3RD TIMES A CHARM FOR HERKIMER

Herkimer, N.Y. - Herkimer (#2 seed) faced Fulton-Montgomery CC (#8) for the third time this season after having lost the previous two meetings.  F-M wasted no time making a their presence felt as they would jump out to an early 15 point lead within the first few minutes of play.  But Herkimer kept chipping away and cut F-M's lead to 35-31 by half. 

The second half was a different story for Herkimer.  The momentum shift from the end of the first half spilled over into the second half for Herkimer.  The Generals came out on fire.  No more than 5 minutes into the second half the Generals claimed the lead for the first time in the game.  

Sophomore guard Mattson Darrah (Porirua, New Zealand) hit a pair of clutch 3 pointers to give the offense a much needed boost.  Region III tournament MVP Derrick Felder (Yonkers, NY) controlled the tempo in the second half for Herkimer.  Felder's ability to score at key moments and find the open man proved to be the Generals recipe for success.    

Teshaun Beckles (Bronx, NY) led Herkimer's offense with 17 points.  Beckles ability to drive the lane and score gave Herkimer a much needed weapon on offense.  Big man Solomon Silas (Lagos, Nigeria) was a presence for the Generals beneath the basket.  Silas was 5-10 on the night inside the paint.  Silas hit a streak of shots that drew F-M's defense inside and shifted their focus.  The strategy worked as Beckles would draw 7 of his 17 points from the free throw line.  Melad Daoud's 6-10 from the line were equally as important due to Herkimer's porr percentage in the first half.  

Musa Pough (Brooklyn, NY) rounded out the big man performance.  Pough took advantage of his F-M's inability to stop him and scored 12 points of his own.  

Herkimer's first half woes were quickly forgotten as they soon found themselves where they had been most of the year - on top and ahead.  The Generals poured it on in the second half by outscoring F-M 43-29 and eventually winning 74-64.  The win makes Herkimer the District 1, Region 3 Championship Qualifier and earning a chance to to play for a national title.  

The Generals advance to the National Championship tournament at Sullivan CCC on March 15-17th, 2018: