GLENS FALLS — The Germantown boys’ basketball team pulled one of the postseason’s biggest upsets Tuesday night in the Section 2 Class D semifinal, beating second-seeded Hawthorne Valley 49-44.
The game was tied at 44 with 21 seconds left before senior post Aiden O’Brien took two dribbles from the 3-point line and two steps into the paint before laying it in for the go-ahead bucket. After a pair of defensive stops and trips to the free throw line, the Clippers had their third win of the season and first trip to a sectional final in five years.
Head coach Ryan Broast said the winning play was drawn up during a timeout at the 1:18 mark, with the Clippers’ initial option being shut down.
“The Plan B was to kind of just get it to Aiden made a little pick-and-roll action, trying to get him downhill, going to the hoop or attacking the basket, and I was holding my breath,” he said. “He went to the hoop, and he finished around the rim like he’s done all year long.”
No team led by more than six at any point Tuesday, with Hawthorne Valley leading 29-25 at halftime and 37-36 heading into the fourth quarter. O’Brien tied the game at 44 with 1:41 left when he was fouled on a successful layup and converted the free throw afterwards.
O’Brien was one of three scorers for Germantown, all of whom hit double-digits, finishing with 19 points, while Kyan Anderson hit four 3-pointers to total 16 and Brian Gardner made three triples to finish with 14.
Hawthorne Valley had a trio of double-digit scorers as well. Oliver Towe hit three 3-pointers to lead the Wildcats with 15, Noah Von Stein had 13 and Justin Gamiello totaled 12.
Germantown improves to 3-19 with the victory, having earned two of its three victories during sectionals, and will face top-seeded Loudonville Christian in Sunday’s title game at Hudson Valley Community College.
Hawthorne Valley ends its season 14-7, having completed its furthest postseason finish in school history.
