Slowed down by the opposition, and fighting the nerves of playing in the state Class C final four for the first time, the Syracuse Academy of Science boys basketball still has found its way to Saturday night’s state championship game. The Atoms rallied and, with an airtight defense, held Section II champion Greenwich without a point in the last four minutes to record a 39-33 victory over the Witches in Friday afternoon’s state semifinal at Glens Falls Civic Center. For a team that averaged nearly 80 points a game this winter, SAS managed not even half that total on this day – its lowest of the season – and still reached the state final because it stayed patient, adjusted its style and made all the tough plays when it counted most. Nerves were apparent throughout the first quarter – which suited Greenwich fine as, playing in front of close to a home crowd, it kept the Atoms in check and seized a 9-6 lead. To counter, SAS looked inside to center Ahmet Tunali, who did gain enough space for 10 first-half points and helped his side nudge in front, 18-16, by halftime. Rarely did SAS get the fast-break opportunities it had used to such an effective degree in its last two playoff games as the Witches’ perimeter defenders stayed right with Dakeem McLain, DeOndray Tape and Jamon Haddon, never giving them room to run. Still, the Atoms nearly pulled clear late in the third period, when McLain pulled off a three-point play and Tunali converted again inside. The Atoms’ lead grew to 31-25 – and then it promptly went without a point in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, allowing Greenwich to move ahead with an 8-0 run. But after Joe Estramonte’s go-ahead basket with four minutes left that broke a 31-31 tie, SAS put up its defensive wall, its 3-2 zone pressure keeping the Witches off the board and setting up the Atoms’ decisive push. After Kaleel Johnson’s free throw made it 33-32, SAS withstood two Greenwich misses, then watched Johnson drive to the basket and convert high off the glass, giving the Atoms the lead for good. Tunali’s free throw made it 35-33, and as the final minute wound down, Greenwich still had time to tie or go ahead. But forward Ryan McFee’s jumper to pull the Witches even was way off line and, with 16.7 seconds to play, Jamon Haddon was fouled. Facing the biggest pressure free throws of his career, Haddon, with a one-and-one opportunity, made them both, and Greenwich could not answer as Tunali sealed the victory with a rebound basket in the waning seconds. All told, Tunali had 17 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. On Saturday night, SAS meets Friends Academy, from Nassau County, Long Island, for the state Class C championship. Friends needed overtime to get past Buffalo I-Prep 53-48 in the other semifinal. The game will be televised at 7:15 on Time Warner Cable Channel 1026.