On Thursday, the Red Storm boys defeated the Beekmantown Eagles 51-44 in the inaugural Section VII Champions Challenge at the Clinton Community College gym.

The challenge was a clash between Section VII champions before heading off to the state tournament. Saranac Lake, the sectional Class B champions, faced off against the Class A winners.

Zack McCarthy and Mik Denkenberger paced the Red Storm with 15 points each. Cedar Crist added 11 points in the win to help the team improve to 16-7 overall.

“We really moved the ball well,” McCarthy told members of the media on Thursday. “We pressed up a lot, and I thought our pressure really led to a lot of transition. We threw ahead well, everyone played together and I thought our defense really brought it together tonight.”

Saranac Lake’s Cedar Crist lays up a shot during Thursday’s Section VII Champions Challenge against the Class A champion, Beekmantown Eagles, at the Clinton Community College gym in Plattsburgh. Also pictured is Beekmantown’s Garrett Pelkey, who formerly played for the Tupper Lake basketball team. (Provided photo — Joey LaFranca)

The Red Storm jumped out to an early first quarter lead, and remained on top the rest of the way, despite some runs by the Eagles.

Alek Duprey scored 10 points for Beekmantown, which dropped to 13-8 overall.

Earlier in the season, Saranac Lake suffered a 45-43 loss to the Eagles on their home court. However, the team has found a bit of a groove as of late.

“We haven’t beaten them in the last three years, so that’s really big for us, said McCarthy, who was also named the game’s MVP. “For every one going into the tournament, that’s going to be huge because the confidence is high right now.”

Up next, the Red Storm will take on the winner of the Section 2, Class B tournament — either Mechanicville or Greenville depending on who wins the championship game today. Saranac Lake’s subregional game will be held at 5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park on Tuesday.

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Saranac Lake 51, Beekmantown 44

Eagles 8 12 6 18 — 44

Red Storm 16 9 15 11 — 51

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Individual stats

B — Estes 0-0-0; Beebe 1-0-2; Porter 2-0-6; Williams 3-1-7; Brunson 2-0-5; Herrera 2-1-5; Sand 2-0-4; DeBella 1-0-2; Hagadorn 1-0-2; Pelkey 1-0-2; Duncan 0-0-0; Duprey 5-0-10. Totals: 20-2-44.

SL — Mik Denkenberger 5-3-15; Zack McCarthy 6-0-15; Cedar Crist 5-0-11; Dillon Wilson 2-0-4; Alius Martelle 1-2-4; Sam Clark 1-0-2; Connor Gillis 0-0-0; Zack Goetz 0-0-0; Gunner Harrison 0-0-0; Noah Hastings 0-0-0; Levi Lambert 0-0-0; Finn Maiore 0-0-0; Austin Webb-Brown 0-0-0; Elias Willett 0-0-0. Totals: 20-5-51.

3-point goals: Saranac Lake (6): McCarthy 3, Denkenberger 2, Crist. Beekmantown (2): Porter, Brunson.