News & notes

 Troy High's unified bowling team completed an undefeated regular season Thursday, defeating Tamarac, 5-4, at Uncle Sam Lanes. According to coach Don Poutre, there will be a tournament next week to close the season. Troy finishes at 8-0.

A few hours later, the season ended for the Troy men's basketball team, as Amsterdam foiled a late rally to advance to the Class AA title game 67-62. Jamil Hood's club finishes 14-8 as the champions of the Colonial Council. The Rams await the winner of tonight's Suburban Council semi-final between Columbia & Niskayuna, which leads off the tripleheader at Harding Mazzotti Arena.

Other scores:

Class A semi-finals:

Hudson 62, Averill Park 49.

Lansingburgh 56, Glens Falls 34. The Black Bears are denied a 3rd straight sectional title. It'll be Colonial Council ('Burgh) vs. Patroon Conference (Hudson) tomorrow at 12:45 at Harding Mazzotti Arena.

The women's Class C semi-finals were postponed, and will be played tonight, beginning at 6 pm, at Hudson Valley Community College.

Patrick Gymnasium at the University of Vermont has long been a house of horrors for UAlbany.

Two days after the men lost their season finale, the women were bounced from the America East tournament in a first round loss to Vermont, 55-40. Delanie Hill was the only Lady Dane to finish in double figures with 17 points. Bella Stuart (Shen/New Hampshire) finished with 6 points in 25 minutes off the bench. UAlbany finishes at 14-16, a promising season undone by injuries and a couple of rough patches as the new year began.

Siena's baseball team will open the home portion of their season, but not at home.

And you're asking, what?

The MAAC opening series vs. Fairfield will be played at RPI's Robison Field starting with a doubleheader at 11 am this morning, followed by a single game tomorrow at 1 pm (weather permitting). Siena won't play at Connors Park, their home field, until 2 weeks from today, when they open a weekend set vs. Niagara.

Troy High 2026 football schedule released

 Earlier this week, Section 2 released a preliminary schedule for football for 2026. Sure, it's the first week in March, and a lot can change between now and September, but let's see what it looks like for Jordan Canzeri and the Flying Horses.

September:

4: Home opener vs. Amsterdam.

11: @ Mohonasen.

18: @ Queensbury.

25: Homecoming vs. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

October:

2: @ Columbia.

9: @ Shaker.

16: Senior Night vs. Bethlehem.

Schedule subject to change, of course, if there are late changes to classifications. Defending Class A champion Niskayuna is moving back to Class AA, which opens up an avenue to revive the rivalry with the Spartans.

Prediction: At least one game will air on Spectrum News 1, especially if Troy gets off to a fast start again.

Wednesday's sectional scoreboard, 3/4

 Women's basketball:

Class A semi-finals:

Academy of Holy Names 69, Glens Falls 59.

Albany Academy 86, Averill Park 40. The Lady Knights suffered a worse blowout than they did the first time around. 

The results ensure that the Colonial Council will be home to the Class A champion.

Men's basketball:

Class B semi-finals:

Catskill 73, Johnstown 37. The Cats will face KIPP Capital Saturday at 2:30 (time approximate).

Class D semi-finals:

Fort Ann 50, Northville 48.

North Warren 62, Germantown 53.

The Class D final is Saturday at 4:15 pm.

News & notes

 UAlbany's men's basketball team closed the regular season on a down note Tuesday, dropping a 69-56 decision to Vermont. Amir Lindsey led 3 Great Danes in double figures with 25 points. Seeded 5th in the America East tournament, UAlbany will travel to UMass-Lowell for a quarterfinal round game on Saturday, time TBA.

Meanwhile, the Lady Danes will head to Burlington to play Vermont in the women's quarterfinals, tomorrow night. The game will stream on ESPN+ at 6 pm. Colleen Mullen's club has dropped 6 of their last 8 in the regular season, after starting strong.

Siena will open play in the MAAC tournament in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Atlantic City vs. Mount St. Mary's. Gerry McNamara's Saints are the #3 seed, and earned a 1st round bye after defeating Rider in the season finale on Sunday. Conversely, the women will also open on Saturday vs. Iona as the #5 seed (WVCR, ESPN+, Noon).

Siena baseball has won 3 in a row since starting the season 0-7. Maryland-Eastern Shore was the latest victim on Tuesday, as the Saints used a 9 run first inning to take the lead, and never looked back, as they won, 20-11, in 8 innings. The men's lacrosse team defeated LeMoyne, 11-7, on Tuesday. The laxmen have won four of their first six games, and will stay on the road to play Quinnipiac on Saturday.

With the MAAC tournament getting underway, 3 Siena players earned nods for the All-MAAC teams.

Gavin Doty was a unanimous pick for the 1st team, while Justice Shoats was named to the 2nd team, and Francis Folefac to the All-Rookie Team. Congratulations to all 3. On the women's side, Francesca Schiro was named the league's Rookie of The Year, and named to the All-MAAC 2nd team. Kaiya Rain Tucker was also named to the All-Rookie team.

Congratulations to all 5 Saints.

News & notes

 If you're venturing out to either Hudson Valley Community College (Troy) or Harding Mazzotti Arena (Glens Falls) tonight, it might be in your best interest to give yourself some extra time due to what is likely to be a very messy commute at the end of the work day. It's snowing as I write, and the precipitation will change to freezing rain sometime after 5 pm this afternoon.

All of baseball is mourning the passing of Jhon Vargas, a former pitcher with the Tri-City Valleycats who passed away over the weekend. Vargas spent two seasons with the 'Cats before moving on to the American Association last season.

Former sportscaster and 'Cats trivia maven Brian Sinkoff is in the running to be named the Best in The Capital Region in real estate by readers of the Albany Times-Union. Brian left the Valleycats a couple of years back to devote more time to his work as a realtor, and it shows that he's being recognized for his work.

Monday's sectional scoreboard:

Women's basketball:

Class AAA semi-finals:

Colonie 69, Shenendehowa 65 (OT).

Shaker 67, Albany 40. 

A rematch between the Wolf Pack and Lady Bison will take place Saturday, right back at HVCC, at 12:45 pm.

Men's basketball:

Class B semi-finals:

KIPP Capital 79, Tamarac 50.

Class C semi-finals:

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 77, Cambridge 63.

Stillwater 50, Saratoga Catholic 33.

B-K-W & Stillwater meet for the title Friday at 6:45 pm.

Update, 3:12 pm: All of tonight's games have been moved to tomorrow due to weather.

Notice how, all of a sudden, Section II remembers to give teams room to breathe between games......!

Despite being eliminated in the first round of the Division 2 hockey tournament, Queensbury still lands a state bid, likely due to the fact they need a team from Section 2 regardless. The Spartans will face Byram Hills on Saturday in Brewster.

Shenendehowa repeated as Division 1 champ Monday, beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 5-2. Juan De La Rocha's club moves on to face Suffern on Saturday night at Clifton Park Arena. Yes, Shen gets a home game in the state tournament.

Sunday's high school & college scoreboard, 3/1

 Congratulations going out to Gabe English (Berne-Knox-Westerlo-Middleburgh) and Ryker Cox (Coxsackie-Athens), who won state championships in wrestling on Saturday at MVP Arena. Both were competing in Division 2 (don't ask). Cox captured the 165 pound, and, as shown in today's Albany Times-Union, celebrated by suplexing his coach. English won at 175 pounds.

For Coxsackie-Athens (Patroon Conference) & Berne-Knox-Westerlo-Middleburgh (2 Western Athletic Conference schools competing as 1), these represent the first state titles in the sport.

Women's basketball:

Class D semi-finals:

Saratoga Catholic 54, Hartford 38.

Northville 38, Duanesburg 29.

The Falcons & Saints meet Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College.

Men's basketball:

Class AAA quarterfinals:

Green Tech 67, Colonie 53.

Shenendehowa 65, Albany 62.

CBA 75, Saratoga 53.

Shaker 76, Schenectady 50.

Thursday at Harding Mazzotti Arena:

Green Tech vs. CBA.

Shen vs. Shaker.

Class A quarterfinals:

Hudson 64, Cobleskill-Richmondville 44.

Averill Park 47, Watervliet-Heatly 40.

Glens Falls 63, Greenville 51.

Lansingburgh 60, Hudson Falls 48.

Wednesday in Glens Falls:

Averill Park vs. Hudson, 5 pm.

Lansingburgh vs. Glens Falls, approx. 6:30 pm.

Colleges:

Men's basketball:

Siena 76, Rider 61. Senior Day at MVP Arena, but the Saints apparently will be without Antonio Chandler due to some eligibility issues heading into the MAAC tournament this week.

Vassar 57, RPI 53. Liberty League finals.

Women's basketball:

Union 81, RIT 70. Liberty League finals.

Baseball:

Illinois 14, UAlbany 6.

Softball:

UIC 2, Siena 0. 

UAlbany 10, Bellamine 0 (5 innings).

Troy High sports review, through February 28

 In 2013, Troy's men's & women's basketball teams brought home sectional title, and the women went all the way to the state championship. 13 years later, the school could pull off the daily double again. Emphasize could.

Women's basketball:

Current record: 19-2.

Ballston Spa brought the heat on Friday at Zotto Gym, but once Troy began pulling away in the 4th quarter, the Lady Scotties ended up getting blown out of the building.

Next: Burnt Hills awaits at Hudson Valley Community College on Thursday night.

Unified bowling:

Current record: 5-0.

Coach Don Poutre isn't putting the schedule on the Colonial Council webpage, but he should. Wins last week included Cohoes & Lansingburgh.

Men's basketball:

Current record: 14-7.

As reported yesterday, Troy trailed for most of the game vs. Bethlehem, but their senior leaders, Jordan Hood & Kayne Behan, led the 4th quarter charge to victory, 48-38.

Next: It's off to Glens Falls on Wednesday in the finale of a tripleheader, as Troy faces Amsterdam.