Sophs spark Glens Falls
Lilac, Driscoll help put team into Class B final vs. Catholic Central
GLENS FALLS — The drive to take the lead was on for the Glens Falls boys’ basketball team Wednesday afternoon and sophomore guard Oscar Lilac would be the player steering the Indians in the right direction.
Lilac poured in back-to-back 3-pointers to break a deadlock against second-seeded Tamarac and put Glens Falls ahead in a Section II Class B semifinal just two miles away from the high school.
The second-half exploits from Kellen Driscoll, also a sophomore, and Lilac propelled the Indians into Saturday’s title game as they held on to beat Tamarac 69-67 at Cool Insuring Arena.
Glens Falls, seeded No. 3, returns to Cool Insuring Arena on Saturday to take on topseeded Catholic Central (22-1). Game time is 12:45 p.m.
Driscoll proved to be fabulous throughout the game, finishing with 26 points (9for-12 shooting), six rebounds and three steals.
“Kellen has been great all year and he played great today,” Glens Falls coach Rob Girard said. “To do that in a situation like that is unbelievable.” Lilac, who delivered 13 points, five assists and four steals, made the two most significant baskets of the game when he snapped a 42-42 deadlock with his two 3-pointers late in the third quarter.
“I just try to make big moments for my team when we need it so it can put us over the hump and give us energy to get past that team. That is a great team and a great team win,” Lilac said.
“That was big — the same thing as last game (against Schalmont) on Saturday,” Driscoll said of Lilac’s perimeter exploits.
“He came out in the second half and forgot about the first
half, and boom boom,” Glens Falls coach Rob Girard said. “They weren’t easy 3s. Those were deep 3s. He finally gave us the lead and got us going.”
Tamarac (20-3), paced by senior point guard Joey Poulin (game-high 32 points and nine rebounds), led 35-29 at intermission.
“We just had to lock on defense and start making those outside shots,” Driscoll said.
Scoring points was not always easy for the Bengals, even with the halftime lead, and Glens Falls raised its level dramatically at both ends in sparking a 19-7 surge to begin the second half capped by Lilac’s second straight 3-pointer.
Poulin and senior forward James Blake (12 points) kept the Bengals withing striking distance. Driscoll made four critical foul shots in the final minute, helping to offset a pair of 3-pointer from Poulin over the last 17 seconds.
“It is great. They got us bad last year,” Driscoll said, referring to a 79-38 loss to Tamarac in last year’s sectionals. “Poulin played great.”
“Our keys were to stop (Mikey) D’agostino and stop Poulin,” Girard said. “I don’t know if we stopped Poulin, but we slowed him down and I’d like to think we made it difficult for him. I thought we did do a good job on D’agostino (who went 1-for-8 on 3-pointers). He didn’t get comfortable outside shooting.”
The Indians will now attempt Saturday to slow down another high-powered offense from CCHS, paced by freshman stars Darien Moore and Sei’mir Roberson.
“They’ve got great kids on that team. They are a great team and are well-coached,” Girard said. “We just need to, again, get our assignments the next two or three days and try to figure it out. It is not going to be easy.”