Niskayuna survives semifinal thriller to move on to AA state championship

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It went down to the final buzzer between Section 2's Niskayuna and Section 5's Greece Athena in the New York State Boys Basketball Class AA semifinal on Thursday. The Trojans could not get the friendly roll they needed as the horn sounded, giving the Silver Warriors a 48-47 win to move on to the state championship game.

It was a back-and-forth contest from the start, both teams trading buckets in the first quarter that ended all tied at 13. It was more of the same in the second, however Niskayuna was able to earn the momentum heading to the half when Jake McDonald knocked down a corner 3 just before the horn, sending the Silver Warriors to the break with a 27-26 lead.

The Silver Warriors carried that momentum into the third quarter, the program's all-time leading scorer, Daniel Smalls, helped lead the way as the team built the lead to 5 before the end of the quarter. Niskayuna extended the advantage to 7 early in the 4th.

Greece Athena did not back down, fighting all the way back to take a 1-point lead with 3:45 to play. With less than 2 minutes remaining, the deficit was 3 points for Niskayuna, until Ethan Gilson drained a 3 pointer to tie the game at 45.

Both sides would go to the line for a pair of free throws in the following minute, Niskayuna only made one while Greece Athena took advantage of both to take a 47-46 lead. With less than 20 seconds to play, Niskayuna's Brady Olsen drove the baseline and drew a foul, earning 2 more free throws with just seconds remaining.

Olsen missed both from the charity stripe, however Garrett Gillooley grabbed the offensive board for the Silver Warriors and scored the clutch second chance points to give Niskayuna a 1-point lead with just 6 seconds remaining.

Greece Athena had the chance to respond in the final seconds, after their first chance was no good, I'zick Reaves quickly grabbed the miss and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, however the floater did not fall as Niskayuna held on for the win.

Smalls led the way for the Silver Warriors with 17 points in the contest. Olsen and Gilson also reached double digits with 12 points and 10 points.

With the win, Niskayuna advances to the state championship game on Friday at 6 p.m. The Silver Warriors will face Binghamton High School at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.