POTSDAM — The Chateaugay boys' basketball team dodged a huge bullet Saturday afternoon in the NYSPHSAA Class D quarterfinals at Potsdam High School.
The defending state champion Bulldogs, down 30-17 at the half, rallied for 27 fourth-quarter points and then outlasted Section VII champion Westport, 75-71, in overtime.
Chateaugay moves on to the state Class D Final Four on Friday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
"The experience and heart of this team was impressive," said Chateaugay coach Ron Boyea. "We were more aggressive offensively in the second half and the intensity was key."
"After watching them against Sharon Springs, I told the guys at halftime that they were going to come out with a lot of intensity," said Westport coach Brad Rascoe. "The momentum definitely shifted late in the third quarter and they're a high-caliber team."
Brad Spinner and Alex Stalter led Section X champion Chateaugay (22-4) with 20 points each, with Stalter also getting eight rebounds, while Drew Boyea added 14, including 13 in the second half, and Eli Franze, 11.
The Bulldogs forced overtime when Spinner hit a three-pointer to make it 60-57 and then Franze a three-pointer to tie it, at 60-all.
Eric Dwyer's two-pointer in overtime gave Chateaugay the lead for good, at 66-64. The Bulldogs led by as many as six points in overtime, but Bo McKinley twice nailed three-pointers to keep the Eagles in the hunt.
McKinley's second three-pointer brought Westport back to within 73-71 and Boyea then hit two free throws with two seconds left to seal it.
McKinley poured in 30 points for the Eagles (19-2). Curtis Mead was next with 14 and Sean Davis, 13.
"Bo has played great and done well," Rascoe said. "He always stepped up this season to get us to this point."
Westport went on a 7-1 run to open the third quarter to take what seemed to be a commanding 37-18 lead. Chateaugay then cut it to 45-33 after three before outscoring the Eagles, 27-15, in the fourth to force overtime.
"I thought we were sleepwalking through the first half," Boyea said. "We were on our heels most of the first half and were able to turn the tide and get them on their heels late.
"I've been waiting for it all sectionals from Stalter and the guys finally found him inside. He got big. The Westport defense did a good job on (Drew) Boyea and tracked him well. But, we aren't a one-dimensional scoring team.
"I thought Dwyer and Franze were key for us off the bench and really filled some holes. Everyone did their part tonight."
"The full-court press Chateaugay played was tough," said Rascoe. "We have played only three or four close games all season, so that is tough."
—
Chateaugay 75, Westport 71, OT
Westport (71)
McKinley 12-0-30, Sherman 1-0-2, Mead 6-2-14, Davis 5-2-13, Tyler 0-0-0, MacIver 0-3-3, Gay 4-1-9. Totals: 28-10-71
Chateaugay (75)
Boyea 3-8-14, Dwyer 2-0-4, Franze 4-0-11, Gadway 1-0-2, Layton 2-0-5, Spinner 7-4-20, Stalter 8-2-20. Totals: 27-14-75.
Westport 15 15 15 15 11 — 71
Chateaugay 8 9 16 27 15 — 75
3-pointers: Westport (7) McKinley 6, Davis. Chateaugay (6) Franze 3, Spinner 2, Layton.
Sports
Chateaugay overtakes Westport
Defending state champion stages another late rally to beat Westport in OT
- Local Sports
-
-
Chiefs, Eagles advance to 'B' final
Saranac edged NCCS and Beekmantown downed PHS in Section VII Class B baseball semifinals.
-
Team tennis titles to be decided today
PHS and Peru will battle for the Section VII Class B boys' team title today, while NCCS hosts Beekmantown in girls' play.
-
Sports shorts: May 29, 2012
Babe Ruth tryouts today; 3D archery shoot set for June 2-3; Alongquin Chapter holding events June 2, 3 and more.
-
Area sports: May 29, 2012
A schedule of sports events today featuring local teams and venues.
-
Former Seton Catholic standout Hartung headed to NCAAs
Former Seton Catholic standout Genna Hartung qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a member of the Cornell team.
-
Cards sweep, throw no-hitter in CVBL action
The Fourth Ward Cardinals swept the Lyon Mountain Miners, and in one game threw a no-hitter in CVBL play; A's and Expos, T'jaxx and Padres split games.
-
Peru's Bushey, Forget win wrestling titles
Peru's Jordan Bushey and Nick Forget, representing the Cellar Dwellers Wrestling Club, recently won their weight classes at the New York State Greco-Roman and Freestyle Championships.
-
MVAC announces 2012 winter scholar athletes
The Mountain and Valley Athletic Conference announced scholar athletes for the 2012 winter sports season.
- May 27, 2012
-
Saranac boys win fourth straight Section VII track and field title
Saranac used depth and skill to win its fourth straight Section VII boys' track and field title.
-
Eagles end Saranac's five-year Section VII track reign
Saranac won the last five Section VII girls' track and field championships, but on Saturday Beekmantown ended the dynasty.
-
Bissonette, Higgins capture Section VII tennis titles
Shawn Bissonette and Abby Higgins captured Section VII singles titles in tennis, while the duos of Alex Jelinek/Nick Stosiek and Alexandra Provost and Bailey Waterbury won doubles titles.
-
Expos off to fast CVBL start
Meron's Expos enter today's CVBL games as the only unbeaten team left in the league.
-
Robinson, Planck continue early Mohawk success
Dale Planck and Mathieu Robinson continued their hot starts at Mohawk International Speedway Friday night.
-
Labatt Blue holds first place in ADK Slo-Pitch
Perennial A Division power Labatt Blue has taken over sole possession of first place in the Adirondack Slo-Pitch Softball League with a 7-1 record.
-
McClatchie wins Renegade feature, new recliner
Jason McClatchie won the 50-lap Renegade feature and earned himself a new reclinder in the process at Airborne Speedway.
-
Downhill cyclists gear up for Whiteface 5K
-
Sports shorts: May 27, 2012
Ameri-Can North spring games this week; The Barracks Member Scramble today; Adirondack to hold ladies' league and more.
-
Area sports: May 27, 2012
A schedule of sports events today featuring local teams and venues.
- May 26, 2012
-
Votraw nabs Sec. 7 golf crown
Plattsburgh High's Ethan Votraw won the Section VII Golf Championships, with last year's winner, AuSable Valley's John Hickey, taking second.
-
Emma, Claire Deshaies share sisterly bond on PHS track team
Sisters Emma and Claire Deshaies, a senior and eighth grader, respectively, have enjoyed the opportunity to be teammates on the PHS track and field team. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
Section VII Track and Field Championships today
The Section VII Track and Field Championships will be held today in Lake Placid.
-
Hornets edged Red Storm in 'B' quarters
The Section VII baseball tournament got started Friday. PHS, NCCC and B'town won in Class B quarterfinals; Ticonderoga, Morah win 'C' semis and E'town-Lewis and Indian Lake/Long Lake grabbed 'D' quarterfinal victories.
-
Peru finishes golf season with win
The Peru golf team finished its CVAC season with a win over AuSable Valley using scores from the first day of the Section VII Golf Championships.
-
Boyle pitches Keene past Westport
The Section VII softball tournament started Friday. Keene and E'town-Lewis got wins in 'D' quarterfinals while Ticonderoga and Lake Placid won in 'C' semifinals.
-
Chiefs, Eagles advance to 'B' final


