PLATTSBURGH —It was a close game in the first half, then Bolton started to flex its muscle.
The Eagles defeated the Wildcats of Wells 62-49 in a Section VII Class D boys’ championship game Saturday.
“Yeah, I think we realized that once we started playing our game and we started playing together, it just settled down,” Jace Hubert said. “I mean, it took us the first half to settle down. Once we did, then we started pulling away.”
It happened gradually. As the game was tied at 34, Bolton began to pull away, going on small runs of 6-0 or 7-0. Eventually, they had the game in hand and could start to enjoy the notion of repeating.
“It’s amazing,” Jaxon Egloff said. “You know, not many teams can even win one, let alone two … We’re just a big community here to give these sectional championships to the fans. Means everything.”
Egloff led the Eagles with 21 points as Hubert added 19 and Will Hens finished with 11.
Wells was led by its dynamic duo of Chase Brooks and Hunter Passmore. Brooks finished with a game-high 24 points with Passmore adding 15.
The teams met in the regular season once, with Bolton winning 68-29. That would instill confidence in anyone, but Egloff said it was a new game in the championship.
“Obviously, we got the confidence beating them by about 40 last time,” he said. “But every game is a new game. You know, they didn’t have the best shooting of their last game time. They came out hot, and we just had to equalize it.”
One thing that was noticeable was the effective and quick passes the team made, often finding the extra pass to an open shot or to slow things down if needed. These guys have been playing together for a long time.
“I mean, it was awesome,” Hubert said. “I mean, this group of kids, we’ve been playing together since elementary school. We’ve had the same team, so it’s just about time that we’re making things happen and to do it in front of our parents, families and friends. It’s like, it couldn’t be better.”
Now Bolton will look to advance further in the state playoffs. They receive a bye into a NYSPHSAA Regional Final, which will be played March 14 at 2 p.m. at CCC. If they win that game, they’re headed to Binghamton.
And this team looks ready.
“We have a lot of practices to get ready for that and really still have to work hard mentally,” Hubert said. “We still got to be in it. And, you know, one game we’re in Binghamton, so, I mean, we really just got to put stuff together and keep our heads focused. That’s the game last year that we got eliminated. We got to come out hungry. Can’t lose again”
They will have one final tune up as the Eagles will face the Bobcats of NAC in the Champions Challenge Thursday at 6 p.m at CCC.
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Bolton 62, Wells 49
Wells (49)
Wells Brooks 8-6-24, Smith 1-0-2, Passmore 5-4-15, Stuart 2-0-5, Johnson 1-1-3. TOTALS: 17-11-49
Bolton (62)
Egloff 9-2-21, Hubert 7-3-19, Figueroa 1-0-2, Hens 5-1-11, Foy 4-1-9. TOTALS: 26-7-62
Halftime- Bolton, 31-30
3 point goals- Bolton (3) Egloff, Hubert 2. Wells (4) Brooks 2, Passmore, Stuart