The Saranac Lake boys, who were nine days removed from locking up their first 20-win season in 32 years, couldn’t overcome their unusual offensive woes in the second half, closing out the year with a 20-4 overall record.

The Red Storm had been the better team through much of the first half, and led 16-13 late in the second quarter. However, a 3-pointer from the Trailblazers’ Xyon Jackson ignited a 9-0 run to end the opening half.

But after the break, that hot streak continued as KIPP closed out the third quarter with a 40-24 advantage and pulled away with a strong fourth quarter to essentially secure the win.

The Section 2 Class B champion, Trailblazers, will now take on the Section VIII champion, Carle Place Frogs, in the state semifinals at 4:15 p.m on Thursday in the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.

Saranac Lake’s Mik Denkenberger, right, shoots over KIPP Capital Region’s Ayden Taylor during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

The Albany-based KIPP Capital Charter School is in its first year as a team. Many of the team’s players and head coach transferred over from Green Tech – a Class AAA school – to compete for the Trailblazers this season.

So far, the switch has proven effective. KIPP owns a 16-5 overall record and is currently ranked second in the state for Class basketball, according to the New York State Sportswriters Association’s latest poll.

But the Red Storm, which ranks 16th in the state, still made life difficult for the Trailblazers, especially on the defensive end, holding KIPP to its least amount of points in a game in more than a month. As Saranac Lake’s head coach Daryl Crist simply put it, his team “came to win.”

“The boys fully thought and believed that we were the better team and thought we were gonna get it done,” Coach Crist said. “They played so hard, they were so focused all week. That’s who they’ve been for a long time.”

He’s not wrong. In four seasons, the Red Storm have won 60 games – while losing just 30 – as this season’s roster has played a huge role in that record. They’ve also won back-to-back Section VII, Class B titles, following a 27-year drought.

Saranac Lake’s Gunner Harrison fights through contact with KIPP Capital Region’s Tyler Hemingway for a shot during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“They built something special, and we recognize that,” Coach Crist said.


The Red Storm’s senior trio of Cedar Crist, Mik Denkenberger and Zack McCarthy combined for 30 points. Denkenberger, who recently became third ever Saranac Lake boys basketball player to score 1,000 career points, had 13, while Cedar Crist added 12 and McCarthy scored five. Junior Alius Martelle chipped in with four points.

KIPP’s Indavier Barnes, who scored 38 points in the Section 2 championship game last week, was held to just 13 points on Saturday. Nasir Ellis led the Trailblazers with a game-high 17 points, including 11 in the second half.

Coach Crist was proud of how his team battled and held strong, especially in the early stages of the contest.

“We had a good plan, and the boys played as hard as I’ve ever seen them play,” Crist said. “To be right there in the first half is a huge accomplishment. Once they got up, we had to make plays and continue to make plays. We had to make shots and
those shots didn’t go in today. Through the course of the year, the boys have made shots.”

Saranac Lake’s Zack McCarthy makes a move to get past KIPP Capital Region’s Jakai Arrington during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

They just didn’t seem to fly in on Saturday … and sometimes that’s the game of basketball.

Even with emotions high, the Saranac Lake players took a moment to thank the around 100 Red Storm faithful, who drove to Troy on Saturday for the regional contest. It was the final time six seniors — Connor Gillis, Noah Hastings, Levi Lambert, Cedar Crist, Denkenberger and McCarthy — hit the court.

Coach Crist held back emotions while describing this group as “selfless players,” who he’s thankful to have coached and to be around.

“We’ve had great leadership from those guys the last couple of years,” he said. “They just work and they love coming to the gym. They love being around each other. If you think of a team or a definition of a team, that’s what these guys are.”

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Saranac Lake’s Alius Martelle dribbles the ball during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final against KIPP Capital Region at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

KIPP Capital Region 56, Saranac Lake 34

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Trailblazers 9 13 18 16 — 56

Red Storm 6 10 8 10 — 34

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Saranac Lake’s Cedar Crist lays up a shot during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final against KIPP Capital Region at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

Individual stats

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Saranac Lake (34): Zack McCarthy 2-1-5; Cedar Crist 5-2-12; Mik Denkenberger 3-4-13; Gunner Harrison 0-0-0; Alius Martelle 2-0-4; Connor Gillis 0-0-0; Levi Lambert 0-0-0; Elias Willett 0-0-0; Maddox Hamelin 0-0-0; Noah Hastings 0-0-0; Josh Kunath 0-0-0; Owen Hybicki 0-0-0; Finn Maiore 0-0-0; Cooper Barry 0-0-0. TOTALS: 12-7-34.

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KIPP Capital Region (56): Indavier Barnes 5-3-13; Ayden Taylor 2-0-6; Kajmir Browning 0-0-0; Jonathan Asiamah 0-0-0; Xyon Jackson 1-0-3; Tyler Hemingway 3-0-6; Jakai Arrington 3-0-7; Samuel Boakye 0-0-0; Juelz McLean 2-0-4; Nasir Ellis 7-3-17; Donavan Watts 0-0-0. TOTALS: 23-6-56.

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3-point goals: KIPP Capital Region (4): Ayden Taylor 2, Xyon Jackson, Jakai Arrington. Saranac Lake (3): Mik Denkenberger 3.

Saranac Lake’s head coach Daryl Crist calls for a play during Saturday’s NYSPHSAA Regional final against KIPP Capital Region at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)