High School Fridays: LaSalle @ Troy (basketball), 12/27/19

Once upon a time, you could plan on seeing LaSalle and Troy High hook up in basketball twice a year.

However, it has been nearly five years since the two schools have met on the hardwood. The classic rivalry has been revived in football, with Troy having won four straight over the Cadets. Would it be any different tonight? Would LaSalle spoil the Uncle Sam Holiday Classic, as Troy billed this year's event?

For a while, it seemed like they could.

For three quarters, the Cadets hung tough with the Flying Horses, matching them on both sides of the ball. Junior forward Owen Kane scored seven points in the first half, but was shut down after halftime. Gabe Lucarelli, arguably one of the Cadets' best players, was held to just six points on the night.

But for every Cadet basket, Troy had an answer. Both teams applied defensive pressure, although Troy began to get sloppy with the fouls in the second half. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the hosts finally began to pull away.

Marquis Hamby, one of three sophomores on the varsity roster, led all scorers with 17 points. Senior Makai Cruel added 15, and Alex Wolfe & Shamdo Caldwell chipped in 9 each, as Troy rebounded from a tough loss to Truman High last weekend with a 70-59 win in front of a raucous crowd at Zotto Gym.

Jimyh Evans led LaSalle with 16 points, while Drashean Wallace added 13 in a losing effort.

Tomorrow, LaSalle will play Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, while Troy hosts Lansingburgh.

Earlier, Lansingburgh ended Gibbons' season opening eight game winning streak, taking the Golden Knights to overtime before emerging with a 73-72 victory. Gibbons had a chance to actually win on the last possession, but Omari Carmon's three pointer was blocked as time expired.
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Other stuff:

It was not a good day for LaSalle, as the skating Cadets dropped a 5-3 decision to Brattleboro at Union College. Owen Scannell, Spencer Carpenter, & Hunter Caola scored for the Cadets, while Caleb Ellis made 19 saves in goal. LaSalle will play Saranac tomorrow morning. Saranac defeated the Niskayuna-Schenectady-Albany-Amsterdam Mohawks in today's nightcap, 3-2.

The Troy women's basketball game vs. Pittsfield at Amsterdam High was not reported as of press time.

Albany Academy finally won a hockey game in Section II. Dave Rider's Cadets defeated "Guilderville", 3-2, snapping a four game losing streak.