Troy season ended by New Hartford, 69-60

Two teams that entered sectional play not expected to reach the state Class A boys’ basketball playoffs faced off Wednesday night at Liverpool High School. New Hartford, a squad that entered its game against Troy with an 0-4 record vs. Section II squads this season, finally managed to prevail as it posted a 69-60 victory over the Flying Horses to advance to a state quarterfinal contest Saturday against Massena.

Troy (13-11), the No. 3 seed in the Class A sectionals, accomplished the same things the Spartans (15-10) did by knocking off the No. 1 and 2 seeds to win a championship. Wednesday, the Flying Horses spent the bulk of their evening playing from behind against a New Hartford program that reached the 2022 state final.

“We only scored 19 points in the first half. That is kind of against what we do,” Troy coach John Killian said. “In the second half, we kind of got into the game and went up 54-51 (on a threepoint play and dunk by junior guard Terrance Clark). They hit a banked 3, which was big, and they made their foul shots. Credit to them.”

New Hartford opened its season with a 72-52 loss against Albany Academy. The Spartans also suffered losses against Amsterdam (85-72), Mekeel Christian Academy (71-66) and Saratoga Springs (57-52).

Jameson Stockwell hit a 3pointer to put the Spartans ahead to stay at 56-54.

Chatham 50, Moriah 46: Chatham’s boys scored a second straight victory against the state’s No. 1 team by scoring the final seven points in the last 11 seconds to hand the Vikings their first loss in 23 games in a Class C regional. Chatham (21-4) earned its first state playoff win as Anthony O’dell tied the game at 46 with a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left.

Greenwich 49, Northeastern Clinton 41: The Greenwich girls raced out to a 17-4 lead after one quarter, stumbled in the second quarter and held on to improve to 25-0 and advance to Saturday’s state quarterfinal at Suny-potsdam against Section X champion Canton (16-7). Greenwich closed the third quarter ahead 40-30 when freshman guard Brooke Kuzmich drained a 3-pointer.