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March 28, 2009

Farbotko leads CVAC stars

By RYAN HAYNER

PLATTSBURGH — The Champlain Valley Athletic Conference rewarded a great season for the Northeastern Clinton boys' basketball team as the Cougars garnered top player and coach honors in the 2008-2009 all star selections.

MOST Valuable Player
Matt Farbotko, NCCS — Farbotko, a senior, was the leading scorer in the CVAC with 20.7 points per game and finished his high school career with 1,337 points.

He ties Chazy's Matt Devins for 12th place all-time in Section VII boys' basketball.

Farbotko helped lead the Cougars to 22 straight wins — the second most of any team in the state at the time — until the team's first loss in the regional semifinal against Ogdensburg.

The Cougars captured the Section VII Class B title against Saranac, 49-45, behind Farbotko's 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Only once did the senior forward fail to eclipse double-digit points in a game the entire season. Farbotko finished on the first team last season as a junior.

Coach of the Year
Rob Garrand, NCCS — Garrand's Northeastern Clinton squad reeled off 22 straight wins against no losses, the second best winning streak of any team in the state at the time, before Ogdensburg ended the Cougars' skein by eliminating them in the regional semifinals.

Despite the misfortune of having to end the season with the team's first loss, the Cougars had a remarkable run.

They ranked as high as sixth in the Class B state rankings and took home the Section VII Class B crown for the first time since 2006 with a 49-45 win over Saranac.

RAY HOLMES SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Northern Adirondack — The Bobcats finished 2-18, overall, but were a better team than their record indicates.

First Team
Connor Gach, Saranac Lack — Gach, a junior guard, was the leading scorer for the Red Storm as he averaged 18.2 points-per-game.

Gach joined Farbotko in passing 1,000 points in a career as he totaled 1,025.

He was prolific 3-point shooter, leading the section with 64 hits from behind the arc. He has 163 career 3-pointers and needs only 20 to equal the Section VII record.

Gach, who made the first team as a sophomore last season, totaled 137 field goals, 44 free throws and 382 points on the season.

Robert Duquette, Peru — Duquette improved upon his third-team status last season by leading Peru in scoring with an average of 17.5 points-per-game.

The 6-foot-5-inch junior forward was also a strong rebounder.

Dustin Gratto, Saranac — Gratto was the Chiefs' gritty big man inside, helping to lead the team all the way to the Section VII title game, which Saranac lost to Northeastern Clinton. The senior averaged a team-high 13.7 points-per-game and had a strong performance in the Section VII Class B semifinal game against Plattsburgh High. Gratto scored 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds and six blocks in a dominating all-around win. He was on the second team last year.

Pete Patterson, Northern Adirondack — Although Northern Adirondack struggled to a 2-18 record for the season, Patterson was one of the top scorers in the section.

The senior forward led the Bobcats with an average of 17.2 points per game and finished the season with 362 points, 137 field goals and 88 free throws.

Hayden Whalen, Moriah — The Vikings didn't have any specific go-to scorer, but Whalen was Moriah's most consistent offensive threat.

The 6-foot-6-inch junior forward had a team-high average of 11.7 points-per-game for the Vikings, who advanced to the Section VII Class D finals where they fell to Westport.

Second Team
Kaleb Gohlke, Seton Catholic — Gohlke averaged a team-high 13.3 points-per-game, helping the Knights become the Section VII Class C champions, their second title in three years. Gohlke scored 20 points in the finals win over Ticonderoga.

The junior finished the season with 292 points, 95 field goals and 95 free throws.

Steven Carder, NCCS — Carder was a force inside as a sophomore for the Cougars in their successful season and may help soften the blow with Farbotko graduating.

Carder averaged 12.2 points for NCCS, second to Farbotko, and was also solid on the boards.

Rickie Lee, AuSable Valley — The senior guard/forward combo averaged a team-high 12.2 points-per-game for the Patriots, who advanced to the Section VII Class B semifinal game.

Lee improved on a third team honor he received in his junior season.

Austin McDonough, Saranac Lake — The sophomore guard teamed up with Gach for one of the top backcourts in the section.

McDonough was second on the team in points-per-game average with 14.1.

Kyle Knight, Plattsburgh High — Knight, a junior, finished the season with totals of 234 points, 75 field goals and 75 free throws.

He had a team-high average of 11.1 points-per-game for the Hornets, who reached the Section VII Class B semifinals.

Third Team
Jake Taylor, Ticonderoga —The senior guard averaged 6.5 points-per-game for the Sentinels, who finished the season 13-8. He scored 124 points for the season, credited with 49 field goals and 22 free throws.

Ben Depo, Saranac — Depo was the third-leading scorer for the Chiefs with a 10.9 points-per-game average. He also tied for the team lead in 3-pointers made with 21.

Kyle LaPoint, Plattsburgh High — LaPoint, a sophomore guard, scored a team-high 236 points for the Hornets and was second in points-per-game average with 10.7.

Devon Anderson, Beekmantown — One of the two Eagle sophomore big men to be named as an all-star, Anderson averaged 10.7 points-per-game, second best on the team.

Cody Wood, Saranac — Wood was the second-leading scorer for the Chiefs with an average of 12.5 points per game.

Tom Ryan, Beekmantown — The other Beekmantown sophomore big man to be named an all-star, Ryan was the top scorer for the Eagles with an 11.8 points-per-game average.

Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Honorable Mention- Braxton Raymond (Beekmantown), Jason Lavarnway (Saranac), Kyle Carter (Peru), Andrew Favro (PHS), Kasey Lamberton (NCCS), Alex Fregeau (Seton Catholic), Ryan Murphy (AuSable Valley), Tyler Smith (Northern Adirondack), James Kordziel (Lake Placid), Tyler Blaise (Moriah), Robert Teriele (Ticonderoga), Logan Ploof (Saranac Lake).

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