High School Fridays: Niskayuna @ Troy (boys basketball), 1/18/19

"Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it."--George Santayana.

There are two reasons why I used this oft-quoted phrase, and both apply to Troy High heading into tonight's boys' basketball game vs. Niskayuna at Zotto Memorial Gym.

1. 10 days ago, the Troy women, perhaps overconfident, thinking they had an easy win, came out flat and lost to Columbia.

2. Twice during football season, the Flying Horses got caught looking ahead, and paid for it with losses to Schalmont and Burnt Hills.

Sophomore Alex Wolfe and junior Makai Cruel were both on the football team this fall, and should've remembered those lessons in order to impart them to their basketball teammates.

Unfortunately, with a revenge game looming in less than 24 hours vs. Kingston, Troy got caught looking ahead again, and it nearly cost them this time vs. the Silver Warriors. Niskayuna took a page from Troy's playbook, and used it against the Horses. The Silver Warriors rained three pointers down on the Troy defense. Ethan St. Lucia and Richie Quinn had four of those treys between them. Still, Troy was only down one at the break.

On a night where Nazaire Merritt had been held to a season low six points, Latyce Faison continued his hot shooting, and the Silver Warriors didn't have any answers for him. Faison hit from virtually everywhere, and finished with a game high 23 points. Quinn finished with 11 before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Nick Benton led Nisky with 16 points, most of them in the second half. Troy took control in the third quarter, but had to hold on for a 55-48 win. Lateef Johnson had 13 points to back up Faison.

As noted, Troy has a matinee in Kingston tomorrow, and should be back home before the snow hits town. After that, the Horses will be in Saratoga next Friday. Tomorrow's game starts a stretch where Troy plays five of their last eight games on the road. This includes a newly added non league game with Colonial Council Liberty division leader Schalmont on February 2.
========================================
Unfortunately for the Troy women, their struggles continued, as they dropped a 63-40 decision to Niskayuna. Olivia Olsen had a game high 21 points for the winners. Alaina Holmes led Troy with 16 points, while Jenalyse Alarcon had 11. Troy trailed by three at the break, but were outscored 31-11 in the second half, 17-1 in the fourth quarter. Ouch!

The Lady Horses' rematch vs. Kingston has been moved back a week to February 9, per Schedule Galaxy. No reason for the change, though security scheduling may have something to do with it, seeing as how the boys will be on the road for an early evening game on the 2nd, the original date for the Kingston-Troy rematch.
========================================
The oddity of the day wasn't on the court, but, rather, on your television.

Spectrum News sports director Marisa Jacques is filling in this evening for PM anchor Solomon Syed. Weekend sports anchor Jesse MacWilliam is anchoring Sports Night. Don't know if this is a 1-shot, or an audition for a promotion for the Catholic Central grad. Speaking of Catholic Central, they finally got around to dedicating the basketball court in honor of former CCHS & Troy coach Don Bassett, now an assistant to UAlbany coach Will Brown. The court had been rechristened Coach Bassett Court earlier in the season,  but this week, they made it official.