Potsdam 60, Canton 52
This game had the stands of Maxcy Hall at SUNY Potsdam jam-packed. The attendance only kept growing throughout the game as well. The magnitude of the game was palpable in the stadium as both fanbases (each astoundingly large) were trading cheers throughout it. The main event in the North Country (even compared to the other championships) didn’t disappoint either, as the game was incredibly close until the final moments.
We had seen Potsdam’s offense steamroll the Bears, but Canton’s offense hadn’t shown up until this game. Canton needed a slew of new sets to compete due to the stingy defense from the Sandstoners. This is no knock on the second seed, though, as Canton held the dynamic duo of Ian VanWagner and Brodie Delaney to just 20 points, half of their per game average. That was the game plan coming into the game, as it was the other two. The inside-out duo is one of the best section X has ever seen, and neither of them are seniors. The execution among the other 3 starters for the Sandstoners was what brought the championship back to Potsdam. The aptly named Cash Greene scored 17 points; 10 in the first quarter on difficult midrange pull-ups and fadeaways. Croatian transfer student Miha Krsic displayed his three level scoring ability as well. He scored 18 points including 4 threes, staunchly different from his dismal 0-9 three point shooting performance in the first two games. He is the only loss for this Potsdam team after this year, nevertheless a big one.
The first quarter was one of the most entertaining offensive quarters for both of these teams. They quadrupled the first quarter score of the first game: 6-4 developed into 22-19. It was blow for blow, as Potsdam started out 8-2 but Canton’s sizzling pace, scoring in 8 seconds or less on the majority of their buckets kept them in the game. One thing Potsdam did very impressively was fighting off-ball screens. That was what the Bears offense focused on, and they did it very effectively at times, but the defense side hustle was able to stifle some of the Bears offensive possessions. These two teams looked very even all throughout, but in different ways. Potsdam very rarely ran any sort of set play to generate offensive looks, it was mostly swinging the ball around the perimeter and relying on individual talent, whereas Canton ran a set play almost every time down and used off-ball screens and great passing to generate buckets.
The second quarter was bad offensively for both teams, but Canton didn’t score for the last 5:36 of the first half. Stretches like that were what lost the game. It was bad shot after bad shot and the Canton starters, who played 90%+ of the game started to get a little bit fatigued. Both teams had a cold quarter after the scalding first. The total field goal percentage went down from 59% to 33%. John Wilcox had a surprising offensive impact. He is Canton’s “Bruiser”, always guarding the other teams best player and making an impact outside of the stat sheet, but he went 4/7 from the field including six points in the first half, and he displayed great touch around the rim. On the other hand though, Wilcox had seven turnovers. Jackson Ames also proved that his previous performance against Potsdam was a fluke, scoring a team-high 14 points and holding Delaney to half of that total. He also posted seven boards and just one turnover.
In the third quarter, the Bears built up a four point lead that quickly evaporated because of two massive Krsic threes. The teams kept own trading blow until the end of the third quarter, where the Bears banked in a three and Zadok Roiger hit a fadeaway push shot that touched just about every part of the rim before dropping at the horn. Roiger is an impressive shot maker that shoots a ridiculous 61% from the field and 45% from three. The Bears lose 4/5 starters, but retaining him will be important if the Bears want to contend for a title next year with Ogdensburg and Potsdam who both lose next to no players.
The Bears held a one point lead going into the fourth. We were in for a thrilling finish. The fourth quarter went similarly, but Potsdam ended up taking the game based on good shot making. VanWagner sunk a three and stretched the lead to five with 3 minutes left and Potsdam wouldn’t let Canton back in it. It was demoralizing bucket one after another and solid free throw shooting that sealed up the championship in Potsdam.