Take a look back at 2024: Championship finishes, superb runs, challenging situations

Looking back at everything that was accomplished in local sports in 2024, there were several special moments across the area, and some challenges, as well.

Take a look back with us at 10 of our top events of 2024: 1.

Glens Falls perfect season Not many can say they never lost in a high school basketball season.

The Glens Falls Black Bears can say just that, as they finished a perfect 27-0 and took home the Class A state championship by defeating Section Vs Wayne in their own backyard at Cool Insuring Arena.

With starters Kellen Driscoll, Brody Holcomb, Oscar Lilac and Aiden Prunty all returning to the team, plus a strong supporting cast, Glens Falls has already stretched its winning streak to 33 in a row to close out the calendar year.

As they look continue rolling into 2025, if the Black Bears hope to repeat as state champs, they will be crowned in a different arena in Binghamton.

In a big move announced in January, the New York State Public High School Athletic Associations executive committee voted 12-10 to move the State Boys Basketball Tournament from Glens Falls to Binghamton for the next three years.

2.

Welcome to Saratoga, Belmont! For the first time, Saratoga Race Course hosted the Belmont Stakes.

The final jewel in the Triple Crown was run in the Spa City in June because of the ongoing reconstruction of Belmont Park.

The Belmont Stakes Festival was a successful few days that added an extra weekend of horse racing to the historic Saratoga Race Course.

The race was won by Dornoch, with former MLB World Series champion Jayson Werth in attendance as a part-owner.

The Belmont is scheduled to return in 2025 for one more year before it heads back down to Long Island.

3.

Wolverines season cancelled The Warrensburg-Lake George Wolverines football team appeared destined for a trip to Syracuse to play for a Class D state championship.

They won their first eight games, including a 30-28 victory over eventual Class C state champ Schuylerville, and were ranked first in the state.

The season was derailed after sexual misconduct allegations halted the season on Nov.

2.

Investigations by the school districts and law enforcement were opened, and two members of the team were arrested.

In late November, Wolverines head coach Mike Perrone was relieved of his head coaching duties for basketball, changes were made to school policies and more fallout is expected.

4.

Thunders historic season In 2024, the Adirondack Thunder and their fans were treated to loads of accomplishments.

The Thunder were ECHL North Division and Eastern Conference regular-season champs, Shane Harper played his 800th career game, Patrick Grasso set a new team scoring record, and the team enjoyed a record number of standing-room-only crowds.

The regular season included a historic 17-game point streak from December to February.

Adirondack recorded the most wins in franchise history with 43 and set a new mark for most points with 97, and the Thunder reached the conference finals of the Kelly Cup playoffs.

In October, Adirondack began its 10th season in franchise history with high hopes to make it a step further to the Kelly Cup finals.

5.

Jimmer goes to Paris Glens Falls native and former NBA player Jimmer Fredette looked for Olympic glory as he joined USA Basketballs mens 3x3 basketball team in the Summer Olympics.

Unfortunately for Fredette, his dreams were dashed early as he suffered an injury in the first games of the tournament in Paris.

Team USA did not place in the tournament, but for Fredette who starred at Glens Falls High School and BYU it was the opportunity of a lifetime to play for the United States in the Olympics.

6.

Schuylerville brings home glory On Dec.

7, the Schuylerville football team held on for a dramatic 26-20 victory over Salamanca in the Class C state championship game at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.

It was the Black Horses first title in four state final appearances since 2015.

Seniors Landen Cumm and Ollie Bolduc led the way for Schuylerville this season, which saw the Black Horses finish with a 13-1 record, with their only loss to W-LG in September.

Behind an offensive line anchored by seniors Josh Bowen, Chase DeLisle, Jameson Brownell and Emajie White, Schuylerville played keepaway with teams throughout the playoffs, especially in the second half of games.

The Glens Falls and Greenwich football teams both reached the state semifinals, in Class B and D, respectively, before seeing their seasons end.

The unbeaten Black Bears fell to eventual state champ Port Jervis, while the Witches lost in overtime to Burke Catholic.

7.

Adirondack Uniteds perfect finish In February, the Adirondack United girls ice hockey team completed a perfect 18-0 season with their first state championship.

The United are a merged team composed of players from Corinth, Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, South Glens Falls, Queensbury and Saratoga.

The United defeated Kenmore-Grand Island 7-3 in the state championship game in Utica, finishing the season outscoring their opponents, 120-15.

8.

North Warren wins states The North Warren boys basketball team united the northern part of the Glens Falls area with its first state championship in school history.

The Cougars defeated Sackets Harbor 68-66 in a thrilling Class D state final on St.

Patricks Day, with junior Wyatt Jennings knocking down nine three-pointers, a state championship game record.

North Warrens historic run was led by Semaj Cuyler and now-graduated Derrick Tyrell.

If the Cougars hope to return to states, they will have to do it in Class C, as they move up a class.

9.

Duffy wins gold Former Queensbury standout Brigid Duffy was a co-captain for the United States U20 womens lacrosse team that brought home gold in August at the World Lacrosse Womens U20 Championships in Hong Kong.

Duffy, a womens lacrosse and soccer star at West Point, scored two goals as the U.S.

defeated Canada 23-6 in the gold-medal game, and outscored its opponents 211-20 in the tournament.

10.

Big spring for Salem, Schuylerville, H-L Salem and Schuylerville both reached the finals of the State Softball Tournament for the first time in June, and the Hadley-Luzerne baseball team enjoyed a historic run to the final four of the State Baseball Tournament.

Salem made a repeat trip to the Class D softball final four before losing to Deposit-Hancock in the state championship game.

Schuylerville made its first trip to the Class B final four in 20 years before falling to Wellsville in the title game.

The Eagles captured their first Section II baseball championship since 1968, pulling out a 5-4 win over Mekeel Christian on a walkoff walk in the Class D final before reaching the state semifinals..

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