7 Huge Things that Happened This Weekend in Local Sports

What a week it was in local and regional sports! Here are the top things that happened that should be on your radar as we enter the week that brings us March Madness and the first day of Spring.

Herkimer Generals

Congratulations are in order for Coach Matt Lee and the Herkimer Generals basketball squad who came from behind on Saturday to defeat Rock Valley 72-60 to capture the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Title. It was Herkimer's 28th straight win of the season and their first National Title since winning back in 1991. Herkimer ended the season 31-1.

Cooperstown Boys Basketball

The Cooperstown Boys Basketball team won the Class C New York State Championship on Sunday in Binghamton with a 71-61 victory over Middle Early College. It was the school's first-ever state championship in boys basketball. The game was preceded by a triple overtime semi-final stunner on Saturday that saw senior Jack Lambert score a record 53-points to defeat Greenport 108-98, advancing Cooperstown to Sunday's winner take-all game. In the Class D Championship game, nearby Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville fell to Harrisville, 67-54.

March Madness Bracket Mania - Colgate and Syracuse

The NCAA Men's Basketball field of 64 was announced on Sunday and two local teams will be competing in the tournament.  Colgate drew a #15 seed in the South and will face the #2 seed, Tennessee on Friday at 2:45 p.m.. As Tennessee players are making toothpaste jokes on Twitter, they might not want to underestimate the Patriot League Champions who are high in size and not afraid to sink shots from 3-point land.  Meanwhile, Syracuse drew a #8 seed and will take on #9 seed Baylor on Thursday night at 9:57 p.m. in the West.

Utica City FC Falls in Second Half

The arena soccer team, Utica City FC, tied up Sunday's game at the Adirondack Bank Center on Sunday against the Mississauga MetroStars, but suffered the results of a really rough second-half. The MetroStars scored six unanswered goals and Utica lost 9-3.  >story

Utica Comets Moving in the Wong Direction

The Utica Comets lost games Friday and Saturday at the ABC. On Friday, Utica lost in a shootout, 2-1 to Springfield and on Saturday, they dropped their seventh straight game, this time to Hartford, 5-3. The Comets have not won since March 1st and are falling behind in regards to playoff contention.

The Observer Dispatch Makes a Big Announcement

A three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, will be the special guest at the All-Mohawk Valley All-Stars dinner June 18, 2019. The awards dinner will take place at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Jorgensen Center.  >story