CHATEAUGAY REIGNS: Team clinches first boys basketball crown for an NAC team

GLENS FALLS — Brad Dumont looked to the Chateaugay bench, smiled and shrugged his shoulders after making an off-balance, left-handed scoop shot in traffic to give the Bulldogs a nine-point first quarter lead in the state Class D championship.

It was that kind of game for the Bulldogs who never trailed and easily became Section 10's first boys basketball state champion by downing Section 5's Northstar Christian Academy 52-41 Saturday night.

Chateaugay, which lost last season's championship game by 19 points, came out and shot 50 percent from the field in the first half.

"We tried to put them away early," Dumont said. "Last year we came out a little scared. This year we put the fear into them."

The Bulldogs, also the first area north country school to win a state boys basketball title, led by as many as 21 points and limited Knights scoring guard Jaanai Beckford to 11 points. Beckford scored 24 points in the semifinal against Sackets Harbor on Friday.

"They totally stumped us," said Northstar head coach J.J. Garwood of Chateaugay's defense. "They had an incredible game plan and they executed it."

Chateaugay head coach Ron Boyea used Jordan Rankin, Zach Peck and Dylan White in rotation to guard the 6-foot, 4-inch Beckford.

"Our plan was just to keep fresh legs in front of him and hopefully he got a little tired," Boyea said. "All we can do is make the shots tough for him because you know you can't totally shut him down."

Nearly every shot Beckford took was off balance and with two men in his face. Chateaugay, meanwhile, found easy layups and open looks for Dumont and Drew Boyea.

Chateaugay had nine seniors who remembered last year's loss and coach Boyea believed that experience was another factor in the win over Northstar, which had never been to the state semifinals, much less the championship.

"We've been here before; we've felt the pressure and the atmosphere," he said. "We know what it takes and what it feels like, so it was nothing new to us."

Dumont was again sensational, dishing out six assists and scoring 16 points. Boyea netted only four points in the semifinal game, but came back with 12 points in the championship.

Coach Boyea hugged Drew when he came off the court with 51.2 seconds remaining and a 51-38 lead.

"Thank you," Drew said his father told him.

Boyea hugged each one of his starters as they exited the game.

Peck, who scored 25 points in the Class D semifinals, recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Chateaugay.

Dave Valle supplied 12 points and Donald Harris contributed 11 points for Northstar (21-5).

The Bulldogs finished the season with a 25-1 overall record. Their only blemish came in the Section 10 overall tournament, when they lost to Class A Massena in the semifinals.

Peck, Valle and Beckford earned Class D all-tourney honors. Jordan Rankin received the sportsmanship award.

"It couldn't get any better," said Dumont, the Class D tournament MVP. "It feels great."

nNOTE:Nick D'Alessandroof Sackets Harbor also made the all-tourney team, along withRyan Creightonof Greenport.