The senior trio of Cedar Crist, Mik Denkeberger and Zack McCarthy once again led the way for the Red Storm, scoring a combined 56 points. Crist had a team-high 21 points, McCarthy added 18 and Denkenberger chipped in with 17.

The Saranac Lake boys squad improved to 11-1 overall and is currently ranked 12th in the state for Class B boys basketball, according to the latest New York State Sports Writers Association poll. The team’s only defeat came in a 56-55 overtime road loss to another state-ranked team, the Madrid-Waddington Yellow Jackets, on Dec. 27.

While the Red Storm put together a strong offensive outing, Saranac Lake’s head coach, Daryl Crist, was proud of his team’s defensive effort, especially since they are playing without two of their forwards.

“We’re playing some new people,” he said. “I thought we executed our stuff, the way we wanted to do, the best that we could. It was really a high-level defensive pressure, and as always, playing as a team, sharing the ball, moving the ball, things like that.”

Saranac Lake’s Owen Hybicki looks to make a play during Tuesday’s game against Tupper Lake. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

The Red Storm jumped out to a 22-7 lead after the first quarter on Tuesday, and relied more on its defense to maintain control the rest of the way.

“We’re trying to push the pace, trying to spread the floor and it is all based on our defensive pressure,” Coach Crist said. “Really, the pressure in the steals is a result of what we’re trying to do.”

Tupper Lake had solid runs in the second and third quarters, but couldn’t keep up with Saranac Lake’s experienced squad. The young Lumberjacks have just two seniors on the team, as the rest are underclassmen.

Tupper Lake’s Tim Peterson and Colin Strack added nine points each, while John Tower and Ethan Barkley each scored eight. Gaetano LaBue also chipped in with four points for the Lumberjacks, which dropped to 3-9 overall.

For Saranac Lake, the defending Section VII, Class B champions, the victory marked its sixth in a row. The team is off to its best 12-game start to a season in well over 20 years, and Coach Crist credited that to his players.

Tupper Lake’s Colin Strack takes a shot during Tuesday’s game against Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“We have 12 boys, who are all working extremely hard,” he said. “They’re working extremely well together, with common goals, common interests and they’re really coming in every day with being focused on what we’re trying to do. That translates into the wins. We’re gonna have a tough stretch, with league games coming out, but I believe in the boys. And, the boys are super excited, but it’s really the work ethic and the togetherness of the team that is getting us to 11 and 1.”

Up next, the Red Storm will take on the Plattsburgh Hornets at 7 p.m. today on the road. The Hornets are 5-4 overall. The team’s next home game is slated for next Thursday against the Northern Adirondack Bobcats.

Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks will host the Madrid-Waddington Yellow Jackets (8-3 overall) at 7 p.m. today.

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Saranac Lake 71, Tupper Lake 38

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Lumberjacks 7 12 11 8 — 38

Red Storm 22 15 19 15 — 71

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Individual stats

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Tupper Lake (38): John Tower 2-2-8; Tim Peterson 4-0-9; Ethan Barkley 1-5-8; Gaetano LaBue 2-0-4; Colin Strack 4-0-9; Charlie Skiff 0-0-0; Noah Switzer 0-0-0; Jude Augustine 0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-7-38.

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Saranac Lake (71): Zack McCarthy 6-6-18; Cedar Crist 10-0-21; Mik Denkenberger 8-1-17; Connor Gillis 2-0-5; Levi Lambert 1-0-2; Noah Hastings 0-0-0; Elias Willett 2-0-4; Maddox Hamelin 1-0-2; Josh Kunath 0-0-0; Owen Hybicki 1-0-2. TOTALS: 31-7-71.

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3-point goals: Tupper Lake (5): John Tower 2, Ethan Barkley, Tim Peterson, Colin Strack. Saranac Lake (2): Cedar Crist, Connor Gillis.