News & notes

LaSalle's hockey team returned to Union College Saturday night, and shut out Niskayuna-Schenectady-Albany, 3-0. The Mohawks haven't beaten LaSalle in quite a while, it seems. The Cadets will play a home & home series with Saratoga this week, as they'll visit the Spa City on Wednesday, and the Blue Streaks will return the favor for the 2nd annual Cadets For Vets event on Saturday night. Conway Arena was packed last year for the inaugural Cadets For Vets, and the house will be rockin' again.
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We have to give Stan Hudy (& The Blowfish) of The Record/Saratogian some points for creativity.

Covering Friday's Troy-Shen men's basketball game, Hudy, realizing he can't talk directly to the Troy players & coaches, decided to wait until well after the game was over, and collected a sound byte of an interview Troy coach Greg Davis gave to WTEN/WXXA, before filing his report, which appeared in Sunday's editions. Have to believe sports editor "Average" Joe Boyle has been hearing it from the Troy faithful about the ongoing standoff between The Record and Troy schools superintendent John Carmello, whose heavy handed, stubborn approach to this conflict reminds us of a certain bloviator in the White House.

Your move, Mr. Carmello.
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Speaking of Troy High, we know the men's & women's basketball teams have been trending in different directions this season. Nothing new there. With the Troy boys undefeated in Suburban Council play, the question becomes one of whether or not they'll run the table and win their 2nd Gray division title in four years. Well, let's take a look at the schedule:

January 8: @ Columbia.
January 11: @ Schenectady.
January 15: Averill Park.
January 18: Niskayuna.
January 20: @ Kingston.
January 25: @ Saratoga.
January 29: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
February 1: @ Christian Brothers Academy (Colonie).
February 5: @ Albany.
February 8: Bethlehem.
February 12: Schenectady (Senior night/regular season finale).

This much we know. Columbia & Averill Park are much improved from last season. As noted last time, Blue Devils coach Curt Sankey, a former Troy star, is looking for his first win against his alma mater. Kingston swept Troy in a home & home series last season, and won the Lansingburgh Thanksgiving tournament in November. Troy has had CBA's number at Ned McGraw Gym in recent years, so that's not a guaranteed loss anymore. Bethlehem is undefeated, and sits atop the Suburban Council's Blue division along with Saratoga. Schenectady is no pushover, either, and is two years removed from a division title of their own. It will be news if Columbia and/or AP beats Troy.

Projected finish: No, they won't run the table, but they won't lose the division, either. The in-league winning streak will end with Bethlehem, which swept Lansingburgh in a home & home series earlier this season, and have their best player, Michael Ortale, healthy. I see them finishing the league slate 15-1, and will finish 15-3 overall (conceding the Kingston game).

As for the women, they will have a home & home with Kingston starting Saturday afternoon on the road. The Lady Tigers will be in town on February 2. First year coach Ryan Meikle's club has nine league games left, and has already lost to Albany on the road. The remaining schedule:

January 8: Columbia.
January 11: Schenectady.
January 12: @ Kingston.
January 15: @ Averill Park.
January 18: @ Niskayuna.
January 25: Saratoga.
January 28: @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Troy's already beaten the Lady Spartans this season.
February 2: Kingston.
February 5: Albany (senior night).
February 8: @ Bethlehem.
February 12: @ Schenectady (regular season finale).

The 4-5 (2-5 league) Lady Horses should have a couple of breathers before playing Kingston to get them back on track. The Lady Devils are not what they once were. Troy wouldn't mind finally breaking the hexes AP & Albany have on them, but I don't see it.

Projected finish: 6-10 (league). Figure they will have issues with Kingston, as well, and finish 8-12 overall.

Of course, I could be wrong.