Acclaimed athlete Joel Wincowski now a basketball coach for Lake George

LAKE GEORGE | March 21, 2015 was a day that area basketball fans will never forget. The state high school Class C championship battle between Lake George and Waterville at the Glens Falls Civic Center had come down to its final three seconds, and the score was tied. A Lake George player passed the ball to teammate Joel Wincowski who was 10 feet behind the arc, and with an opponent's hand in his face, he stripped the net with a 30-foot jump shot — with 1.6 seconds left in the game — to win the state championship for his team. Witnessing this electrifying shot by Lake George's stellar shooting guard, the crowd roared — and the scoring-table crew was so stunned, they forgot to stop the clock. Wincowski's shot was described by USA Today as "ridiculously deep," saying it should count for four points. In the ensuing weeks, multiple online videos of his feat went viral. In recognition of his championship quest — which culminated in scoring the last seven points in the title game after the Warriors were one-point behind — Wincowski was named the 2015 state tournament MVP and Player of the Year. Two years earlier as a sophomore, Wincowski earned the same titles when he led his team to a state basketball championship, the first-ever such title for a boys sport at Lake George. He was also honored as a MaxPreps All-American player. Ending his high school career with 2,617 points, Wincowski surpassed Jimmer Fredette to be the highest-scoring basketball player in Section II's history, a title that endured for several years. His basketball career earned him a write-up in Sports Illustrated. After graduating, Wincowski played Division I basketball for University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) for one and a half seasons. He then moved on to Indiana Tech, where he was named an "Ultimate Warrior," a conference All-Star, and a member of the league's Champions of Character team — as well as a national Scholar-Athlete. After college, he played pro basketball, primarily in Europe, as well as playing pro ball for the Rochester Razor Sharks. While basking in the spotlight following Lake George's 2015 state championship feat, Wincowski said his career goal was to coach basketball. Fast-forward to December 2022, and Wincowski has achieved that dream, as he is now the head coach of the Lake George Varsity Boys Basketball team. He replaces Blake White, who retired from the position. Dec. 3, Wincowski reflected on his years on the court for Lake George. "We were able to be a winning program; that's all that mattered," he said with characteristic humility about his four years playing for Lake George High. "I had a good career — It was fun, I met some great people, including some who are my best friends," Wincowski said, referring to his subsequent experiences in college and pro basketball. Reflecting his reputation for humility, Wincowski steered the conversation toward his 2022-23 players. He said his players were coachable, respectful and hard-working, noting they listened carefully to the advice they have heard from him and his two Lake George classmates, Colby Cracco and Duncan Mularz. "We have a great group of players, and Lake George is a really good school with a great legacy in sports," he said. "Our goal is to continue that tradition and grow on it."

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Acclaimed athlete Joel Wincowski now a basketball coach for Lake George

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