Patriots keep their eye on the prize

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

The Broadalbn-Perth boys’ basketball team was a determined lot Saturday, and proved just how determined with a championship performance.

“They’ve been very focused the last few days,” coach Tucker Gifford said after his Patriots defeated Schuylerville, 55-47, for Section II Class B laurels. “Even after the Fonda win, I knew they weren’t going to let down. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but they found away, and it’s awesome.”

Shane Nethaway scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half to help stake his team to a lead, Brian Blake nailed a pair of key three-point baskets early in the third frame, and Robert Norgard flourished in the paint as Broadalbin-Perth won a title it let get away last year at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

“I’m glad we were able to get over the hump and finish it,” Gifford said after B-P won its fourth title, but first since 2002. “The guys didn’t want to just get back here. They wanted to finish it off.”

Nethaway was selected the Class B most valuable player after going 7-for-12 from the field with six rebounds, two steals and two assists.

“I was really disappointed last year,” the senior guard said of a 44-37 title-game loss to Hoosic Valley. “Today, I get to smile. This is the best feeling in my life.”

“The kid got cut when he was in seventh grade, and he got cut again in eighth grade,” Gifford said of Hathaway. “He made the freshman team, and he went from there. He’s been our glue.”

Hathaway scored six points in the second quarter and Brandon Bush nailed a three-pointer late as Broadalbin-Perth (No. 5, 17-7) turned a 16-15 deficit into a 32-26 lead. Blake added seven first-half points before connecting from long distance soon after.

“During the season we came out weak in the first half of a lot of games,” Hathaway said. “We changed that in the sectionals.”

Blake sank two of three long balls in a 9-3 run to begin the third quarter, and all-tourney pick Justin Boyles had a layup and foul shot, as the Patriots stretched their advantage to 41-29. Schuylerville (No. 11, 12-12) drew within seven on a three by Steve Backus and layup by Austin Bateman, at 41-34, and got as close as seven two more times in the final stanza.

“Those threes kept us going,” Gifford said. “They gave us a little distance there. They were big shots.”

At 6-foot-5, Norgard provided a big presence down low, and scored eight points, took down 11 rebounds and blocked five shots to spark another strong defensive performance by the Foothills Council representatives. Broadalbin-Perth previously stymied No. 1 seed Fonda-Fultonville (46-41), Granville (46-38) and Catskill (80-51) in tournament play.

The Patriots also contained Schuylerville in last year’s quarterfinals, in a 49-40 victory.

“Broadalbin-Perth is a tough team,” said Schuylervlle coach Matt Sgambati, after his Black Horses made just 16 of 56 shots from the field. “They contested shots. They didn’t make it easy.”

Brad Lyon was Schuylerville’s top point producer with 12, but the junior had only three in the second half, including a layup that made it 47-40. Tyler Barber added 10 points.

“I think our kids showed a lot of fight,” said Sgambati, whose team had beaten three higher seeds, including No. 3 Hudson Falls, to reach the final. “We couldn’t get over the hump, but they never could put us away.”

Schuylerville was denied its fourth championship since 2003. Broadalbin-Perth advances to regional competition Saturday at SUNY-Plattsburgh.