- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,364
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
North Warren won the Section 2 Class D title. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
GLENS FALLS - As the clock ticked down, James Cuyler clapped his hands as he looked out at the Harding Mazzotti Arena court. Then, the North Warren boys' basketball coach turned around and raised his arms to his team's fans, prompting them to applaud and celebrate as the Cougars' successful rally neared its conclusion.
The top-seeded Cougars came to life after making just 7-of -30 shots during the first half and registered a 53-41 victory over Fort Ann for the Section 2 Class D championship on Saturday.
The win gave the Cougars the program's third Section 2 Class D title since 2023, a run that included a 2024 state championship. North Warren played in Class C a season ago, falling to eventual state champion Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the sectional finals, but returned to Class D this season.
They did so, though, without Semaj Cuyler, the coach's son and the most valuable player of the 2024 Class D state tournament, who is now playing at Bella Vista College Preparatory School in Phoenix, Ariz.
If losing Semaj Cuyler, a 6-foot-4 standout sophomore guard, made people outside the North Warren program believe the Cougars would find maintaining their success difficult, Saturday's win - the third this season for North Warren (19-4) against Fort Ann (14-9) - certainly proved to be satsifying for James Cuyler and his players.
"It has been a huge chip on our shoulders all year. Other schools have been talking all year… how we weren't going to do anything. I'm glad we proved them wrong. I knew we could do it," said North Warren senior guard Coleman Swartz, who was named the tournament's MVP after producing 12 points, six rebounds and six assists Saturday. "I give thanks to coach. He was our MVP of the year. If it wasn't for Coach, it wasn't going to happen."
"We heard the noise. We heard everything and we used it as motivation," James Cuyler said. "We knew what we had to do and I used it. I told them, 'They don't think you're good without (Semaj).' Yes, it is a big loss, but I wanted them to know they were as good as anybody on that court."
On Saturday, North Warren went long stretches without scoring during the first half, but trailed just 20-16 at halftime.
In the second half, the Cougars came alive. They took their first lead and completed the third quarter up 37-32. Beckett Kelly and William Lindsley each knocked down 3-pointers to put North Warren ahead to stay.
"Once our shots started falling, it was momentum. We kept going," Swartz said.
"We're a streaky team. We see one go in, we're good," James Cuyler said. "It wasn't a concern to me that we were missing shots (in the first half) because… we were only down four."
Timmy Webb finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Kaydence Cutter added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Cardinals.
Chase Sheidegger tallied nine points and all-tournament selection Brodie Rooker contributed eight points for North Warren.
"The first time we won sectionals, it felt surreal. As a senior now, it is win or go home. Winning this one makes the moment so much bigger for me in my senior year," Swartz said. "It has been an emotional ride."
"I am so proud of these guys. You don't even understand," James Cuyler said. "A lot of these guys during the summer, before they knew Semaj was leaving, were part of the puzzle. Now, they are the puzzle."
This article originally published at North Warren boys' basketball returns to top of Section 2 Class D landscape.
Continue reading...
