up with the #2 Wells Wildcats for the Section VII Class D Finals from the Clinton Community College Florence Gym. The Eagles would fly out of the locker room to start the game, with a 17-9 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the tables would turn. The Wildcat offense would get hot and have a 21-10 quarter and take the 30-27 lead at the intermissio Once again though the Eagles would come out of thelocker roomm hot with a 19-11 quarter and take the 46-41 lead into the fourt In the fourth quarter, the Eagles would put the Wildcats to rest with a 12-8 quarter and secure the 60-49 victory and punch their ticket to the New York State Class D Tournament with a 21-point effort from Jaxon Egloff as for the Wells Wildcats there season will come to end as Chase Brooks would have 24 points. Gallery

Wells' Chase Brooks (2) runs down Bolton's Jacob French (1) from behind and gets the block. 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

Northern Adirondack's Kameron Chinchilla (3) lays it off the window for the score as the Bobcats get the 60-41 victory. It would be the second game of championship weekend at the Clinton Community College Florence Gym, as the #1 Moriah Vikings would be going for their seventh straight championship against the Northern Adirondack Bobcats, who were going for their first title since 2015. It would be a defensive battle to start the game, as the Bobcats would have a low-scoring lead at 6-4 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, both teams' offenses came alive, with Moriah winning the quarter 16-14 and the game tied at 20. When the teams returned for the second haf,th e Bobcats would com e out running, scoring 22-8 in the quarter and taking a 42-28 lead into the fourth quarter In the fourth quarter, the Vikings would do their best to get back in the game, but the deficit would be too much as it would be a 14-13 Bobcats quarter as they secure the 60-41 victory In the winning effort, the Bobcats' Emmett Leclair would lead the way with 32 points as they advance to the New York State Class C Tournamen As for the Viking, theire titlereignn comes toa d at 6 years in a row as Joey Kazio would have 12 points. Gallery

Moriah's Austin Mandy (1) drives down the lane and gets the floater off before the contact from Northern Adirondack's Kameron Chinchilla (3) for the score. Gallery