JOHNSTOWN – The Raiders, who are currently ranked #5 in the region, suffered their second heart-breaking loss in 45 hours when they were edged 65-62 by the #2-ranked Mohawk Valley CC Hawks on Saturday afternoon. 

On Thursday evening in Herkimer, the Raiders had led the #1-ranked Generals until Herkimer scored the winning basket with 6.6 seconds left to play. 

On Saturday afternoon at home in the Raiders Den, FM led 38-36 at halftime, but the visitors moved in front in the second 20 minutes. The Raiders trailed by just one point, at 62-61 when the game entered the final minute. The Hawks' end game then carried the visitors to victory. 

Photo:  Raiders attacking, from left: Jonathan Brioso, Tyrone Davis, and Courtney Darnley 

The first half was hard fought, with the lead changing several times. Tyrone Davis sank a three-pointer from the right corner, and FM led 8-6. Mohawk Valley retook the lead. Shaleek Randolph sank two free throws. Courtney Darnley drained a three. Randolph sank two more FT's. He then stole the ball, dashed 60 feet, and scored. FM led 19-18. 

Marquis Edwards hit for three from the left side of the arc. FM led 27-21. MV tied the game, but Vince Young drove for two and put FM back on top. Jordan Stewart and Darnley hit treys, and Tyrone Davis sank a long two. FM owned a 38-36 lead as the teams left the floor at the break. 

Photo:  Barceem Dukes tallies two 

The Hawks tied the game, but a nice jumper by Tyrone Davis regained the lead for FM. MV moved out in front by five points, but an acrobatic two by Randolph, a Tyrone Davis FT, and two FT's by Barceem Dukes knotted the game at 52-all. 

MV moved ahead by three, but Jonathan Brioso's hook shot brought FM within one, at 62-61 with 4:05 remaining. Both teams were going all out, and the score was still 62-61 when MV's Tyshun Walker scored and was fouled. Walker sank the FT. FM was able to score one more point from the line, but MV's defense held, and the Hawks won 65-62. 

FM is now 7-6 on the season and 2-3 in Mountain Valley Conference play. Mohawk Valley is 11-3 (4-1). 

Photo:  Courtney Darnley contributed eight points

FM will next play on Tuesday evening in Saranac Lake when they take on the 7-6 Saints of North Country CC. Tip time is 8:00 p.m. 

                  C.J. Bonny, website writer 

Scoring: 

Mohawk Valley:  Rolon 7-2-20, Wilson 3-5-13, Drexler 1-0-2, Walker 3-2-8, Tennant 3-0-9, Ivey 4-3-11, Frith 1-0-2; Totals 22-12-65 

FMCC:  Stewart 2-1-6, Randolph 3-2-9, Darnley 3-0-8, Dukes 3-3-9, D. Davis 2-1-5, Edwards 1-2-5, Small 1-0-3, Brioso 1-5-7, T. Davis 3-1-8, Young 1-0-2; Totals 20-15-62 

Three-point goals:  Mohawk Valley 9 (Rolon 4, Wilson 2, Tennant 3), FMCC 7 (Darnley 2, Stewart, Randolph, Edwards, Small, T. Davis)

Records:  Mohawk Valley 11-3 (4-1), FMCC 7-6 (2-3)

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