GAME OF THE WEEK: Saugerties vs. Red Hook [VIDEO]

By Charlie Cornacchio

NEW PALTZ - It doesn't get much better than a 1 point game with 10 seconds left on the clock for the win with a sectional title game on the line.  Especially if your school had never won one in its history.

Saugerties and Red Hook battled down to the last second in a game that saw 8 ties and never more than a three point deficit either way. The Sawyers were bounced out of the Sectional championship last year, by Red Hook and wanted to make sure the same scenario wasn't repeated.

Paton Gibbs contributed 21 points towards that mission, but it still came down to the final 10 seconds. Down 54-53 with 10.7 seconds left in the game, Red Hook had a chance to break Saugerties heart. Off the inbounds pass, Mike Michitsch rounded the inside and offered a layup that would have put the Red Raiders ahead by one.  The ball bounced in and out of the rim and there was a mad scramble for the rebound.  

Darnell Edge grabbed the rebound just as the buzzer sounded to officially end the game and Saugerties held on to make history! 54-53 was the final score.  

"In the time out just before that last play Coach said we have to play the hardest 10 seconds of defense we've ever played in our lives," recalled Edge. "I just gabbed that ball with both hands and I wasn't letting go."

Side Note:  Darnell Edge needs just 7 points to hit the 1000 point milestone for points scored in his career.  Saugerties gets a first round bye in the state tournament and will play either Section 1's Spring Valley or Section 2's Union Endicott  at SUNY New Paltz on March 14.