Boys Basketball Team Reflects on State Title, Undefeated Season
By JAQUELYN CARLOSUNY Institute for Local NewsCOOPERSTOWN
The Cooperstown varsity boys basketball team completed a perfect season on March 22 by capturing the 2026 NYSPHSAA Class C state championship, defeating the defending champion Berne-Knox-Westerlo 52-43 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
The victory capped an undefeated 27-0 season for the Hawkeyes and delivered the program’s second state title in seven years, the first since the 2018-19 campaign. Cooperstown’s disciplined defense and balanced scoring proved decisive against a Berne-Knox-Westerlo squad that had scored 100 points in its semifinal win the night before.
Senior guard Miles Nelen led all scorers in the title game with 20 points and 5 assists, steadying the Hawkeyes throughout a back-and-forth contest. Senior center/forward Jackson Crisman sank a dramatic buzzer-beating three-pointer in the semifinal against Lyons that sent Cooperstown to the final, then added 13 points and eight rebounds in the championship game. Senior Cooper Coleman contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, while junior Brody Murdock chipped in seven points.
Hawkeyes head coach John Lambert said the championship validated months of preparation and consistency.
“The season was great. Hard to not love going undefeated. It is very rare.”
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