New Hartford boys basketball team headed to NYSPHSAA state championship

The New Hartford Spartans defeated Section VI’s Amherst Central Tigers 52-50 in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys basketball semifinals at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls Saturday afternoon to advance to the championship round.

Both teams started off the game slow with the first basket not coming until after the six-minute mark.

“These big courts, it's tough to score,” New Hartford Head Coach John Randall said. “Everybody’s been so scouted right now too with the film, you know, you just have to grind.”

After one quarter, the Spartans led 10-6.

In the second quarter, both offenses seemed to settle in a bit as the teams traded baskets and swapped the lead a few times. With time expiring in the second quarter, New Hartford’s Andrew Durr drained a three-point basket to give the Spartans a 24-21 lead heading into the locker room.

In the third quarter, Amherst managed to take a 27-26 lead, but New Hartford responded with scores from Zach Philipkoski, Will Trela and Durr to regain the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

With only eight minutes separating New Hartford from from the school’s first ever boys basketball state championship appearance, Philipkoski took over.

“It was Philipkoski in the fourth quarter. It was everybody for the first 30 minutes,” Randall said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

In the fourth quarter, Philipkoski scored 14 of his game-high 28 points to seal the New Hartford win.

“In the end, when we wanted somebody to have the ball, it was (Philipkoski) and he cashed in all the foul shots that he took.”

What it means

The Spartans improve to 24-2 and will head to the state championship for the first time in team history.

By the numbers

Philipkoski led all scorers with 28 points. He shot 13 of 14 from the free throw line, blocked three shots and added seven rebounds.

The Spartans did not allow a single three-point basket. Amherst shot 0 for 13 from long range.

Amherst’s Teddy McDuffie controlled the offensive glass with a game-high 13 rebounds and 21 rebounds overall. McDuffie also contributed a team-high 20 points.

Unsung heroes

New Hartford’s Andrew Durr was named a NYSPHAA Class A Sportsmanship Award winner. Durr also scored nine points for the Spartans.

Connor Karwowski added four points, but did all the dirty work for New Hartford with his team-high seven rebounds, team-high 4 steals and two blocks.

New Hartford’s Jake Martyniuk who is not part of the usual rotation had to step up and play important minutes when Colton Suriano picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter. Martyniuk grabbed one rebound, had one steal and a pair of deflections.

They said it

“You’ve got to respect the game and that's how I take it. You've got to respect the game and if you don't respect it, then obviously you'll lose the game because karma will come back to bite you in the butt.” – Durr on being named Sportsmanship Award winner.

“It feels good to put our little town on the map. Everyone's going to be like, ‘New Hartford, where's that from? Oh, Utica-area,' but like we're just outside of Utica. It feels good that we're like upping Utica a little bit.” – Durr

“That was great defense by the two guards on top.” – Philipkoski on the Spartans holding Tigers’ leading scorer Nick Moore to 10 points.

“It feels great. It's awesome.” – Philipkoski on being part of the first ever New Hartford boys basketball team to play for a state championship.

“I just think mentally we dug in; I didn't think it had anything to do with physicality. I think mentally these kids just grilled themselves to believe they can get it done. We boxed out a little bit harder, our close outs were better, but at the end again, the chemistry, I'll tell you guys again. It's all 13 guys.” – Randall on the team’s response too playing a physical Amherst team.

What’s Next

The Spartans will take on Section VIII’s Manhasset (24-1) in the state championship 1 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. New Hartford’s boys basketball team will look to join the girls soccer team as state champions this school year.

Kenny Lacy is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Kenny Lacy at klacy@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New Hartford defeats Amherst Central, advances to state championship