It's official: the Cooperstown boys basketball team is a force to be reckoned with, as are young guns Jeremy Holmes and Shane Connolly.

Holmes, a sophomore, and Connolly, a freshman, have been instrumental in leading the Redskins to four straight wins, including Tuesday night's improbable overtime win over first place Waterville.

The Redskins, 8-5, who lost to Waterville by 20 points in their first meeting, didn't score for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game and were down 11 with about 1:50 to play. But some clutch three-point shooting and a smothering full court press got them to within three points with nine seconds remaining.

Holmes then hit one of his six three-point shots to tie the score at 61 and send the game to overtime. The overtime was high scoring affair, with Cooperstown scoring 17 points, including nine from Connolly as Cooperstown took a 78-74 win.

"This game showed a lot of what I feel about this team," said Cooperstown head coach Mike Cring. "They won't quit. A lot of that comes from the hard work they put in in practice, but a lot comes from their chest too. They all get along, and they want each other to succeed and everyone is getting a chance to contribute."

In fact, eight of the nine players who played in Tuesday's game scored, and for the third straight game four players reached double figures. Cooperstown's depth was vital to the win, as three starters—Blair Budine, Brad Hill and Nate Smith—had fouled out by game's end.

"Jeremy and Shane have been consistent lately, but the great thing is someone different has been stepping up each night," Cring said. "This game is great for our confidence."

Holmes finished with 27 points, Connolly 19, and Hill and Billy Hribar 10 each.

Cooperstown also took a gritty, 74-71, victory over West Canada Friday night, a game they led by double figures for most of the first half before falling behind late in the game.

Again, Holmes and Connolly hit big three-point shots to put Cooperstown back in the lead, and Hill and big man Billy Hribar each hit clutch foul shots down the stretch.

"A big key for us has been our team defense," Cring said. "We have good quickness and good size, and we can cause teams some problems."

Cooperstown will get a chance to avenge a loss to Mt. Markham earlier this season when they host the Mounties Friday in the third straight home game.

"We lost to them the first time, and it's the one game we look back on and feel like we shouldn't have lost," Cring said. "We just played horribly on offense the first meeting, and we're a different team now."

The four straight wins have already guaranteed the Redskins a spot in sectionals, and Cring said every win from this point will help the team's seeding.

"As long as we keep working hard and improving with each game I can't ask for much more," Cring said.