BINGHAMTON – Congratulations to the Cooperstown boys varsity basketball team on winning its second state championship in seven years, defeating the defending champions Berne-Knox-Westerlo on Sunday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.

After the defending champs scored 100 points in Saturday’s Class C semifinal, the Hawkeye defense held Berne-Knox-Westerlo to just 43 points in Sunday’s championship game, helping secure the state title for Cooperstown with a 52-43 victory.

Senior guard Miles Nelen led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and five assists. Senior center/forward Jackson Crisman, whose semifinal buzzer beater on Saturday sent the Hawkeyes to the state title game, had 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Cooper Coleman scored 10 points and hauled in seven rebounds, while junior guard Brody Murdock scored seven points for the Hawkeyes.

Cooperstown finished the season with a perfect 27-0 record, securing the team’s first state basketball title since the 2018-19 season, the same year Coach John Lambert took over as Hawkeye head coach and led Cooperstown to a state championship.

Over the past two seasons, the Cooperstown boys varsity basketball team had a combined 51-1 record, which included two Section III championships, one regional championship and one state championship.

(The Hawkeye boys celebrate their Class C state title in basketball Sunday, March 22, in Binghamton. Photo by Greg Klein.)

(The Hawkeye players wore their state champion shirts and displayed their awards Sunday, March 22, in Binghamton. Photo by Greg Klein.)

(Miles Nelen drives by Jayden Buie. Photo by Greg Klein.)

(Cooperstown Coach John Lambert hugs senior forward Cooper Coleman after the championship win Sunday, March 22, in Binghamton. Photo by Greg Klein.)

(Jackson Crisman defends Jayden Buie. Photo by Greg Klein.)