Troy High sports review, through December 19

 Troy High is on holiday break until January 5, although sports resumes December 29. Time to take a look at this week's action.

Men's basketball:

Current record: 4-0 (2-0 Colonial Council).

After beating Marcellus last Saturday at HVCC, Jamil Hood's squad had a few days to practice, and otherwise rest, before blowing away Ravena on Friday at Zotto Gym. If the Ravens came in with revenge on their minds, they were sadly disappointed.

Next: The Horses are off until January 2, when Watervliet-Heatly makes its first visit.

Women's basketball:

Current record: 5-1 (4-0 Colonial Council).

After upsetting defending champion Catholic Central on Tuesday (Hudl has it backwards), Will Harris' group crushed Ravena. The 30 point margin of victory matched their demolition of Guilderland 2 weeks earlier.

Next: The Glens Falls holiday tournament, December 29-30. Can Troy repeat last year's shockers?

Men's swimming & diving (merged with CBA & Columbia):

Current record: 4-1.

The 1 blemish came in a 4 team meet Friday, as the Flying Devil Brothers fell to Schenectady-Colonie in a meet that also included LaSalle & Hoosic Valley. LaSalle, for what it's worth, finished last. The loss was the 1st for the men's team since 2023.

Next: The pool is closed until January 6, when Bethlehem visits.

Bowling:

Current record: 4-2.

Don Poutre's club has hit the skids going into the holiday break, first losing at home to Mohonasen, then on the road at Cohoes, as the Tigers gained a split of the season series.

Next: The lone event on the schedule is a make-up date with Lansingburgh on Monday. Then, the keglers will be on vacation.

The sports review returns in two weeks.

High School Fridays: A stampede in the winds of winter (Albany at Shaker, 12/19/25)

 The women are in the spotlight tonight, as Shaker hosts Albany in a Suburban Council meeting of teams who've been past division champions.

Decky Lawson's Falcons are younger, less experienced than in past years, as Lawson is looking to find a successor to Azera Gates (now at Siena). Not only that, but Albany has spent the last few years chasing Averill Park for the Grey division title. Shaker is always in the thick of it in the Blue division, and opens the season undefeated.

The difference in this game was Shaker outscoring Albany, 18-4, in the 3rd quarter. Albany never recovered. The WNYA game of the week returns in 3 weeks with a Wasaren League match, with Tamarac visiting Saratoga Catholic.

Also:

11 months after demolishing Ravena, Troy continued their hot start in both men's & women's action. The guys remain undefeated under Jamil Hood, blowing out the Ravens, 79-49. The women, now 5-1, similarly crushed the Lady Ravens, 64-34. The women are idle until the Glens Falls Holiday tournament on December 29. The boys are off for 2 weeks before Watervliet-Heatly comes in.

In hockey, LaSalle has now won 4 in a row after beating Mohawk Valley, 3-1. Mohawk Valley comes from Section 3.

News & notes

 Saratoga Race Course, as we already know, will host the Belmont Stakes for the 3rd straight year come June. Overall the 2026 meet, split into two parts, will run a total of 51 days, with the majority of the meet, as per tradition, from July-September. They're expecting Belmont to reopen in the fall of 2026.

If you were like me, thinking the UAlbany-Vanderbilt women's basketball game would appear on the SEC Network proper on Thursday, you were disappointed. ESPN, which operates the channel, chose to put the game online. Just as well, as the Lady Commodores snapped the Lady Danes' 7 game winning streak, 64-35. Call it a reality check for Albany (9-3).

The dispute between Section 2 and officials that work their hockey games, per WTEN, is nearing an end. Parents across the region are breathing a sigh of relief. The agreement, to be ratified and signed on Monday, would be a great Christmas present for Section 2.

On the ice, Queensbury crushed the CD Jets, 9-1. The Jets have yet to win a game this season (0-6, 0-3 CDHSHL), while the Spartans sit atop the standings, tied points-wise with Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa, though Queensbury has played one fewer game. Meanwhile, CBA has cancelled tomorrow's scheduled non-league game vs. Waterton-Immaculate Heart, due likely to weather concerns.

In Puerto Rico, Susquehanna defeated Union in women's basketball, 63-44.

The rest of Thursday's high school action:

Men's swimming & diving:

Bethlehem 102, Albany 49.

Guilderville 92, Shaker 76.

Queensbury 88, Glens Falls 82.

Gloversville/Mayfield/Fonda 79, Hudson Falls-South Glens Falls 42.

Women's basketball:

LaSalle 71, Voorheesville 55.

Amsterdam 55, Queensbury 31.

South Glens Falls 49, Schuylerville 21.

Stillwater 67, Hoosic Valley 20.

Tamarac 64, Hoosick Falls 28.

Men's basketball:

Fort Ann 60, Crown Point 28.

LaSalle 65, Voorheesville 59.

Niskayuna 66, Guilderland 32.

A quick reminder that tonight's WNYA game of the week sees Albany vs. Shaker in women's action (7 pm).

News & notes

 Now, it's the women's turn to be on TV.

Tonight, UAlbany's women will face Vanderbilt in a non-league game airing on the SEC Network (Spectrum channel 384) at 7:30 pm. The Lady Danes, remember, don't have any sort of broadcast contract, unlike the men, so this is a rare treat. The Albany Times-Union incorrectly listed the game as being at 6:30 pm.

Speaking of the Albany men, they took down Stony Brook, 71-55, on Wednesday night. Amir Lindsey had 24 points to help the Danes snap a stretch where they'd lost 3 straight and 6 of 7. The Danes return home Sunday afternoon to face Cornell (WTMM, 3 pm).

Siena, on the other hand, found out how tough Vermont is.

The Catamounts, who've been Albany's nemesis for years, defeated the Saints, 83-69, on Wednesday night. Gavin Doty led 4 Saints in double figures with 18 points, as Siena saw its 7 game winning streak come to an end. Riley Mulvey (Albany Academy) had 4 points in 12 minutes. Up next for Siena is a trip to Big 10 country to play Indiana (WJMZ, Big 10 Network, 6 pm) on Monday. The Big 10 Network is a premium channel on Spectrum.

Weeks after learning that their new regional rival, the NY Phoenix, moved to the revived United States Basketball League, the Albany Patroons announced they'll sit out the 2026 season, with plans to return in 2027. The team will retain a presence in the Albany community during the hiatus. Something tells me that there's more to this than team management, led by president Michael Corts, is letting on......!

The only other college basketball game of local interest on Wednesday saw Union defeat Johnson & Wales, 65-60, in women's action. The Garnet Chargers are in Puerto Rico, where they'll next play Susquehanna later this afternoon.

Wednesday's high school action:

Men's hockey:

Hawks 9, Guilderville 2.

Shenendehowa 3, Queensbury 1.

Adirondack 2, Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa 0.

The Section 2 hockey website has confirmed that the Hawks tournament, taking place Friday & Saturday, will be at the M & T Bank Center, not at Union College.

Men's swimming:

Fonda-Johnstown 60, Canajoharie-Ft. Plain 57.

Women's basketball:

Granville 35, North Warren 27.

Corinth 44, Hadley Luzerne 17.

Lake George 53, Warrensburg 25.

Fort Plain-Canajoharie 55, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 41.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 51, Johnstown 33.

Duanesburg 53, Schoharie 33.

Mechanicville 58, Fonda-Fultonville 12.

Galway 47, OESJ 33.

Mayfield 62, Northville 52.

Whitehall 84, Fort Edward 4. Ouch!

Men's basketball:

Fonda-Fultonville 46, Canajoharie 34.

Cobleskill-Richmondville 57, Loudonville Christian 43.

Fort Plain 61, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 60.

Duanesburg 61, Schoharie 40.

Warrensburg 50, Lake George 49.

Northville 71, Mayfield 41.

Middleburgh 56, Worcester 49.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 77, Johnstown 45.

Skiing:

Queensbury swept the men's & women's events at the Johnsburg Invitational.

News & notes

 Troy High's bowling team felt the sting of defeat for the first time on Monday at home, losing to Mohonasen, 27-5. Liam Casey led Troy (4-1) with a 577 triple. Tuesday's "road" match vs. Lansingburgh was postponed, reset for Monday at 4:30 pm.

Siena has won 2 in a row in women's basketball, after blowing away Central Connecticut State, 94-56, on Monday at UHY Center. Francesca Schiro led Siena with 22 points. Azera Gates (Albany) had 2 points in 7 minutes off the bench. Valencia Fontanelle-Posson (Guilderland) added 9 points.

Tuesday's high school scores:

Women's basketball:

Germantown 33, Berlin-New Lebanon 25.

Taconic Hills-Hawthorne Valley 59, Chatham 39. 

Hartford 61, Argyle 33.

Saratoga 54, Queensbury 34.

Niskayuna 71, Schenectady 26.

Troy 67, Catholic Central. Good bounce-back after losing to Columbia on Saturday for the Lady Horses (4-1).

Holy Names 53, Schalmont 33.

Albany Academy 71, Ichabod Crane 28.

Ravena 44, Cohoes 35.

Catskill 77, Hudson 6.

Columbia 68, Burnt Hills 46.

Bethlehem 69, Averill Park 40.

Colonie 63, Shenendehowa 55.

Shaker 75, Guilderland 32.

Mohonasen 59, LaSalle 32.

Men's basketball:

Bethlehem 70, Averill Park 42.

Ravena 61, Cohoes 48.

Hudson 95, Catskill 58.

Voorheesville 44, Lansingburgh 40.

Watervliet-Heatly 65, Coxsackie-Athens 36.

Chatham 55, Taconic Hills 54.

Rensselaer 53, Maple Hill 43.

LaSalle 55, Mohonasen 54.

Hartford 62, Argyle 53.

Tamarac 60, Mechanicville 46.

Niskayuna 61, Schenectady 27.

Corinth 73, Hadley-Luzerne 28.

North Warren 85, Granville 79.

Fort Ann 68, Salem 15.

Broadalbin-Perth 51, South Glens Falls 48.

Columbia 59, Burnt Hills 55.

Queensbury 53, Hudson Falls 43.

Albany 77, Ballston Spa 45.

Shenendehowa 55, Colonie 31.

Shaker 76, Guilderland 65.

Cambridge 59, Saratoga Catholic 57.

Stillwater 63, Hoosick Falls 30.

CBA 86, Saratoga 52.

Men's hockey:

LaSalle 4, Saratoga 1. Brady Hansen had 2 goals to lead the suddenly red hot Cadets (3-1-1).

Men's swimming:

CBA-Troy-Columbia 75, Albany 66.

Burnt Hills-Scotia 85, Shaker 77.

Ravena 96, Fonda-Johnstown 84.

Saratoga 95, Ballston Spa 75.

Bethlehem won a 4-team meet over LaSalle, Schenectady-Colonie, & Hoosic Valley.

Niskayuna 99, Shenendehowa 84.

Catching up on high school action, 12/13-15

 Women's basketball:

Saturday:

Tamarac 43, Cobleskill-Richmondville 33.

Hoosick Falls 32, Waterford 30.

Mechanicvill 43, Corinth 42.

Mohonasen 59, Ballston Spa 51.

Shaker 79, Our Lady of Lourdes 39.

Sunday:

Shaker 74, Ursuline 56.

Monday:

OESJ 48, Wells 15.

Northville 58, Hartford 52.

Hudson Falls 39, Queensbury 34.

Hadley-Luzerne 46, Johnsburg-Minerva 20.

Albany 53, Ballston Spa 44.

Lansingburgh 52, Gloversville 48.

Lake George 41, Maple Hill 36.

North Warren 44, Kings School 34.

Broadalbin-Perth 50, South Glens Falls 44.

Glens Falls 75, Amsterdam 58.

Mechanicville 67, Tamarac 17.

Schuylerville 62, Fonda-Fultonville 33.

Galway 44, Warrensburg 25.

Stillwater 63, Hoosick Falls 28.

Men's basketball:

Saturday:

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 69, Bishop Timon 50.

Monroe-Woodbury 54, Columbia 25.

Cathedral Prep 48, Colonie 45.

Ravena 71, Cobleskill-Richmondville 46.

Green Tech 56, Tamarac 53. Will Brown picks up his 1st Section II win.

Gloversville 58, Scotia 38.

Greenwich 61, Canajoharie 36.

Ballston Spa 56, Auburn 54.

Sunday:

Maple Hill 63, Mount Academy 49.

Mohonasen 53, Averill Park 46.

Schenectady 61, Schalmont 43.

Green Tech 70, Corinth 40.

Rome Free Academy 56, Niskayuna 40.

KIPP Capital 83, Cambridge 55.

Germantown 73, Waterford 34.

Shenendehowa 82, Marcellus 42. Good bounce-back for Shen after the loss to Shaker on Friday.

Albany 77, Cathedral Prep 47.

Monday:

New Paltz 53, KIPP Capital 51.

Cobleskill-Richmondville 74, Galway 36.

Cairo-Durham 53, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 40.

Northville 73, Hartford 47.

Whitehall 63, Fort Edward 54.

Women's bowling:

Columbia 27 1/2, Ballston Spa 1/2.

Troy High sports review, through December 13

 The schedule gets lighter as we approach the holiday break. After yesterday, there's time to regroup.

Bowling:

Current record: 4-0.

I can't recall if Troy has gotten out to this fast a start before. No, seriously. A mid-week road trip to Voorheesville was postponed (no make-up date set), sandwiched around home wins over Schalmont & LaSalle. And if coach Don Poutre says they're 4-0, take it as gospel.

Next: The current homestand ends Monday vs. Mohonasen. Troy will be the road team vs. Lansingburgh on Tuesday, and, after that, a return match with Joshua Yando & Cohoes at Cohoes Arena on Thursday before a 2 week break for the holidays.

Men's swimming & diving (united with CBA & Columbia):

Current record: 1-0.

The season finally began Tuesday with a win over Shaker.

Next: The Flying Devil Brothers hit the road for meets at Albany on Tuesday, and at Schenectady-Colonie on Friday, the latter a make-up date from December 2.

Women's basketball:

Current record: 3-1 (2-0 Colonial Council):

Reality set in for Will Harris' club on Saturday in a loss to Columbia, 65-39. The Lady Horses hung with the Lady Devils until late in the 2nd quarter, when Columbia went to a full court press, which has been Troy's Achilles' heel.

Next: Catholic Central, coming off a loss themselves on Friday, makes its first visit to Zotto Gym in at least 11 years on Tuesday. Then, it's a road trip to Ravena on Friday.

Men's basketball:

Current record: 3-0 (1-0 Colonial Council):

The weird scheduling to start the season just got weirder for Jamil Hood and the Flying Horses. We'll get to that in a bit.

Troy defeated Colonie, then blew Schalmont out of Zotto Gym, before going to HVCC and the Coaches vs. Cancer event, then beating Marcellus, 49-46. 

Edit, 12/16: We had the incorrect information in the original report, and have corrected it.

Now, here's where it gets weird:

Next: The Horses are idle until Friday, when Ravena comes looking for payback after getting blown out of their own gym last season. After that, due to a non-league game having been cancelled for December 30 (they couldn't find an opponent), Troy will have 2 weeks off from game action before hosting resurgent Watervliet-Heatly on January 2. This is also the by-product of Catholic Central not fielding a men's team this year, else Troy would be playing at the Riverside Center on Tuesday.