Berry rescues Peru; Nephew shoots Moriah past SL/N

PLATTSBURGH | Section VII's four girls basketball champions took the court one final time before the state tournament Wednesday, March 4, at Clinton Community College for a best-on-best showcase. PERU 47 SARANAC 41 PLATTSBURGH | Bella Berry delivered when Peru needed it most Wednesday night. The junior scored 14 of her 15 points in the second half as Peru held off Saranac for a 47-41 victory in the Section VII Champions Challenge. Berry helped stabilize the Nighthawks after CVAC Player of the Year Reese Duprey left the game with a lower-body injury. Duprey was helped off the floor with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. At the time of the injury, Peru led 28-19. The Nighthawks then went 5:52 without scoring as Saranac mounted an 8-0 run to pull within 28-27. Berry answered by scoring 11 of Peru's next 19 points. She knocked down three 3-pointers in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter that helped the Nighthawks create separation. Maddie Gagnier led Saranac with a game-high 24 points. She picked up her fourth foul just 11 seconds after Duprey's injury and was forced to sit for the remainder of the third quarter. Lily Brown kept the Spartans within striking distance during that stretch, going 6-for-8 from the free-throw line in the third quarter. All eight of Saranac's points in the period came at the foul line. Gagnier returned to begin the fourth quarter and scored nine more points before fouling out with 24.4 seconds remaining. Duprey scored all 10 of her points in the first half for Peru. Madi Marino added nine points and Violet Berry finished with eight. Brown also reached double figures for Saranac with 10 points. MORIAH 57 SCHROON LAKE/NEWCOMB 42 PLATTSBURGH | Moriah seized control from the opening tip Wednesday night and never looked back. The Vikings scored the game's first 16 points and built a lead as large as 28-5 on their way to a 57-42 victory over Schroon Lake/Newcomb in the Section VII Champions Challenge. Emmy Nephew fueled Moriah's fast start, scoring 16 points in the first half. She knocked down four 3-pointers in the opening 16 minutes and finished with five of the Vikings' nine shots from beyond the arc. Moriah continued to spread the scoring throughout the game, with eight players contributing points. Maggie Speshock added eight points, including two 3-pointers. Lexi Cheney carried the offense in the second half, scoring 10 of Moriah's 25 points after the break. Schroon Lake/Newcomb found its best rhythm in the fourth quarter. Olivia Hartwell scored 10 of her team-high 19 points in the period. Carly Smith added 14 points for the Wild Huskies, frequently attacking the basket and earning trips to the free throw line, where she attempted 16 shots.

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Berry rescues Peru; Nephew shoots Moriah past SL/N

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