SYRACUSE – A team, a long-time coach and a long-suffering fan base finally had a reason to smile and celebrate.
Chittenango’s 56-48 victory over Utica Academy of Science Sunday at SRC Arena meant much more than just the boys basketball Section III Class B championship.
It also brought an end to a 45-year wait for a sectional title. Now the Bears’ long-ago brush with glory in 1977 has some company.
John Clancy, Chittenango’s head coach through a majority of this stretch, deflected the accolades thrown his way, saying he was happiest for the players who dealt with – and matched – outsized expectations throughout this 22-1 season.
However, junior guard Alex Moesch made it clear he, and his teammates, wanted badly to bring Clancy a title.
“It was way past due,” said Moesch. “Our team did it for him.”
Doing it required getting past a tough UAS squad who withstood Chittenango’s typical fast start and erased a 15-point second-half deficit.
Less than three minutes remained and the Atoms had pulled even, 46-46, but had just missed on a chance to take its first lead of the game.
Having seen its trademark long-range shooting neutralized, the Bears saw it return at the best possible time when Ty Kelly hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers less than a minute apart.
“I was just feeling the moment and was in a good shooting mindset,” said Kelly.
“Ty was shooting poorly in recent weeks,” said Clancy. “But he’s not afraid. In games like this you need those type of kids.”
Freshman Ryan Moesch’s driving layup with less than a minute left made it 54-48 and Alex Moesch, the sectional tournament MVP, made a pair of free throws to clinch it.
It was Kelly whose 11 points sparked the Bears’ quick start as it jumped out 9-2 and, with an 8-0 spurt, extended the lead to 24-10 early in the second quarter.
Then, as Clancy put it, “we got tentative for a while”, which allowed UAS to extend its defense and take away Chittenango’s usual variety of shooting options.
Then the Atoms’ offense came to life late in the third quarter, sparked by Donald Grant, who had 11 points in a 19-4 run that tied the game 42-42 early in the final period.
Only when Kelly hit his big 3-pointers was Chittenango able to withstand the fine effort from UAS and delight the large contingent of Bears fans on hand.
Kelly led with 19 points, with Alex Moesch getting 14 points and Ryan Moesch 12 points. Freshman Donelious King led the Atoms with 15 points.
When the team buses returned Chittenango, they were welcomed by a long parade of fire trucks, making for a large escort and a hero’s welcome that rang out all over the village, celebrating a historic win.
Now Chittenango could focus on trying to win a state championship as it will face Section IV champion Seton Catholic in this Sunday’s regional final in Binghamton. The winner advances to the March 19-20 state final four in Glens Falls.
