Playing at home, Seton Catholic led from start to finish to claim a 59-44 victory over Saranac Lake to advance to the Class C semifinal round. The Red Storm, which fell 37-27 to the Knights on Dec. 1 during the only regular-season matchup between the teams, finished their campaign with a 4-17 mark.

Tom Murray and Neil Yang had the hot hands for fourth-seeded Seton Catholic as they combined for 37 points, which included six baskets from beyond the three-point arc. Murray knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points and Yang chipped in 17.

Playing in his final high school basketball game, senior Emery Swanson led fifth-seed Saranac Lake with 11 points, which included a trio of late 3-pointers after any hopes for a possible comeback had already slipped out of reach. Chris Peary and DJ Morgan were the Red Storm’s next top scorers, each finishing with seven points.

Saranac Lake trailed 19-7 at the end of the first quarter, and chipped that deficit down to six points in the next period, thanks in part to a full-court press that forced Seton Catholic into three quick turnovers. The Knights however, regained their composure and were able to push their lead back to a dozen points at intermission, and with a 29-17 advantage, they opened the second half with a 15-2 run and were never threatened the rest of the way.

Saranac Lake’s Zihad Cecunjanin looks to make a play with the ball in front of Seton Catholic defender Alex Sharon during Wednesday’s game. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“We were playing really in-your-face defense, but they knocked down seven threes in this game, and that’s something they didn’t do that last time we played them,” Saranac Lake head coach Dermott Morgan said. “We didn’t get off the bus. When I looked up, we were down by seven, down by 10 right away. We’re a team that struggles scoring on the offensive end anyways. I think that first quarter was the name of the game, and I also think we left a lot of easy buckets out there. The kids did everything right, they just didn’t finish, and that’s been our way all year long.”

Longtime Seton Catholic head coach Larry Converse said settling his players down while they struggled with Saranac Lake’s defensive pressure midway through the second quarter marked a turning point in the game.

“We took a time out. I think we were playing a little sloppy,” Converse said. “We had some unforced turnovers but they did a good job with their full-court press, too. They forced us into a couple turnovers that we normally don’t make, but then we went on a run, and I think that was the difference in the game right there.”

Despite the large deficit, Morgan was happy to see his team battle until the end.

“We never gave up, our guys kept on swinging,” Morgan said. “Even when we were down by 20 with about four minutes left, the kids didn’t want to quit. You have to tip your hat to Seton. They played a great game. Every time we started to make a run, they hit big shots. Our field goal percentage was below 20 percent all season. I asked the boys after the game, ‘Did we leave it all on the floor?’ They said yes we did. That’s all you can ask for.”

With the win, Seton Catholic now moves on to face top-seeded Ticonderoga in a game that will be played Tuesday at Beekmantown. The Sentinels own a 16-4 record and are currently ranked 15 in the Class C New York State Sportswriters Association poll.

Seton Catholic 59, Saranac Lake 44

Knights 19 10 17 12 — 59

Red Storm 7 10 10 17 — 44

Seton Catholic (59)

Yang 4-7-17, Ladieu 1-0-3, Sham 0-2-2, Pellerin 3-1-7, Murray 6-4-20, Osborne 0-0-0, Sharon 4-0-8, Ovios 1-0-2. Totals: 19-14-59.

Saranac Lake (44)

LaHart 0-0-0, Swanson 4-0-11, Shipman 1-0-2, Pellish 2-1-6, Cecunjanin 1-0-2, Paye 1-0-2, Morgan 3-1-7, Fletcher 2-0-4, Bevelaqua 1-1-3, Peary 3-0-7. Totals: 18-2-44.

Three-point goals: Seton Catholic (7), Yang 2, Ladieu 1, Murray 4. Saranac Lake (6), Swanson 3, Pellish 1, Morgan 1, Peary 1.

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Westport 47, Lake Placid 36

WESTPORT — The Lake Placid boys basketball season came to an end with a 47-36 loss Wednesday to Westport in the opening round of the Section VII, Class D playoffs.

Host Westport was paced by a balanced offensive effort that saw three Eagles score in double figures. Blake Liberi led the effort with 18 points and teammates Riley Martin and Will Napper added 10 each in the win.

Senior Jarell Paul had a strong outing in his final game for the Blue Bombers, finishing with a game-high 20 points.

The Eagles improved to 10-9 overall with the win while Lake Placid finished its season with a 6-15 mark.