Leading off today: Jack Lambert went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 50 seconds of the third overtime, sealing
Cooperstown's 108-98 victory over Greenport in the NYSPHSAA boys Class C basketball semifinals Saturday in Binghamton.
Lambert set a tournament final four record with 53 points Floyd L. Maines Arena. The senior went 20-for-32 from the field, including a 4-for-7 on 3-pointers. He also had seven steals and five assists.
"Obviously the game went to a few overtimes, but the guys trust me," said Lambert, who scored 18 first-quarter points to approach his game average of 22.9. "I was knocking down some shots early and just kept it going. I had no idea how many points I had, when they announced it, I was just like, 'Wow, that's crazy.'"
Sophomore John Kennedy finished with 25 points and a game-high 22 rebounds. His seven points down the stretch of the second quarter helped Cooperstown to a 43-42 lead at the half.
Aside from Lambert's performance, the game set a final four record for combined points with 206.
The win puts Cooperstown back in the final for the first time since 2003 with the opportunity to win the program's first championship. The Hawkeyes play Middle Early College, which ended defending champion Lake George's 54-game win streak in the first semifinal with an 80-63 triumph.
Jamond Jones scored eight of his 23 points during the Kats' 14-0 run that enabled the Section 6 champs to pull away after the teams were tied at 57-57 midway through the fourth quarter.
"We played so well for three quarters," Lake George coach Blake White said. "I thought we could have had a lead if it was not for some of those turnovers. But (Middle Early College) stepped up the defensive pressure in that fourth quarter and it threw us off."
Boys Class D: Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville used a four-point play by center Tyler Leon with :02 left in regulation to tie and senior reserve Chris Martin scored five points in overtime to left the Wolfpack to a 61-57 victory against Panama.
Leon, who led OESJ with 20 points and 21 rebounds, was fouled on his first successful 3-pointer of the season and was fouled. Panama called a timeout, then Leon went to the line and made his free throw.
Martin's 3-pointer early in OT but OESJ ahead for good.
In another nailbiter, Harrisville survived a barrage of fourth quarter 3-pointers and defeated Marathon 68-65 in the other semifinal.
Marathon connected for six 3-point shots in the final period to whittle a double-digits deficit to three points, but the 29 points from Peyton Schmitt was too much to overcome even as Harrisville limped home with 7-for-14 shooting from the free-throw line down the stretch.
Girls Class AA: After being knocked out in last year's semifinals by Ossining, West Genesee earned a rematch by going wire-to-wire to beat Bishop Kearney 59-45.
Kearney imploded early as 6-foot sophomore Saniaa Wilson was saddled with two quick fouls and picked up a third before halftime. Even then, West Genesee couldn't make the most out of nine points from Catie Cunningham (14 points) for a 16-6 lead and the advantage was only 25-20 entering the third quarter.
