Editor’s note: The following are summaries of this weekend’s sectional basketball championship games involving Oxford’s boys, Otselic Valley’s boys, and Greene’s girls:
Otselic Valley (19-3) vs. New York Mills (16-6), Saturday, 12:45 p.m. at Manley Field House
David Loomis has been around basketball a long time, and he said earlier this week that any one of eight teams were legitimate contenders to win Section III, Class D titles. Now that number is at four, and Loomis’ Vikings play for their second D-2 title in three years when they match up with New York Mills Saturday.
New York Mills advance to the finals with a close upset win over top-seeded – and state-ranked – DeRuyter. “They got the ball inside and were able to utilize their size advantage,” Loomis said of the Marauders’ win. “DeRuyter was right with them, and a couple breaks here and there could have swung the game. They are a strong Class D school, and we’ll have to be at our best.”
The Vikings (19-3) reached the title game with an overtime win over Oppenheim-Ephratah, and a blowout first-round victory against Stockbridge Valley. A victory would set up a crossover game against the Class D division one winner. Two years ago, the Vikes were not so successful in the crossover losing in a blowout to New York Mills.