GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Green Tech Basketball's DJ Jones knows what he's doing when he makes a schedule. The veteran head coach isn't setting his team up for the best win-loss record. He prepares them to be the best ready for March. So when the Soaring Eagles meet, of There aren't many teams that can't match the best of the best in the postseason.
That level of preparation was on display throughout the Section II tournament, the first two games of the state tournament, and culminated in Sunday afternoon's Class AAA state championship game.
Green Tech easily defeated the No. 2-ranked team in New York State, which was undefeated at 25-0, at Bay Shore in Game 11, winning 79-63 and winning the first state title in program history.
“It hasn't started yet. We're state champions,” Jones said. “They knew what they had to do. We've seen a lot of different competition throughout the year. This isn't the first time we've seen a team at this level.” is 32 minutes.'' That was the message. 32 minutes. And they took care of business. We are now state champions. ”
The Soaring Eagles played strong defense in quick succession in the regional and semifinal rounds of the tournament, holding both opponents to under 50 points. The attack was the storyline Sunday.
Green Tech sank 10 3-pointers in the first half and returned to the halftime locker room with a 44-30 lead. Five of those long balls came from junior guard Heishi Maben. His backcourt partner, Ramea Brown, pitched three times.
“If I make threes, my teammates can make threes,” Maven said. “Whatever my energy is, [that’s] Teammate energy. So if I bring good energy, they'll have my back. ”
And Maven's teammates certainly supported him, especially in the second half when Bayshore attacked him defensively. Brown scored 10 points in the second half. Sophomore guard Indavia Burns scored nine points after the break.
The Marauders never really threatened control. The only time his profit margin reached single digits was midway through the third quarter. Green Tech responded with five unanswered points (four courtesy of Maven) and re-established a 14-point advantage heading into the final round.
The Soaring Eagles put an exclamation mark on the game with a commanding performance at the 4:28 mark of the fourth quarter. An alley-oop feed from Maven to Umair Graham created a jam that sent Cool Insuring Arena into a frenzy.
At this point, Green Tech led 70-54 and began to feel like they were winning right after that.
“I saw Bayshore bench them and the coach took us out. That's when the feeling really started to hit me,” Brown said. “This feeling is amazing. I'm trying to live in the moment. Enjoy this moment. Hard work and dedication – that's what it took. [to get here]”
This was Green Tech's third consecutive state tournament appearance and first in the newly formed Class AAA. A state title has been a long time coming for a group that fell just short of the Class AA final in 2022 and lost in last year's AA district final.
“[This] “This means a lot to me because when I lost my freshman year, I sat there and watched the other team (Mount Vernon) celebrate,” Maven said. “I’m really happy that me and my brother were together and got the win.”
Maven finished with a game-high 23 points. Brown scored 21 points on effective 8-12 shooting. Barnes reached double figures with 12 points, and Graham held down the paint with seven points and 11 rebounds.
Green Tech finished the year with an overall record of 20-6 after starting the season 9-6.
The Soaring Eagles will have a great chance to make it to the top of the state again next year, considering all five starters in the championship game were underclassmen.
