PLATTSBURGH — Northeastern Clinton went 22 games straight this season without a single tally in the loss column.

Maybe because they have never faced a player like Gene Bouyer.

Bouyer scored 33 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and was a terror on the defensive end, leading Ogdensburg to a 69-38 thumping of Northeastern Clinton in the Class B boys' basketball regional semifinal Friday at the Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse.

Ogdensburg (19-6) resumes regional play tonight against Section II's Broadalbin-Perth in the Class B regional final 5:15 p.m. at the Field House.

Bouyer, Section X's leading scorer, headed to the bench with 3:36 remaining to a standing ovation from many Blue Devils faithful in the stands.

Northeastern Clinton coach Robb Garrand said he had never seen a performance like Bouyer's in his time coaching at the varsity level.

"We simply had no answer for him," Garrand said.

On the defensive end, Bouyer took Cougar forward Matt Farbotko, the CVAC's leading scorer, out of the game. Farbotko finished with 10 points, but had just six going into the fourth quarter.

The Cougars (22-1) only blemish on the season also became their last.

They started the game strong, going up 7-3 early in the first quarter. Ogdensburg's Owen Luckie hit a mid-range jumper with 2:50 left to put the Blue Devils up 11-9.

Although he had eight points in the first quarter, Bouyer really came on strong in the second and made sure his team never trailed again. He opened up the period with five straight points, adding a block and a steal between the buckets.

Bouyer finished with 13 in the quarter and added 10 in the third, sending his team into the final stanza with a more than comfortable 56-30 lead.

The Cougars gameplan to limit Bouyer's penetration to the basket backfired when the junior guard started sniping from long-range, finishing with five three-pointers. When Northeastern Clinton extended out to limit his perimeter game, Bouyer started slashing and found equal success.

"Tonight was one of, if not, his best outside shooting night," Ogdensburg coach Bill Merna said.

Garrand said Bouyer brought a mental advantage as well. At times he thought his players were more worried about where Bouyer was than finishing shots.

Bouyer often took advantage of any special attention given to him, setting up several easy buckets for his teammates. He finished with five assists.

"He was so dominant he makes everyone around him so much better," Garrand said.

Northeastern Clinton entered the game with history stacked against them, having not reached regionals since 1999. On the flip side, Ogdensburg has reached the state semifinals the past three years. Only two Section VII teams have reached the final four in the past decade, the last coming when Moriah lost to S.S. Seward, 68-52, in the 2003 Class D boys' final.

"You get a game like this, experience does help," Merna said.

Steven Carder paced Northeastern Clinton with a team-high 12 points and seven rebounds.

Jared Morrow chipped in 11 points for the Blue Devils.

After the game, Garrand didn't sidestep the results. He said he hoped the game would be more respectable, but was proud of the most successful season the Cougars have ever had.

Up until the regional loss, Northeastern Clinton was one of only four unbeaten teams in the state and had the second-longest winning streak with 22 wins.

The Cougars also had the distinction of defeating a team in every class — besting Massena (AA) and Malone (A) and going undefeated in the CVAC, which has teams from Class B, C and D.

"The journey has been wonderful," Garrand said.

—

Ogdensburg 69, NCCS 38

Ogensburg (69)

Ja. Rishe 2-0-5, Bouyer 13-2-33, Luckie 2-0-4, Remi 0-0-0, Morrow 5-1-11, Cosmo 0-1-1, Montana 0-0-0, Moore 0-0-0, Crowder 2-0-5, Merna 3-0-6, Ebersole 0-0-0, Gemmill 0-0-0. Totals: 17-8-69.

NCCS (38)

Sample 0-0-0, Lamberton 1-0-3, Davison 1-0-2, Hapgood 0-0-0, Farbotko 3-4-10, Chapman 4-1-9, Grimshaw 0-0-0, Collins 1-0-2, Letourneau 0-0-0, Carder 4-4-12, Manor 0-0-0. Totals: 14-9-38.

Ogdensburg18191913—69

NCCS127118—38

3-point goals: NCCS (1): Lamberton. Ogdensburg (7): Bouyer 5, Ja. Rishe, Crowder.