High School Fridays: Class B men's sectional quarterfinals @ HVCC, 2/22/19

It's quarterfinal weekend in Section II men's basketball. The schedule makers split the four Class B games between two venues, Shenendehowa and Hudson Valley Community College, and Section II's #1 gate attraction was at HVCC.

That would be Glens Falls' record setting scoring machine, Joseph Girard III, who had logged over 1,000 points this season alone en route to shattering the Section II scoring record.

Girard led the Indians into the McDonough Field House for a third meeting this season with Foothills Council rival Johnstown. Almost every seat in the bleachers was filled by game time, but it was just a question of how long it'd take before those seats would be emptied.

Surprisingly, Johnstown took the early lead on a three point basket by Patrick Boyle, who wasn't about to let Girard have his way with the Sir Bills' defense again without answering Girard's scoring with some of his own. However, Johnstown coughed up the first quarter lead a couple of minutes later, and never got it back. Once Glens Falls went in front, it was just a matter of time before this one was in the books.

For all of the media hype surrounding the Syracuse-bound Girard, his cousin, Trent, is no slouch from long distance, either. Trent hit 5 treys, and finished with 18 points. Cousin Joe had 48. It got to the point where fans were already leaving at halftime, knowing the game was over, and once Joe Girard exited halfway through the fourth quarter, the exodus resumed in earnest, though it can be excused that some of the senior citizens attending the game might've needed to return to Van Rensselaer Manor before bed check.

In any event, Glens Falls is now assured of at least one more game in front of their home fans, as they routed Johnstown, 93-66.

In the nightcap, Colonial Council Patriot Division champion Schalmont took on another Foothills Council representative, Schuylerville, but it had to be embarrassing for Section II to see the main event of the evening played in front of a smaller crowd.

Give the Black Horses credit, though, for trying to stay in the game, as they held the Sabres' junior star, Shane O'Dell, in check at the break, with Schalmont leading by just three. The lead doubled to six after three quarters, but Schuylerville's offense did a disappearing act for most of the final frame. It wasn't until Stratton Sherman reached into the WABAC machine and hit a three pointer to wake up the Black Horses' offense. However, Schalmont outscored Schuylerville, 25-8, in the final period to pull away to a 65-42 victory.

The opening act was a Class C quarterfinal mismatch between top seeded Lake George and Schoharie. Lake George romped, 75-31. They'll next play fifth seeded Mayfield, which beat #4 Chatham at Shen, 71-56. The other Class C quarterfinals will be played tomorrow as the opening act before a Class AA quadruple-header at HVCC.

In other Class B action at Shen, Watervliet ended Mechanicville's Cinderella bid, 74-59, while Fonda-Fultonville took down Catskill, 69-56. The semi-finals take place at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls on Monday, with Watervliet the next target of the Girard Express, while Schalmont takes on Fonda. The Lake George-Mayfield game will also be on Monday, while tomorrow's winners in Class C will meet in Glens Falls on Tuesday.
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Other stuff: Troy High senior sharpshooter Nazaire Merritt earned the first of what will likely be a handful of all-star selections, as he was named to WNYT's All-Star team. Merritt and the Flying Horses will headline Sunday's quadruple-header at HVCC when they face Queensbury.