Mar 13, 2025
Saranac Lake’s Zack McCarthy, right, dribbles past Mechanicville’s Alex Shakow during Tuesday’s subregional game at Shenendehowa High School. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
CLIFTON PARK — Saranac Lake’s historic boys basketball season came to an end on Tuesday.
Just 10 days after winning its first sectional title in 27 years, the Red Storm suffered a 70-42 loss to the Mechanicville Red Raiders in the NYSPHSAA Class B subregional round at Shenendehowa High School.
Saranac Lake came out red hot as senior Dillon Wilson scored eight points in the first four minutes of Tuesday’s contest to give his team a 10-2 advantage. However, the Red Raiders scored 15 consecutive points to claim the lead for good.
Mechanicville — which ranks No. 8 in the state for Class B boys basketball, according to the New York State Sportswriters Association’s latest poll — outscored their opponents 53-29 across the final three quarters.
Saranac Lake’s head coach Daryl Crist.
Saranac Lake’s Noah Hastings dribbles the ball up the court during Tuesday’s subregional game against Mechanicville in Clifton Park. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
The Red Storm finished the year with a 16-8 overall record, marking the first time since the 2006-07 season that the program has recorded 16 wins or more. They had entered Tuesday’s contest, having won their last three outings, which included two sectional playoff wins and a victory over the Section VII, Class A champion Beekmantown Eagles in the inaugural Section VII Champions Challenge.
Crist said.
Cedar Crist, a junior, led the Red Storm with 15 points, while fellow junior Zack McCarthy added 11 and Wilson had 10. Mik Denkenberger, a junior, added six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
Mechanicville’s Chris Couser led all scorers with 23 points, while teammates Cruz Goverski had 17 and Logan Starks scored 14. Mark Pingelski also reached double figures with 10 points.
The Red Raiders dug out of its eight-point hole in the early stages, through strong defensive play, forcing Saranac Lake into costly turnovers. Coach Crist said the team had prepared for their pesky 1-3-1 defense, but in-person, it’s different.
Saranac Lake’s Mik Denkenberger, right, dribbles past Mechanicville’s Alex Shakow during Tuesday’s subregional game at Shenendehowa High School. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
he said.
The Red Storm trailed 36-20 at halftime, and found some life in the third quarter, however back-to-back 3-pointers from Starks halted any sort of comeback attempt.
Mechanicville, which improved to 20-6 overall, advanced to the state quarterfinal round at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday at the Hudson Valley Community College gym in Troy. The Red Raiders will take on the winner of Wednesday’s subregional game against the Section X champion Potsdam Sandstoners and the Section III champion Marcellus Mustangs.
Saranac Lake players left the Shen court disheveled, as three seniors — Wilson, Sam Clark and Zack Goetz — closed out their varsity basketball careers. But with a bunch of returners, Crist said it was a great experience to be in this game, especially for program that has grown over the past few years.
Five years ago, the Red Storm boys basketball team won three total games. But this season, they were paraded out of their school, by students, and faculty members from both Petrova and the high school, who lined state Route 3 in support as they descended onto their first state playoff game in nearly three decades.
Coach Crist said.
–
Mechanicville 70, Saranac Lake 42
–
Red Storm 13 7 13 9 — 42
Red Raiders 17 19 16 18 — 70
–
Individual stats
–
SL — Mik Denkenberger 2-0-6; Zack McCarthy 5-1-11; Cedar Crist 6-1-15; Dillon Wilson 5-0-10; Alius Martelle 0-0-0; Sam Clark 0-0-0; Connor Gillis 0-0-0; Zack Goetz 0-0-0; Gunner Harrison 0-0-0; Noah Hastings 0-0-0; Levi Lambert 0-0-0; Finn Maiore 0-0-0; Austin Webb-Brown 0-0-0; Elias Willett 0-0-0. Totals: 18-2-42.
M — Landon Bronson 0-0-0; Mike Santiago 0-0-0; Logan Starks 5-0-14; Jack Salvadore 0-0-0; Brady O’Connor 0-0-0; Cruz Goverski 7-3-17; Mark Pingelski 5-0-10; Alex Shakow 0-0-0; Chris Couser 11-1-23; Brady Bergeron-Waite 0-0-0; Cam Morton 3-0-6; Riley Loatman 0-0-0; Ryan Gaba 0-0-0; Kolton Rinaldi 0-0-0. Totals: 26-4-70.
3-point goals: Saranac Lake (4): Denkenberger 2, Crist 2. Mechanicville (4): Starks 4.
LAKE PLACID (AP) — The U.S. won the mixed skeleton world championship for the first time Saturday night, after …
LAKE PLACID — For Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands, the collection of the biggest skeleton medals is complete. …
Copyright © Adirondack Daily Enterprise | https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com | 54 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 | 518-891-2600
