News & notes

 We are down to 4 teams in the Section 2 division 1 hockey sectionals.

Saratoga defeated the Hawks, 5-0, on Saturday to advance to a semi-final date with Shenendehowa on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Queensbury was 1-&-done in Division 2, losing to Ithaca, 6-1. Adirondack United's bid for a 3-peat in women's hockey came up short in a 3-2 loss to Potsdam.

Saturday's college scoreboard:

Baseball:

Wake Forest 8, Siena 1.

Texas Tech swept UAlbany, 15-1 & 8-6. The first game ended at 7 innings (mercy rule).

Men's lacrosse:

UAlbany 17, Drexel 9. 

Women's lacrosse:

UAlbany 13, Harvard 12.

Men's basketball:

UMBC 66, UAlbany 62.

Women's basketball:

Fairfield 81, Siena 51. Siena has dropped 4 straight.

UAlbany 69, UMBC 63 (2 OT).

RPI 70, Clarkson 56.

Union 63, St. Lawrence 50.

RIT 58, Skidmore 49.

The Albany Times-Union's James Allen made his picks for the basketball sectionals in today's editions. Now, it's my turn.

Women:

Class AAA: 

Allen's pick: Shaker.

My take: I've seen Shenendehowa, Shaker, & Colonie on TV this season. Colonie is looking to 3-peat, and deserves a little more respect. Their lone loss came against Shaker, suggesting a changing of the guard.

Pick: Shaker.

Class AA:

Allen's pick: Columbia.

My take: The theme this season at Troy High was collecting receipts from losses in Colonial Council play last season. Will Harris' Lady Horses succeeded in collecting all 5. Now, there's one more to get based on what has been a phenomenal season, the likes of which Troy hasn't had in 13 years. We are assured a new champ in Class AA, since Catholic Central sank near the bottom of the Colonial standings. Columbia was denied in losing the semi-finals to Bethlehem 2 years ago, and they could see a rematch of that game in this year's semi-finals. The Lady Devils were bridesmaids last year vs. Catholic Central, but can they get to the title game this time? Maybe, but if they do, the bill collectors of Class AA (Troy) will be waiting for them.

Pick: Troy.

Class A:

Allen's pick: Albany Academy.

My take: No debate here.

Pick: Albany Academy.

Class B:

Allen's pick: Mechanicville.

My take: Coxsackie-Athens, like Troy, is on a 13 game winning streak heading into the tournament. LaSalle got senior star Kate Gilooly back after a hand injury just in time, even though David Crudo's squad has lost 8 of 10. Momentum is on the side of the Riverhawks.

Pick: Coxsackie-Athens.

Class C:

Allen's pick: Stillwater.

My take: Greenwich is looking for payback after splitting their season series with Stillwater, including a TV game on WNYA. Stillwater also beat Greenwich to win the sectional title last year, so the motivation is even stronger this time.

Pick: Greenwich.

Class D: 

Allen's pick: Northville.

My take: I don't think the Falcons are repeating, even though they have put last year's season ending disaster behind them. 

Pick: Saratoga Catholic.

Men:

Class AAA:

Allen's pick: Shaker.

My take: Having seen Shaker & CBA on TV, including an overtime thriller between the two, I'm not so sure the Blue Bison can avenge their earlier loss. Also, I wouldn't bet against Will Brown & Green Tech upsetting the applecart. The Eagles didn't play CBA during the regular season, but they have historically had the Brothers' number (2013 AA semi-finals, anyone?). Shen will be right there, too, but a gut feeling says that it'll be Green Tech vs. CBA, one more time.

Pick: Green Tech.

Class AA:

Allen's pick: Niskayuna.

My take: Allen sees Troy, the #5 seed as a dark horse. That's an understatement. Jamil Hood will have had a week & a half to get Troy right again after they went 5-7 in their final 12 games, and will have a de facto home game @ HVCC vs. Bethlehem on Saturday. A coaching change at Columbia has made them a contender, as Tyler Rose would be a candidate for coach of the year. I've seen Nisky on TV, but they can be taken if they turn into a one man team (Brady Olsen).

Pick: Columbia.

Class A: 

Allen's pick: Lansingburgh.

My take: The Knights split two regular season games with Troy. Ravena, Allen's dark horse pick, got blown out by Troy. Hudson, out of the Patroon Conference, came out of nowhere this season, and needs to prove they're not a flash in the pan. And there's also the matter of Glens Falls still being a factor.

Pick: Glens Falls.

Class B:

Allen's pick: KIPP Capital.

My take: DJ Jones' KIPP Capital team isn't your ordinary 1st year club. Jones brought Indavier Barnes with him from Green Tech. All they have to do is flash the rings from 2024, and that will be the motivation the Trailblazers need.

Pick: KIPP Capital.

Class C:

Allen's pick: Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

My take: The Bulldogs decided to go independent this year, and the strategem paid off. They own a win over Troy, proving they can play with the big boys. I don't see any reason to debate the point.

Pick: Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

Class D:

Allen's pick: North Warren.

My take: The Cougars moved back to Class D after falling short of the Class C title vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo last year. D seems to be more their speed anyway. They've won 5 in a row, claiming the Adirondack title by beating Corinth. This time, though, they're getting turned away again.

Pick: Northville.

Of course, I could be (and probably will be) wrong.

Friday's high school scoreboard, 2/20

 One semi-final matchup is now set, and the other will be after tonight's action.

#1 Shenendehowa 7, #8 CBA 2. Gavin Cronin had 2 goals to lead the way for the defending champions, who await the winner of tonight's Hawks-Saratoga game.

#2 Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa 8, #7 LaSalle 2. The Cadets end their season having lost six of their final seven games. Stats are not available at press time.

#3 Adirondack 5, #6 Bethlehem 1. The Rivermen & Spartan Scotties will meet on Wednesday night in the semi-finals.

The finals, we should note, will take place March 2.

Section 2 basketball sectional pairings released

 And, so, the real fun begins. We'll reveal the women's pairings first, then the men.

Women:

Class AAA:

Wednesday:

Guilderland @ Shenendehowa.

Schenectady @ Colonie.

Saratoga @ Albany. Winner to play Shaker March 2 @ Hudson Valley.

The other semi-final is also at HVCC, with the finals there on March 7.

Class AA:

Monday:

South Glens Falls @ Niskayuna. Winner to play #1 Columbia next Friday.

Queensbury @ Ballston Spa. Winner plays #2 Troy next Friday.

Catholic Central @ Amsterdam. Winner to play #3 Burnt Hills at Troy next Friday.

Next Friday:

Mohonasen vs. Bethlehem @ Columbia.

Semi-finals are at HVCC on March 5, with the finals March 9.

Class A:

Monday:

Ravena @ Broadalbin-Perth. Winner to play Albany Academy Thursday.

Cohoes @ Averill Park.

Hudson Falls @ Schalmont. The winners of these two games will meet at Albany Academy on Thursday.

Cobleskill-Richmondville @ Ichabod Crane. Winner to play #2 Glens Falls on Thursday.

Lansingburgh @ Academy of Holy Names.

Watervliet-Heatly @ Scotia-Glenville. The winners of these two games will meet at Glens Falls.

Semi-finals will be March 3, and the finals on March 7, at HVCC.

Class B:

Tuesday:

Granville @ Johnstown. Winner to play #1 Mechanicville February 28.

Fonda-Fultonville @ Voorheesville. 

Schuylerville @ LaSalle. The winners of these two games will meet at Mechanicville.

Greenville @ Tamarac. Winner to play Coxsackie-Athens February 28.

Rensselaer-Loudonville Christian @ Corinth.

Hoosick Falls @ Catskill. Winners to meet at Coxsackie-Athens.

Semi-finals are on March 6, and the finals March 9, at HVCC.

Class C:

Tuesday:

KIPP Capital @ Greenwich.

OESJ @ Galway.

Cambridge @ Mayfield.

Waterford @ Whitehall.

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons @ Stillwater.

Warrensburg @ Maple Hill.

Schoharie @ Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

Hoosic Valley @ Lake George.

The quarter-finals are set for next Friday. Semis are on March 4, and the finals on March 9, at HVCC.

Class D:

Thursday:

Germantown @ Northville.

Duanesburg @ Argyle.

Salem @ Saratoga Catholic.

Mekeel Christian @ Hartford.

Semi-finals are March 1, with the finals on March 7, at HVCC.

Men:

Class AAA:

Wednesday:

Guilderland @ Saratoga. Winner to play CBA March 1 at HVCC.

Also on March 1 @ HVCC:

Colonie @ Green Tech.

Schenectady @ Shaker.

Albany @ Shenendehowa.

Semi-finals are on March 5, with the finals on March 7, at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls.

Class AA:

Wednesday:

Burnt Hills @ Queensbury. Winner to play #1 Amsterdam February 28 at HVCC.

Ballston Spa @ Mohonasen. Winner to play #2 Niskayuna.

South Glens Falls @ LaSalle. Winner to play #3 Columbia.

Also on February 28:

Troy vs. Bethlehem.

Semi-finals will be on March 5, and the finals March 7, in Glens Falls.

Class A:

Wednesday:

Schalmont @ Cobleskill-Richmondville. Winner to play #1 Hudson March 1 @ Guilderland.

Broadalbin-Perth @ Watervliet-Heatly. 

Cohoes @ Averill Park. Winners to meet at Guilderland.

Gloversville @ Ravena. Winner to play #2 Glens Falls @ Guilderland March 1.

Scotia-Glenville @ Hudson Falls. Winner to play #3 Lansingburgh.

Semi-finals are on March 4, and the finals March 7, in Glens Falls.

Class B:

Wednesday:

Granville @ Greenville. Winner to play #1 KIPP Captial @ Guilderland February 28.

Mechanicville @ Tamarac.

Coxsackie-Athens @ Fonda-Fultonville.

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons @ Johnstown.

Hoosick Falls @ Voorheesville.

Corinth @ Schuylerville.

Cairo-Durham @ Catskill.

The remaining quarter-finals are also at Guilderland February 28. The scene shifts to Glens Falls for the semi-finals (March 3) & finals (March 6).

Class C:

Tuesday:

Waterford @ Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

Whitehall @ Maple Hill.

Hoosic Valley @ Cambridge.

Rensselaer @ Fort Plain.

Lake George @ Duanesburg.

Middleburgh @ Stillwater.

Loudonville Christian @ Saratoga Catholic.

Schoharie @ Greenwich.

Quarter-finals are next Friday at HVCC & Guilderland. Semi-finals are March 2, and the finals on March 6, at Glens Falls.

Class D:

Tuesday:

Hawthorne Valley @ Salem. Winner to play #1 North Warren next Friday.

February 28 at HVCC:

Fort Edward @ Germantown.

Next Friday @ Guilderland:

Argyle @ Northville.

February 28 @ Guilderland:

Hartford @ Fort Ann.

The semi-finals are at Glens Falls March 3, and the finals March 6.

Good luck to all the teams.

High School Fridays: Section 2 hockey quarterfinal preview

 Tonight starts the Division 1 quarterfinals in Section 2 hockey. We caution ahead of time, however, that due to inclement weather, the games might not be played, since all three of tonight's games are scheduled for Saratoga & Warren Counties.

Tonight:

CBA @ Shenendehowa. Scheduled puck drop is at 7:20 pm. The question is whether or not the Brothers can sustain momentum from Wednesday's win over Guilderville to score a major upset. CBA has just 5 wins on the season, counting Wednesday, as it has not been a good year. It's about to end.

Pick: Shen.

Bethlehem @ Adirondack. Scheduled puck drop is at 7:30 pm. The Rivermen won 3 in a row to close the regular season, including spoiling Senior Night for LaSalle a week ago. That same night, Bethlehem defeated CBA to gain momentum. An upset here would help Bethlehem break the gridlock the North Country has on the league. It then becomes a question of who's hungrier.

Pick: Bethlehem in an upset.

LaSalle @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa. Scheduled puck drop is at 8 pm. The Cadets snapped a 5 game losing streak in destroying the CD Jets on Tuesday. The Spartan Scotties have won 4 straight. If LaSalle can turn in another performance like they did on Tuesday, with only 4 minutes in penalties, it'll be a bonus. And, then, there's the matter of payback for Burnt Hills winning their regular season meeting.......

Pick: LaSalle in the other upset.

Saturday:

Hawks @ Saratoga. The Blue Streaks limp into the postseason on a 5 game losing streak of their own. Nothing would motivate them more than seeing an opportunity to play arch rival Shen in the semi-finals. And if LaSalle can get rid of their losing streak, so can Saratoga.....

Pick: Saratoga.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Semi-finals are on Monday.

News & notes

 Siena will be without its leading scorer in women's basketball for the rest of the season.

Freshman Francesca Schiro has been sidelined with a broken wrist. She averaged just over 17 points a game this season. Schiro is considered a favorite to win the MAAC Rookie of the Year award at the awards ceremony next month in Atlantic City.

The last spot in the CDHSHL quarterfinals was set Wednesday with CBA beating the Guilderville Storm, 5-4. The Storm finish with a 4-15-1 overall record. CBA will play Shenendehowa tomorrow night.

Wednesday's high school basketball scoreboard:

Women:

Catskill 62, Ellenville 33.

Stillwater 77, Saratoga Catholic 38.

Schenectady 59, KIPP Capital 28.

Amsterdam 53, Broadalbin-Perth 48 (OT).

Men:

Hudson 100, Ballston Spa 77.

Saratoga 67, Mohonasen 51.

News & notes

 The sad saga of the 2025-26 Capital District Jets reached its end Tuesday, as the winless club absorbed a 9-3 beating at the hands of LaSalle in the 1st round of the CDHSHL playoffs.

Danny Wiese led the way for LaSalle with 4 goals & 2 assists. The Jets finish 0-21, a testament to the fact that the play-in tournament in the CDHSHL amounts to handing out participation trophies to the underachieving teams at the bottom of the standings. The league would be better served just going with the top 8 teams, and not bothering with the play-in format.

LaSalle moves on to play Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa on Friday at 8 pm. The other play-in game sees CBA hosting the Guilderville Storm today at 2:45 pm.

UAlbany men's lacrosse is off to a slow start after losing to Penn, 15-10, on Tuesday. The Great Danes (0-2) travel to Philadelphia to play Drexel on Saturday.

UAlbany softball fans can mark the final weekend of March on their calendars----weather permitting, of course----as that will be when Troy High grad Olivia DeCitise returns with the UMass-Lowell River Hawks for a weekend series. The schedule calls for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28, and a single game on the 29th. The Lady Danes will return the favor April 25-26.

Tuesday's high school basketball scores:

Women:

Shenendehowa 73, Averill Park 19.

Bethlehem 65, Saratoga 55.

Albany 67, Voorheesville 34.

Guilderland 54, LaSalle 39. Kate Gilooly had 21 points, but little support as LaSalle dropped its 3rd straight, and has lost 9 of 12.

Stillwater 60, Berne-Knox-Westerlo 51.

Ravena 48, Catskill 43.

Men:

Hoosic Valley 59, Coxsackie-Athens 53.

Averill Park 54, Burnt Hills 51.

Troy 56, Guilderland 45.

Greenville 58, Mechanicville 41.

Voorheesville 70, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 46.

Cohoes 34, Johnstown 32.

Queensbury 57, Scotia 49.

Amsterdam 48, Gloversville 40.

Glens Falls 72, Broadalbin-Perth 32.

Two Suburban Council coaches reach milestones

 Over the past week, two coaches in Suburban Council women's basketball achieved career milestones, with one doing so at the expense of the other.

First, Albany's Decky Lawson moved into first place on the all time coaching wins list for women's basketball at the school, after the Falcons defeated Guilderland last Tuesday.

Three nights later, Colonie's Heather DiBiase became the Lady Wolfpack's all time leader in coaching wins for the school by beating Lawson & Albany.

Maybe someone should mention to WNYT's Rodger Wyland that DiBiase should be pronounced as it is spelled. During a recent broadcast, he repeatedly pronounced DiBiase as "DiByas". Unless that's how her family prefers it, which is possible, the more common pronounciation is closely associated with pro wrestler Ted DiBiase. Six of one, half a dozen of another, you know?

Congratulations to both coaches as they prep for sectionals.