Frank Speziale

DELHI – Enjoying the moments in life before they’re gone is key. This was a moment all the Unadilla Valley and Delaware Academy boys varsity basketball squads will remember – not only as a defining moment in their season but a memory of a great game that went down to the wire. Delhi defeated Unadilla Valley in the championship game 52-42 – it remains to be seen if UV will use the fine play and loss to fuel their way through the remainder of the postseason.

Not many people gave the Unadilla Valley boys a shot at beating state-ranked and top-seeded Sidney. A tall order for the fourth-seeded UV Storm in order to reach the MAC Championship on Saturday, Feb. 18, – but they did. Sophomore Andrew Jackson buried four straight free-throws to swing the game against Sidney from a 65-64 deficit to a 68-65 victory in favor of UV.

With the upset win over Sidney on Feb. 14, Unadilla Valley advanced to the MAC Championship to be played at SUNY Delhi against the second-seeded Delhi Bulldogs.

Eight minutes into the game and Unadilla Valley knew if they were to win against Delhi, it was going to be another nail-biter. The Storm led Delhi 8-6 after the first period of play. That is when the Bulldogs attacked – dropping 18 second period points on the UV and nearly suffocating any notion of close contest. But somehow when it was all said and done – the game remained a contest until the final moments.

UV was able to battle back from the 24-16 deficit at the half to cutting into the lead slightly when they outscored the Bulldogs 10-9 in the third period. The period pushed Delhi to a 33-26 game with just eight minutes to decide a champion.

UV's Levi Rifanburg continued a fine third period performance – where he balled out on both sides of the court to grab six of his 12 total points in the third – before attacked the rim for an early layup in the fourth at 7:20 to take the game to 33-28.

Enter phenom Andrew Jackson. Jackson finished with 21 points in the game, and prior to the fourth period was stifled to just 10. With the game on the line, UV's number one smashed his way through the Bulldog defense to draw the foul at 6:38 – going 1-2 Jackson took the game to 33-29. Jackson took the game to a mere three point margin following his layup with a long three-pointer as the sophomore heated up.

Toss in a performance of 1-2 from the line in the fourth period from UV's Dante Dye at 4:11 – following two field goals made from Delhi and the game remained in question at 39-35 in favor of Delhi.

Delhi's Tyler Dibble snagged his lone basket of the contest to help move his Bulldogs into a victory at 3:29 – however, Jackson again struck for the Storm. Jackson swooped in, intercepted the ball and sped down the court for an easy layup while drawing the foul and going 2-2 – an easy four points. The game stood in Delhi's favor at 41-39 with 3:08 left.