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The West Canada Valley boys basketball team's state Class C semifinal played out eerily similar to the Indians' Central Region final; terrible shooting creating a big deficit in the 1st quarter, scratching back to a manageable halftime deficit, making a big run in the 3rd quarter to lead going into the 4th, giving up that lead to start the final quarter, and then coming back to re-take the lead. But this time, West Canada Valley could not hold on, falling to Section VI's Maple Grove in the opening round of the state final four at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Friday 64-59.

In a rematch of the 1996 state Class D semifinals, which West Canada Valley won, the Indians, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state coming in, could not have started much worse. By the end of the 1st quarter, Maple Grove, ranked No. 2, led 21-11, and senior starter Ben Maxwell was on the bench with three fouls. The 2nd quarter went decidedly better, with an 8-0 run getting them within 24-23, but sophomore stud Jared Suderley was forced to sit for the final 5:26 after picking up a third foul himself, and West Canada Valley trailed 33-30 at the half.

In the 3rd quarter, Maple Grove stretched its lead to 42-36, but a technical foul and six straight points by Suderley sparked an 11-0 run to put West Canada Valley ahead 47-42. But after Suderley was called for his fourth foul with just over two minutes remaining, the Red Dragons cut it down to 49-47 going into the 4th.

Maple Grove opened the final quarter with a 7-0 run, re-taking the lead 54-49 and also getting a fourth foul called on Maxwell. West Canada Valley responded with a 6-0 run, re-taking the lead itself 55-54, but lost Maxwell to a fifth foul in the process. From there, it was shot for shot, with Maple Grove going ahead and the Indians playing catchup, getting within one point twice at 56-55 and 58-57.

With 1:08 remaining, the Red Dragons made it a three-point lead, 62-59, on a backdoor layup by Cam O'Neill. On the Indians' ensuing possession, Suderley had the ball knocked out of his hands and nearly lost it out of bounds on a floor scramble, but the refs ruled Maple Grove had touched it last, keeping possession with the Indians. The break was short-lived, however, as Dan Dekalb was called for a travel with 47 seconds left, turning it over to the Red Dragons. West Canada Valley decided not to foul, but the decision backfired when O'Neill made another backdoor layup with just 15 seconds left, making it a two-possession game at 64-59. Forced to hustle, Robert McKerrow tried a quick three-pointer but was blocked, and when Maple Grove came down with the ball and ran to the other side of the court before the Indians could foul, the game was over.

Despite his limited playing time, Suderley finished tied with senior Jeff Yaworski for the team-high with 17 points, with Yaworski adding 12 rebounds. Chris Secky led Maple Grove with a game-high 19 points, and O'Neill finished with 17.

For the game, the Indians shot just 35% from the field including 5-19 on three-pointers while Maple Grove shot 50% including 6-14 on threes. The Indians won the rebounding battle 40-33, including 22-11 on the offensive glass.

With the win, Maple Grove improves to 23-2 and advances to Saturday's championship game against the winner of Friends Academy-Mechanicville. West Canada Valley ends the season 25-1.