EDMESTON-The Milford boys basketball team has a history of comebacks in Holiday Tournaments, and last weekend was no different.

Trailing Unadilla Valley by five points with just over a minute remaining in the championship game of Edmeston's Christmas Tournament last Thursday, the Wildcats came back despite a horrendous night at the foul line.

Milford's Pat Kelly, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, was fouled with 47 seconds remaining and his team down by two. Two technical fouls were called on two different Unadilla Valley players, but Milford hit just two of the six ensuing free throws.

With nine seconds to go and still trailing by two points, Milford's Ben Cotter came up with a steal and was fouled driving to the basket. The junior guard made one of two free throws to tie the score, but Milford's Hamza Sinanaj threw the ball of the leg of a Unadilla Valley player with four seconds remaining.

Cotter took the in-bound pass and sank a foul line jumper as time expired to give Milford a 52-50 victory and the championship.

"It was a wild ending," Milford head coach Bill Crowley said. "It didn't look very good for us with about a minute remaining, but we kept fighting."

The Wildcats won the championship game despite hitting just 10-32 free throws in the game, a line that would make even Laker center Shaquille O'Neal blush.

"I don't think I've ever had a team shoot that poorly from the free throw line," Crowley said. "This was a very physical game too, one of the most physical I've coached, and I was extremely happy with all other aspects of our game."

Crowley said senior Andy Work played the best all around game of his career, posting a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 points. Kelly led the Wildcats with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Ryan Campbell had seven. Cotter was also named to the all-tournament team.

Thursday's win improved Milford to 6-1 overall, including three wins over Class C schools and an overtime loss to Class C's Schenectady-Christian, who they play again in January.

"Those games will help us in sectionals both with our seeding and by playing tough competition," Crowley said.

Milford hosted Morris last night.