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Mekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) moves the ball against Watervliet's Najee McQueen (1) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) moves the ball against Watervliet's Najee McQueen (1) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans
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Watervliet's Derrick Beason (24) defends against Mekeel Christian Academy's Deonte Holder (4) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's Derrick Beason (24) defends against Mekeel Christian Academy's Deonte Holder (4) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Watervliet's Joey Atkins (0) defends against Mekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's Joey Atkins (0) defends against Mekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Mekeel Christian Academy's Deonte Holder (4) moves the ball against Watervliet during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy's Deonte Holder (4) moves the ball against Watervliet during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the
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Mekeel Christian Academy fans cheer for their team while playing Watervliet's during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy fans cheer for their team while playing Watervliet's during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the
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Watervliet head coach Orlando DiBacco instructs his team against Mekeel Christian Academy's during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet head coach Orlando DiBacco instructs his team against Mekeel Christian Academy's during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Mekeel Christian Academy head coach Chad Bowman instructs his players against Watervliet during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy head coach Chad Bowman instructs his players against Watervliet during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Mekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson (3) moves the ball past Watervliet's Massiah Mallory during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson (3) moves the ball past Watervliet's Massiah Mallory during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Watervliet's Joey Atkins (0) puts up a shot past Mekeel Christian Academy's Gideon Agbo (55) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's Joey Atkins (0) puts up a shot past Mekeel Christian Academy's Gideon Agbo (55) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Watervliet's Najee Mcqueen puts up a shot against Mekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's Najee Mcqueen puts up a shot against Mekeel Christian Academy's Carter Stewart (5) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink
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Watervliet's JJ Chestnut (3) moves the ball against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's JJ Chestnut (3) moves the ball against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the
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Watervliet's JJ Chestnut (3) shoots the ball against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's JJ Chestnut (3) shoots the ball against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the
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Watervliet's Joey Atkins (0) moves the ball past Mekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson (3) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet's Joey Atkins (0) moves the ball past Mekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson (3) during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink /
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Watervliet players celebrate scoring against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessWatervliet players celebrate scoring against Mekeel Christian Academy during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times
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Mekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson ,top, moves the ball against Watervliet's JJ Chestnut during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessMekeel Christian Academy's Jordan Jackson ,top, moves the ball against Watervliet's JJ Chestnut during the first half of a high school basketball game on Wednesday, Jan.10, 2018, in Scotia, N.Y. (Hans Pennink
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Mekeel Christian Academy boys edge Watervliet
Schenectady
When the game was scheduled between the Mekeel Christian Academy and Watervliet boys' basketball teams, the hope for each program was getting a quality test from a worthy Section II Class B title contender. Wednesday, the two powers met and the game delivered on all fronts.
The stars shined, role players contributed, it got a little testy and the teams in essence fought as if a sectional crown would be awarded to the winner.
With the result hanging in the balance, the guy with the most varsity experience on the floor produced a pair of defensive gems.
MCA senior Carter Stewart first made a steal on a switch and was fouled with 29 seconds remaining. He made the first of two foul shots to give the Lions the lead. The 6-foot-5 wing player later grabbed a loose ball following a Watervliet miss and called time before the Cannoneers would tie him up. MCA added a foul shot from senior guard Jordan Jackson with 5.7 seconds left and Watervliet sophomore JJ Chestnut missed before the buzzer as the Lions emerged with a hard-fought 65-63 victory.
"This shows us where we're at," Watervliet senior star Joey Atkins said. "They are the No. 1 team in the state. We were real close with them. Maybe we'll see them again."
"Hopefully, we will see them again. Right now, we have to worry about Watervliet basketball and get ready for Friday," Watervliet coach Orlando DiBacco said.
"They're a great team. They played well tonight," Jackson said of the Cannoneers. "I love playing in games like this."
The Lions (10-1) survived despite connecting on just 12 of 27 attempts from the foul line.
"We wanted to win. We just couldn't finish it," said Atkins, who led Watervliet (9-3) with 21 points and eight rebounds.
"We struggled early tonight, missing layups and free throws," Stewart said. "We get the loose balls and win the (tight) games on the hard stuff no one else wants to do."
Stewart, who is headed to Division I Binghamton next year and was honored before the game for surpassing the 1,000-point career plateau, clearly showed his desire down the stretch. He scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, including a 17-foot jumper that provided MCA a 63-61 edge.
Atkins, who scored on a dunk to tie it at 61, made two foul shots to forge a deadlock at 63 with 48.9 seconds remaining.
Following two missed free throws by MCA junior Gideon Agbo, the Cannoneers lost the ball back on Stewart's steal.
"We gambled and it paid off," Stewart said.
"That was guts and toughness," Jackson said. "(Carter) really played great in the second half and stepped up for us."
Jackson carried the Lions during the first half, netting 17 of his 20 points as Watervliet led 42-37 at intermission.
"Jordan's development has been insane," Stewart said. "His athleticism is great, his drive is great and I love working with him in the gym. He wants it."
The second half proved to be struggle for offensive survival: Watervliet made only 8 of 27 shots with 10 turnovers and MCA went 8-for-24 with nine turnovers. It was not a case of bad offense, more of determined defensive commitment to contest shots.
"The defense was great for us. They made some really tough shots," Atkins said.
"It came down to a couple of possessions," DiBacco said. "Hopefully at the end of the season, we win those."
jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines
http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Mekeel-Christian-Academy-boys-edge-Watervliet-12489522.php
