Coming into Saturday's Mid-State Athletic Conference men's basketball championship game against Jefferson, Tompkins Cortland had gone 3-0 in previous championship game appearances. The Panthers remained perfect in the big game, never trailing as they cruised past the Cannoneers, 81-63.  

The Panthers took control of the game early, using a 13-2 run to turn a 5-5 game into an 18-7 led. The margin remained around ten points the rest of the half, settling in at 36-28 at the break.

Jefferson closed the gap over the first few minutes of the second half, pulling within two at 48-46. The Panthers answered with a 13-0 run, sparked by Javonte Long (Harlem/Clayton H.S.). The spurt started with a Khai Pugh (Syracuse/Nottingham H.S.) jumper and included 13 straight points, with each point either scored or assisted by Long. The cushion hovered between 10 and 15 points most of the rest of the game as the Panthers clinched the program's fourth MSAC championship and the first since 2013-14.

Damari Johnson (Binghamton/Johnson City H.S.) was named the championship game MVP after posting a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Four other Panthers also scored in double figures, led by Bryan Viscaino (Manhattan/Monsignor Scanlon H.S.) with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) had 11 points and Pugh and Dwain Frazier (Jamaica/Jamaica H.S.) had 10 points. Long set a new program record for assists in a playoff game, handing out 12 while also pulling down 8 rebounds and scoring 5 points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers head to the NJCAA postseason as the #4 seed in the Region 3 tournament. The quarterfinal round game against #5 Adirondack will be on Friday at Herkimer College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.