This one had it all _ except for a happy ending for the home team. Zack Sittler's desperation three-point try at the buzzer fell short as the Cooperstown boys basketball team lost their home opener in heartbreaking fashion, 61-60, to a talented West Canada team at Bursey gymnasium Tuesday night.

The final score was the only thing disappointing for the home fans. They were treated to a fast paced game which saw both teams post impressive comebacks during a game that had the look and feel of a sectional contest rather than an early season game.

"Wow, what a game," said an exhausted looking West Canada head coach Steve Porter minutes after the game ended. "Both teams played really well tonight, and we were lucky enough to come out on top."

The Redskins (2-1) who had not played in 10 days, fell behind 18-10 after one quarter and the Indians scored the first four points of the second quarter to take a 12-point lead.

But Sittler led a Cooperstown rally, scoring seven straight points during one stretch as the Redskins rallied to within 25-21. Jimmy Jennings gave CCS its first lead at 27-25 on a lay-up with about two minutes remaining in the half, capping a 17-3 run by the home team. The Redskins scored the first six points of the second half to take their biggest lead at 39-30, and Porter quickly called a timeout.

"I decided to take our full court press off because they were beating us in transition," Porter said. "I think they got a little tired too, and we were able to make a run." West Canada sophomore Anthony Ambrose hit a pair of three-pointers and added another basket as the Indians outscored Cooperstown 17-4 during the final six minutes of the quarter to take a 47-43 lead heading to the final period.

Cooperstown erased that lead just one minute into the fourth quarter, as Sittler hit a pair of free throws and Jennings (13 points) nailed a three-point shot from the corner to make it 50-49.

The lead changed hands four times over the next couple of minutes, before West Canada senior guard Brent Fulmer took over, scoring eight of his game-high 18 points to give the Indians a 59-53 with three minutes remaining. CCS senior guard Chris Gentile cut the lead in half with his third three-point shot of the game, and junior reserve Quinn Snyder added a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one. West Canada big man Jeff Yaworski got free underneath to push the lead back to three, and Sittler responded with the final of his 15 points to cut the lead to one again with 32 seconds left.

CCS senior Jason Conklin forced a turnover with 22 seconds left, and Cooperstown had the ball back with a chance to take the lead. Conklin drove the lane and fed Sittler in the corner but his shot was blocked out of bounds by Yaworski. After a timeout, Cooperstown had one last possession with five seconds left, but never got a good look before Sittler's desperation shot from the top of the key. "I wanted us to go to the basket with it," Bertram said. "We got a little disorganized."

Cooperstown played the game without starting guard Luke Banner (illness), whom Bertram described as the team's best defensive player. Without him, the Redskins lacked depth as only Snyder (6 points) and Luke Tirrell, who only played about a minute in the first half, got minutes off the bench.

"Not having Luke was probably the difference, especially at the pace this game was played," Bertram said. "We have to protect our home court," Bertram said. "We can't afford to lose too many times at home."
Redskins bounce back with win

Cooperstown got back on the winning track with an equally dramatic game on Thursday night, erasing an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Herkimer, 66-60. Chris Gentile had a career-high 27 points, including six three-point shots, to fuel the comeback. The Redskins (3-1) scored 31 points in the final period, fueled by a full court pressure defense that forced multiple turnovers.

``I haven't ever seen anything like that fourth quarter,'' said Bertram. ``It was complete havoc.''

Jason Conklin was the only other Cooperstown player in double figures, contributing 15 points, while Jimmy Jennings added nine and Luke Banner seven. Cooperstown hosts Mt. Markham at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night in the first center State Conference league game of the season, and then travel to Sauquoit on Monday for another league contest.

``We really needed this one after losing to West Canada the other night,'' Bertram added.