Boys’ Basketball

Unadilla Valley 47, Unatego 39

NEW BERLIN – Unadilla Valley kept its division title hopes alive and a bid at a third straight MAC championship toppling Unatego Wednesday in a battle of first-place teams.

The Storm struggled to put points on the board over the middle two quarters, and clung to 27-25 lead entering the last period. During those final eight minutes, the lead changed hands seven times with UV’s Darin Garcia putting his club up for good at the 1:40 mark.

Garcia drove into the lane and hit a running jump shot over two Unatego defenders making it 41-39. Garcia hit a free throw with 30 seconds left, and Josh Thomsen’s offensive rebound putback after Garcia’s missed free throw proved the dagger in Unatego’s victory hopes.

The Spartans turned the ball over twice and missed three three balls over the last minute, while also failing to score a point the last 3:25. “Both teams played really physical defense, and I thought that whoever had the ball last would probably win,” said UV coach Matt Osborne. “I thought Darin Garcia made a couple great moves in the fourth quarter going to the basket.”

Unatego apeared to assume control midway through the last quarter after Kyle Ray’s baseline drive for a layup and Kyle Palmer’s three-pointer in the corner upped the margin to 37-33 at the 3:52 mark.