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CANTON – There wasnt a seat available or a good parking space at SUNY Canton on Wednesday evening as the Section 10 Class D1 and D2 Boys Basketball Championships were held in a theme called Survivor Night.
In the first game of the evening, No. 6 seed and defending New York State Class D runner-up Madrid-Waddington survived against No. 3 seed Edwards-Knox 51-49 to decide a split season series.
In the nightcap, No. 1 seed St. Regis Falls escaped from No. 4 seed Harrisville 45-38to the schools first boys basketball sectional title since 1976 when longtime St. Regis Falls Girls Basketball Coach Wilbur Bailey led a Saints squad to the overall Class D crown.
The overall Section 10 Class D Championship game, featuring two Canton Central graduates in the coaching matchup of M-Ws Aaron Jones and St. Regis Justin Todd is slated for Saturday at SUNY Potsdam, at 2:45 p.m.
The Jackets answered an E-K rally for a 49-49 tie after forcing a travel. The Jackets (15-6) inbounded the ball underneath the E-K basket, Colin OBryan dribbled his way through some tight defense and slid a bounce pass to Greg Thompson for a wide open layup with 2.1 to play for the game-winner.
I just got the ball and went. I was supposed to drive but I saw a E-K defender coming right at me and I saw a slim opening to Greg. Greg just made a big basket, one of many this season, said OBryan.
The basket erased any memory of the Jackets wasting an early 12-point lead and the memory of a 0-7 fourth quarter free throw showing while E-K went 8-15.
Colin OBryan finished with 14 points, five assists and three steals while Maurice Rease, who quickly recovered from a sprained ankle on Saturday, added 13 points including nine in the first half. Greg Thompson generated all nine of his points in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds.
E-Ks Tresidder paced all scorers with 21 points including three threes and eight points in the 24-13 fourth quarter advantage. Chris Davison added 10 points and Nick Davison added eight.
Kaden Dandrow added six. Jesse Bullock chipped in four.
One of our goals was too limit Kaden Dandrow and I thought defensively Terry Crump and Jacob Barney defended him well but that sometimes opens up players and Tyler (Tresidder) really had a great game for them, Jones said.
OBryan credited the way his team battled throughout the game and season and didnt bend.
After losing alot of players last season, we knew that it was going to be tough to get back. We didnt question ourselves we knew if we worked hard it could do it, he said.