Upstate NY Midseason Report Pt. II

Chad Boyles | Friday, January 23rd, 2026

The High School season plugs along as we bring you part two of our Upstate NY Midseason Report - focusing on our smaller schools.  While there are more storylines following the bigger schools Upstate, there are plenty of tales to tell in following Classes B, C, and D.   

 

Who looks the part in a wide-open Class B?  Can Berne-Knox-Westerlo go back to back in Class C?  Which Class D team Upstate is the biggest threat to Long Island’s Bridgehampton?

We’re just days away from February and play-off basketball now, so let's get caught up…

 

 

Class D:

 

Section 2 presents an interesting race of Class D contenders through roughly 10 games between Northville and North Warren.  Northville has established themselves as a strong small school program in the capital region, having suffered three losses this season - all to larger schools.  The same goes for North Warren, though still undefeated in league play.  The Cougars won the Class D state championship in 2024, and have shown that championship DNA by scheduling aggressively - having already fallen to Glens Falls, and matching up with Hudson Falls later this season.  

 

Sackets Harbor are back-to-back Section 3 champions and have established themselves statewide in the class.  In the latest NYSSWA rankings, the Patriots come in at 16th, while Section 3 foe Madison, who Sackets Harbor defeated in last year's championship clash, rank 3rd.  Sackets Harbor is 10-2 and led by Junior guard Spencer Oliva.  Oliva has notched north of 20 points in 6 contests including a 35 point barrage in a win earlier this season.  Madison, also 10-2, offers a pretty balanced attack outside of senior big Justin Lamunion.  He was the CCL Player of the Year last season averaging 20 and 13.  So far this season, Lamunion is averaging 23 and 12, with 7 monster double-doubles - a season high 31 points in a game, and just one performance in which he recorded less than 18.  Oriskany is the other team out of the section in contention.  Senior guard Eddie Wright is averaging just above 21 ppg for the 10-2 Skyhawks, a team that averages just about 70 each outing.  

 

Morris won Section 4 last season and appears to have the best odds to do so in 2026 sitting at 11-1 through this point in the season, while up in the North Country (10), Heuvelton and Hermon-DeKalb both rank inside the top 8.  

 

 

Class C:

 

Across the state, Class C remains headlined by Berne-Knox-Westerlo of Section 2.  Last year, the Bulldogs completed a perfect season culminating in the schools first state championship.  This year, they’ve gone independent, playing larger schools across the state, including a recent battle with PSAL power WHEELS in Brooklyn.  Air Force commit Shane Kirker is one of the standouts in all of Upstate regardless of level.  Junior George Wright is primed to follow suit.  

 

Though, should the opportunity arise, BKW will have notable challengers.  Section 3’s Cooperstown is 13-0 after handling Class A Section 4 Oneonta.  Senior guard Miles Nelen is averaging an absurd 28 ppg on 4 made threes per contest.  Nelen is a do-it-all guard highlighted by his ability to shoot the ball, but he doesn’t operate alone.  The senior-led Hawkeyes have 3 other players averaging double figures, including senior Jackson Crisman, who’s averaging slightly above 16 ppg to go with 12 rebounds - and another senior guard, Christian Lawson, is on the verge of joining Nelen on Cooperstown’s 1,000 point scorers list.  It’ll be exciting to follow Section 3; as dominant as Cooperstown has been, Dolgeville stands at 11-2, and Cato-Meridian ranks sixth in the state at 11-1.  Cato-Meridian are yet to win a close game, winning handily thus far.  The lone blemish comes from a 13 point loss to Cooperstown prior to the new year.  Sophomore wing Perry Planck is a name to know.  He’s been a productive varsity player since his 8th grade year, and has all the tools to be one of the best in the region in due time.  

 

Section 5 has five Class C teams ranked inside the NYSSWA’S Top 20.  Notably Honeoye who fell to BKW in last season’s State Championship.  That team was young, and returned some primary contributors including 6’7” junior Landon Washburn.  Washburn stays productive around the rim but does it all for the Bulldogs.  He handles, shoots, defends, and is the kind of player capable of leading his team back to a sectional title.  Remarkably, Honeoye has five players listed above 6 '2".  Four of them are juniors.

 

Though Lyons and Fillmore are the top ranked teams in Section 5.  Lyons at 10-1, Fillmore 12-0.  Lyons is led by 6’6” Jamire “JJ” Johnson, nicknamed ‘Baby Shaq’ long ago - and rightfully so.  I am not sure if there is a more compelling combination of strength and athleticism throughout all of Upstate.  Fillmore boasts a talented lineup themselves, featuring multiple players who can straight up take over games including dynamic forward Cam Mucher, combo guard Isaiah Sisson, and crafty ball handler Jonah Bialek.

 

 

Class B:

 

It is unclear who the favorite should be in Class B.  Woodlands, courtesy of Section 1 and Westchester County seem to be the popular vote state-wide right now, and it will be interesting to see if any Upstate representative can knock them off should the opportunity present itself.  

 

Head Coach DJ Jones, previously of Green Tech, has a lot of experience winning playoff games.  He now coaches at KIPP Capital Region, new to Section 2 and the athletics landscape. Coach Jones and company look the most likely to pose a threat out of the capital region alongside Catskill who have enjoyed a nice season to this point.  

 

Skaneateles is the highest ranked Section 3 squad in the latest NYSSWA poll, but have since lost in convincing fashion to last year's section and state champion, Marcellus.  Marcellus has battled injury this season, but have established themselves as a top program in Upstate NY.  Tucker Burnett is the real deal and Junior Henry Lawrence went for 32 in the win against Skaneateles.  I am not sure what the latest is on athletic big Dominick Gosh-Sandy who has essentially missed all of this season, but if he does return, regardless of record, the Mustangs can get it done again - especially if you look at some of the wins.  Another team out of the section worth monitoring is Mount Markham, who despite also suffering a sizable defeat to Marcellus, sit 11-1 and ranked 14 in the latest poll.    

 

Both Sections 5 and 10 offer compelling races at the top as well.  Ian VanWagner certainly has the talent to help carry Potsdam to their goals - he was previously featured on our Class of ‘27 watchlist - and Ogdensburg Free Academy is 11-1 led by seniors Jake Pike and Ian Rose, who together combined for nearly 40 ppg.  In Section 5, three teams stand with only one tally in the loss column: Bishop Kearney/Chesterton Academy, C.G. Finney, and Canisteo-Greenwood.  Senior guard Jayden Capers leads a well rounded Bishop Kearney squad, while 6’2” combo guard Jacob Rybczynski (2027) provides support on the wing.  Braelen Broome leads Finney, having surpassed 1,000 points for his career very early in this campaign.  Senior Carson Chaffee leads CGHS.  Chaffee, a freak athlete, is CG’s all-time scoring leader and in a recent victory posted 32 points to go along with 20 rebounds and 7 assists.  Everywhere you look, capable players are leading capable teams in what all hope to be their one shining moment. 

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