Vikings Fall to #1 North Country in Quarterfinal Battle

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, February 27, 2026

The #8 seed Hudson Valley Community College men's basketball team saw its season come to a close Friday evening with a hard-fought 77-73 loss to #1 North Country Community College in the quarterfinal round at Genesee Community College.

Hudson Valley (10-20, 3-10) battled the top-seeded Saints (27-3, 10-3) down to the final possessions in a game that featured 11 lead changes and multiple momentum swings.

North Country built a 43-31 advantage at halftime behind efficient shooting in the paint, led by Lovell Johnson, who finished with 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. The Saints outrebounded the Vikings 39-31, including 15 offensive boards that proved pivotal in the tightly contested matchup.

The Vikings responded with a strong second half, outscoring North Country 42-34 over the final 20 minutes. Sophomore Julius Reed led the charge with a game-high 24 points, knocking down four three-pointers while adding nine rebounds and three steals. Kemontae Thawe contributed 13 points, while Jacob Baccaro added 15 points and six rebounds. Fabian Wheatley provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

Hudson Valley shot 40.9% from beyond the arc (9-of-22) and an impressive 85.7% from the free-throw line (12-of-14), keeping the pressure on the Saints throughout the second half. Despite cutting the deficit to one possession late, the Vikings were unable to secure a key defensive stop in the final minute.

North Country shot 46.3% from the field and capitalized on second-chance opportunities to seal the four-point victory.

The loss concludes the 2025-26 season for the Vikings, who battled their way into the postseason and pushed the region's top seed to the brink in the quarterfinal round.