News & notes

In anticipation of possible inclement weather late Tuesday, Troy High has moved up the starting times for their men's basketball games vs. Averill Park. The junior varsity match, which normally tips around 5:30, will start an hour earlier at 4:30, and the varsity game, advertised for 7 pm, but rarely starts on time (figure a 15-20 minute delay if the JV game runs long), will tip around 6 or 6:15. Have to imagine the women's games at Averill Park are on the same schedule, and we'll see if other schools in Section II will follow suit, depending on location.
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When Section II has all-day sectional tournament play, tickets are $6 for the whole day. When another sponsor gets involved, the wallets take a hit.

Over the next two weekends, several Section II boys teams will be participating in the Zero Gravity Slam North South Classic. Day 1 will be at the Washington Avenue Armory on Saturday morning, starting at 11 am, leading up to the headline game of the evening, Green Tech vs. Albany Academy, scheduled for an 8 pm tip.

Here's the lineup, courtesy of the Daily Gazette:

January 19

Washington Avenue Armory, Albany

Schalmont vs. Cobleskill-Richmondville, 11 a.m.

Watervliet vs. Mekeel Christian Academy, 12:30 p.m. 

Guilderland vs. Shaker, 2 p.m.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake vs. Catholic Central, 3:30 p.m.

Hoosick Falls vs. Maple Hill, 5 p.m.

Glens Falls vs. Gloversville, 6:30 p.m.

Albany Academy at Green Tech, 8 p.m.

January 27

Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls

Hoosic Valley vs. Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville, 11 a.m.

Stillwater vs. Cohoes, 12:30 p.m.

Green Tech vs. Shenendehowa, 2 p.m.

Albany Academy vs. Park School, 3:30 p.m.

Hoosick Falls vs. Lake George, 5 p.m.

Glens Falls vs. Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.

I'm sorry, but the organizers have to be beyond stupid to not allow for an intermission between games or account for the prospect of overtime in each game. Section II has had that same problem during sectionals for years, although steps were taken last year to alleviate that issue.

Tickets are $6 in advance for students  ($8 day of the event) and $10 for adults ($12 day of the event). This is to pay Zero Gravity's sponsorship fee. The organizers are planning a women's showcase next year, but I think that all depends on how well the event draws at each venue.

Glens Falls' senior superstar, Joseph Girard III, gets the main event slot in front of the home fans, and the co-feature in Albany. Albany Academy will get a rematch against Park School, the team that beat them in the Federation tournament last March, at Glens Falls. As much as ye scribe wants to be in Albany on Saturday, I'll save my energy for hockey later that night.