SARANAC LAKE — North Country Community College turned back Hudson Valley CC 2-1 Tuesday afternoon to reach the Region III Final Four in men's soccer.

The Saints (14-2-1), seeded No. 2, will face Mohawk Valley Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Tompkins-Cortland Community College.

Randy Danso slipped the ball past Vikings keeper Renardo at 23:44 to give host NCCC the early lead. Harley Hollinshead assisted with Rhys Calvano's long throw setting up the scoring play.

The Saints missed several chances to add to their lead, but Liam Gilbert found the lower right-hand corner of the net at 23:10 of the second half. Ernest Afful assisted.

Hudson Valley made it a one-goal game with seven minutes to play when Blaine Mendyrsa followed up a free kick by Colin Legge.

North Country peppered 31 shots on net while Hudson Valley had 12. Ryan Wignall made six saves for the Saints and Renardo, 13, for HVCC.

Women's basketball
NCCC wins opener

SARANAC LAKE — The North Country Community College women's basketball team started out its second year of existence on the right foot, defeating Jefferson Community College, 68-47, Tuesday night.

Olga Garcia led the Saints (1-0) with 17 points, while Kaitlin Cring added 14 and Dejanayee Williams had 10.

"The girls actually played really tough," Saints coach Jerrad Dumont said. "They played strong, they played with confidence which is good to see in the season opener."

North Country built up a 39-33 halftime lead and then pulled away in the second half.

The Saints host Fulton-Montgomery 1 p.m. Sunday in their next game.

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North Country 68, Jefferson 47

North Country (68)

Williams 5-0-10. Daye 3-2-9. Cring 6-2-14. Gracia 8-1-17. Clark 3-0-6. Mouthorp 3-2-9. Hamlin 1-0-2. Stiles 0-0-0. Byfield 0-0-0. Wright 0-0-0.

Jefferson (47)

Grossman 3-4-11. Gervera 2-2-6. Ulhein 1-0-2. Perrt 2-6-12. Bradbury 7-2-16. Colin 0-1-1.

Halftime: North Country 39, Jefferson 33.

3-point goals: North Country (3) Mouthorp, Hamlin, Daye. Jefferson (3) Perry 2, Grossman.

Men's basketball
Saints fall to JCC

SARANAC LAKE — Despite a spirited comeback from a 47-28 halftime deficit, the North Country Community College men's basketball team couldn't hold a late 3-point lead and fell to Jefferson Community College, 86-82, Tuesday night.

Drew Boyea knocked down six 3- pointers — the team hit 16 shots from behind the arc — and finished with a team-high 27 points for the Saints (0-1). Tony Sparkman added 17.

Early foul trouble to sophomores Tony Sparkman Antrelle Whitmore helped Jefferson erase a 7-point lead by the Saints. The Cannoneers turned that deficit into a 47-28 lead by going on a big run with eight minutes left.

Boyea, Sparkman and Justin Poirer sparked the Saints in the second half, and North Country grabbed a 3-point lead with less than two minutes to play.

The Cannoneers tied the game up with a minute to go and forced a turnover. Jefferson took a 2-point lead and sunk its free throws when the Saints started fouling.

The Cannoneers had duccess on many trips to the charity stripe, hitting 27-of-36 from the line.

"We had some great second half performances," North Country coach Chad LaDue said. "I was proud of how they fought back."

The Saints return to the court 7 p.m. Thursday at Clinton Community College.

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Jefferson 86, North Country 82

North Country (82)

Jones 5-1-15. Boyea 8-3-27. Sparkman 7-1-17. Whitmore 2-0-4. Poirier 5-1-14. Lamica 1-0-2. Foster 0-0-0. Warner 1-0-3. Howard 0-0-0.

Jefferson (86)

Maddox 4-3-14. Alessandro 4-5-17. Rosanio 1-0-3. Coloney 1-2-4. Biggs 3-2-8. Henderson 3-4-15. Forbes 4-6-14. Silvor 6-5-1.

Halftime: Jefferson 47, North Country 28

3-point goals: North Country (16) Jones 4, Boyea 6, Sparkman 2, Poirier 3, Warner. Jefferson (6) Maddox 3, Alessandro 2, Rosanio.