High School Fridays: A belated birthday present (Burnt Hills @ Troy, 1/31/20)

Earlier this week, two Troy High players celebrated birthdays. Senior Makai Cruel turned 18, and junior Jadon Cummings turned 17. With Troy on a three game losing streak, what better way to celebrate than with a win on the hardwood to end the week.

Winless Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake provided the opposition, as Troy sought to bounce back after losing to Columbia on Tuesday. The junior varsity set the tone for the night, as Troy's JV's crushed Burnt Hills, 66-33.

The varsity game was more closely contested early. After all, the Spartans would like nothing better than to just win. Early in the first quarter, it looked like they could pull the upset. Ashtun Thomas and Aiden Giaquinto each hit three pointers, but the Spartans couldn't hold the lead. Once Troy took the lead to end the first quarter, they never trailed again.

Unfortunately for Burnt Hills, they lost Thomas to a facial injury in the first half. He took a shot to the jaw, and still had an ice pack on the jaw while in street clothes as the team returned to the court for the third quarter. Thomas was excused, and went home with his father about two minutes into the period.

Meanwhile, Troy gradually began to pull away. Jadon Cummings finished with 13 points. Makai Cruel added 8. Marquis Hamby led Troy with 15, and Alex Wolfe added 8 of his own. Giaquinto led all scorers with 21 points, but no other Spartan reached double figures, as Troy snapped its losing streak, 62-50.
==================================
Troy moves back into first place in the Suburban Council Gray division as Columbia lost to Saratoga. The Blue Devils are now tied for second with Averill Park, which beat Guilderland. Troy continues its homestand on Tuesday, hosting Bethlehem, and looking for a season sweep after upsetting the defending Blue division champs on December 3.
=================================
Unfortunately, the Troy women lost to Burnt Hills, 48-45, extending their Friday night losing streak to four in a row. Alaina Holmes led Troy with 15, while Jenalyse Alarcon added 10. Callie Chevalier led all scorers with 20 points for the Spartans, who snapped a five game losing streak against Troy.

Meanwhile, Schalmont ended LaSalle's Colonial Council winning streak, nipping the Cadets, 62-61, to gain a season split, with each team winning at the other's court.
================================
We're still waiting for confirmation on Thursday's Troy-Burnt Hills bowling match, as the result was not submitted to the local press as of press time. That doesn't sound good if you're a Troy supporter.