SAUQUOIT_The Cooperstown boys basketball team played its third nail-biter in five games Monday night, holding off a late Sauquoit rally to hang on for a 66-62 Center State Conference win.

The victory was the third in a row for the Redskins (5-1) and sets up a showdown with undefeated Sherburne-Earville Friday night at Bursey gym.

``That’s the big one,’’ said CCS head coach Dave Bertram after Monday’s game. ``That will be a game for first place.’’

Monday’s game was close throughout, with the Redskins holding a one point halftime lead. The Indians hit two three-point shots within the first minute of the second half to take a five point lead, but CCS senior Jimmy Jennings came off the bench to spark a rally.

Jennings, who had three fouls, entered the game midway through the third period, and finished the quarter with nine points, two blocked shots and a steal as the Redskins opened up an eight point lead after three quarters, 49-41.

Jennings and Zack Sittler each hit short jumpers to start the fourth quarter, and the Redskins had a 12-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining. But Cooperstown did not score for the next three and a half minutes, and the Indians slowly started to chip away at the lead.

``We’re a team that’s going to play in spurts,’’ Bertram said. ``We’ll make a run on a team, and then they’ll come back. That’s just who we are because of the style we play.’’

Sauquoit’s Ben Gibson hit his third three-point shot, and the Indians’ sixth of the game, to tie the score at 57-57 with less than two minutes remaining. [an error occurred while processing this directive]