Clymer's Blake Beckerink (12) finds open space during Saturday's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinal against Sackets Harbor Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. P-J photo by Christian Storms

BINGHAMTON — In its 11th sectional title-winning season, Clymer finally reached the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four.

On the other side of the floor, Clymer’s opponent Sackets Harbor of Section III was making its third straight trip to the Class D semifinals on Saturday in Binghamton and it showed in the first half.

Quickly falling into a double-digit deficit, it looked like the Pirates were in for a long day and by halftime the Patriots led 28-13. However, head coach Irv King’s Pirates were not going to go down quietly and began battling back in the third quarter.

Scoring the final nine points of the third period, Clymer found itself in the midst of a comeback down 35-29. Despite controlling the play in the fourth quarter, Clymer’s road came to a close in Visions Veterans Memorial Arena 46-37.

“We made that next step,” Clymer head coach Irv King said about the season. “Yesterday the kids lined the street, some of them are sitting in the stands. You never know what young ones are going to be looking and use this. You may have just opened the door, you may have taken that next step and you never know who is going to follow you and be motivated by what you just did for them.”

Clymer's Kam Einink drives to the basket during the NYSPHSAA Class D semifinals against Sackets Harbor at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Sackets Harbor did not falter on the big stage and instead came out flying, led by star junior Spencer Oliva scoring 8 of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter.

“I think so,” King said about Sackets Harbor’s experience helping in the first half. “I think nerves certainly play a part to a sense. Sometimes you can almost be so amped it almost slows you down. I think we had to get through some of those nerves and settle ourselves to make sure we play basketball. I would imagine it’s some benefit to them just knowing what they were stepping into today.”

Clymer gave up just three triples in the Far West Regional against Andover/Whitesville, but the Patriots managed four in the opening quarter and built a 17-7 lead from which they never looked back.

Recording less than half the points Sackets Harbor did, Clymer could have easily rolled over in the second half, but that is not the kind of team King has.

“We talked at half,” King stated. “We weren’t going to quit. We were just going to leave it all out there. I’m just so proud. … We gave it everything we had out there, I’m so proud.”

From left to right, Clymer head coach Irv King, Carson White and Blake Beckerink receive the NYSPHSAA Class D state semifinalist plaque after falling to Sackets Harbor 46-37 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday in Binghamton. P-J photo by Christian Storms

The Pirates returned from half inspired, scoring the first five points of the third quarter and Sackets Harbor called its first timeout.

“They wanted it,” King added. “They had a goal in mind. They love each other and they were going to go and battle for each other. We didn’t make it all the way back, but we certainly gave it our all.”

Just when it looked like Clymer was getting back into the game, Oliva pulled up for another triple that capped off a 7-2 swing and restored the 15-point lead.

Some teams may have drifted away then, but Clymer instead buckled down to score the final nine points of the third and made it a two-possession game at 35-29.

Blake Beckerink brought the Pirates within four after he hit his fifth trey of the game, but that would be as close as they got. Carson White added another triple with 5:30 left in the game and then the momentum stopped with the shots not falling from that point on.

“Sometimes you can almost want it too much,” King stated. “I can’t fault them for that. They’re feeling bad, they’re looking at themselves. There is no blame, everyone there gave every ounce of what they had. You win some and you don’t get on the top of some. What a season, what a ride.”

Unable to finish off several drives to the basket, Clymer missed the next 14 field goals after White’s triple and the Patriots extended their lead at the line for an eventual 46-37 win.

“They did a good job,” King said about the Sackets Harbor defense. “They really stayed in zone the whole day. They did pack it in when we did get it inside, we really didn’t capitalize on it. They were scrappy and had a few blocked shots in there.”

Clymer was led by Beckerink with 15 points; White added 12 with nine rebounds; Roman Wassink scored 7 and collected eight rebounds; Eli Mitchell reeled in six rebounds; Kameron Einink had four boards and Bryan Gomez added three.

“There is no better place to coach,” King surmised about his coaching career at Clymer. “Our community, the kids I had, the parents. No better place, no better place.”

Sackets Harbor returns to the state final for the first time since 2024 and will seek its first championship since 2012.

CLYMER (37)

Lao 0 0 0, Beckerink 5 0 15, Gomez 0 0 0, White 5 0 12, DRedlecki 0 0 0, Mitchell 0 0 0, Sexton 0 0 0, Einink 1 1 3, KWassink 0 0 0, MRedlecki 0 0 0, Fuller 0 0 0, Johnson 0 0 0, RWassink 2 3 7. Totals 13 4 37.

SACKETS HARBOR (46)

Welch 0 0 0, Tracy 1 2 5, McKeever 0 0 0, Munoz 2 2 8, Peters 1 0 3, Cocco 3 3 10, Oliva 8 1 20. Totals 15 8 46.

3-point goals–Beckerink 5, White 2, Tracy, Munoz 2, Peters, Cocco, Oliva 3.

Clymer 7 6 16 8 — 37

Sackets Harbor 17 11 7 11 — 46