Both top seeds fell in the Section II Class AA semifinals Tuesday night, as Albany Academy knocked off defending state champion Bishop Maginn and Christian Brothers Academy handed Shenendehowa a loss - with both games going to overtime.

Albany Academy's Jimmer Bennett (l) dribbles as Bishop Maginn's Taran Buie takes a spill in Tuesday's game, a 60-59 victory for the Cadets. With 6 seconds left, Bennett put in the game-winning layin after catching a cross-court pass from Tyler Foster and eluding two Maginn defenders who leapt to catch the ball. Buie scored a game-high 30 points for Bishop Maginn in what could have been his last high school game in Albany. (All photos by JS Carras - The Record).

Bennett (r) defends Maginn's Bunduka Kargbo during Tuesday's game. Kargbo completed a three-point play to put the Griffins ahead by a point in the final minute of overtime, which at the time, looked like it could have been the winning play. Jerel Scott and Buie, however, combined to miss all three free throws they attempted in the final 20 seconds, setting up Bennett's go-ahead bucket.

Albany Academy's Chris Pelcher (44) fights for a rebound with Maginn's Trashon Burrell (00). Pelcher, who is Iona-bound, and Jamel Fields, committed to Fairfield, have paved the way to the Section II final for the Cadets in their first year at the Class AA level.

Shenendehowa's Doug Milvaney (3) and Matt Miner (r) fight for a loose ball with CBA's Josh Dennis in Tuesday's Section II Class AA semifinal. Shen's Matt Lee hit a fadeaway jumper in front of the Shen bench to beat the buzzer at the end of regulation, sending the game to overtime. The Brothers, however, outlasted the Plainsmen in the extra period and held on for a 63-56 victory.

Shenendehowa's Doug Milvaney takes it to the rim in Tuesday's contest. The Brothers will be making their seventh consecutive appearance in a Section II large school championship game and they won three in a row from 2004-06. Bishop Maginn defeated CBA in the past two finals.

--
It was a thrilling evening as a pretty full arena, minus the tarped-off upper deck, saw four state ranked teams battle it to overtime for a mere $6. Next week's championship game between CBA and Albany Academy should be great. As I've written in the past, I think CBA matches up very well with Andy Stire on Chris Pelcher and Galal Cancer on Jamel Fields. It should be fun to see the battle between Kameron Ritter and Tyler Foster should they defend each other.

In girls action on Tuesday, No. 2 Averill Park handed No. 3 Holy Names its first loss of the season and sets up a threematch with Mohonasen in the Section II Class A final on Saturday afternoon. Read Dan Murphy's story about the game here.

In Class B action, No. 1 Watervliet handled Mechanicville for the third time this year, sealing a date in the Class B title game against Johnstown on Saturday. Read Brien Bouyea's story about that game here.


Updated Section II boys basketball brackets

Updated Section II girls basketball brackets