News & notes

 Siena's women's basketball team was given an unexpected vacation---again----as their road trip to Quinnipiac was postponed for the 2nd time. Coupled with the previous announcement that Wednesday's game at Niagara was also postponed, the Lady Saints won't get back on the court until next weekend.

Meanwhile, the Siena men split their series with Marist, as they rebounded to beat the Red Foxes, 63-50, earlier today. CBA alum Jordan King has cooled off after a recent hot streak. King was held to 14 points in the two game series. 8 yesterday, and 6 today.

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While it isn't official yet, don't expect Troy High to have their home bowling match vs. CBA tomorrow due to an incoming snowstorm, which is currently blanketing New York City. A winter storm warning is in effect from 7 am to 7 pm tomorrow. with at least 6-10 inches expected.

An official announcement regarding classes, should be made public in the next few hours.

Update, 2/1/21, 4:17 pm.: The storm hasn't landed, and the match is on. We're hoping to get the results on Tuesday.

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UAlbany's women split their series with UMass-Lowell this weekend as well. Their winning streak was snapped at three this afternoon as the Lady River Hawks salvaged a split of the two game series. Local product Grace Heeps scored her only three points of the series late in the fourth quarter Saturday, and was held scoreless today.

News & notes

 Not a good day for Troy High on the lanes or in the pool on Thursday.

Troy's co-ed bowling team dropped a 5-0 decision to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, dropping the Flying Horses to 1-4 (or is that 1-5?) on the season. Thursday's result was obtained through the Spartans' Twitter page, since the result was not reported to the press in time for this morning's editions.

Meanwhile, Troy/CBA also fell to 1-4 after losing to Albany, 52-42. The Flying Brothers close the regular season with a home & home series with the Spartans, February 2 & 16, and a home meet vs. Guilderville on February 9.

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To follow up on yesterday's news, the Albany Times-Union reports today that out of the 12 counties that host Section II member schools, Rensselaer County is the only one launching high risk sports come Monday without restrictions. The holdouts, including Albany, Warren, Greene, Columbia, and Schenectady counties, are waiting for rolling positivity rates for coronavirus to drop below 4% before allowing play to begin.

As noted yesterday, Glens Falls has shut down their winter sports program altogether, erring on the side of caution.

Update, 4:13 pm: From WTEN comes an announcement from Montgomery County:

Also, Saratoga County is following the same guidelines.

The natives (athletes), though, are getting restless.......!

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UAlbany's men's basketball team is back on pause due to another positive COVID-19 test, and games scheduled this weekend & next have been postponed.

The Siena women have had their February 3 game vs. Niagara postponed for the same reason.

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On Thursday, the Tri-City Valleycats hired former major leaguer Pete Incaviglia as their new manager. Incaviglia played 12 seasons in the majors with Texas and Philadelphia, and has 35 total years experience in the game.

Along comes a buzzkiller

 To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, Section II counted it all joy that high school "high risk" winter sports (i.e. basketball, wrestling, hockey) would get underway on Monday.

However, as ESPN's Lee Corso is wont to taunt, not so fast, my friends.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy announced late Wednesday that he would advise school districts in the county not to start high risk sports until the county positivity rate for COVID-19 falls below 4%, per the Albany Times-Union. Spectrum News is saying the required rate would be 5%.

5% is the threshold Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin is aiming for, and it had been reported that districts in the county (i.e. Troy, Averill Park) were already being given the green light.

McCoy's decision has an adverse effect on the Suburban Council, since nearly half the teams in the league (Albany, CBA, Shaker, Colonie, Bethlehem, Guilderland) are based in Albany County. McCoy is not alone, though, as the Times-Union also reports that Washington, Warren, Greene, & Columbia counties are also throwing up the red lights on high risk winter sports. As of now, we haven't heard anything from Saratoga or Schenectady counties. 

Understand that McCoy and his counterparts are all acting on the side of caution, especially with newer, more dangerous strains of coronavirus having made their way into the US.

The decision also damages the Capital District High School Hockey League (CDHSHL), since most of their member schools would be adversely affected, especially since there are a few hybrid teams in the league, the result of some schools merging athletic programs in order to field teams. It's been reported that in Warren County, winter sports would be suspended for the rest of the season, meaning the CDHSHL would be missing at least two teams if/when league play starts.

And so the waiting game resumes.

Let's get ready to play!

 We are a week away from the start of a condensed season for high-risk winter sports in Section II. While bowling & men's swimming & diving are underway, basketball, wrestling, and hockey will begin practices & games next week. The season will be from February 1-March 13, so the season will be 6 weeks, with a 1 week overlap with "Fall II", which begins the week of March 1.

On Section II Athletics' Twitter page, users were uncertain about sectionals, but it was made clear that there would be no sectional or any other post-season competition this year.

Here's the official announcement:

Spring sports, such as baseball, lacrosse, outdoor track, and men's tennis, will start in May, and overlap into exam season, assuming Regents exams will be given this year, and graduation. Since college baseball continues past commencement, usually in May, leading to the College World Series in June, sports fans should be used to that. And, yeah, there's a mask mandate in place. As it should be. Not just for fans, but athletes & coaches, too.

Let the games begin!

News & notes

 Siena College's men's basketball team is doing the COVID-19 schedule shuffle again.

Instead of playing at Niagara this weekend, the Saints will instead visit Marist on Saturday & Sunday. A home series vs. Canisius has been split into a pair of stand-alone mid-week home games on February 3 & 17.

The complete, revised schedule for the rest of the regular season is as follows:

January 30-31: @ Marist.

February 3: Canisius.

February 5-6: Quinnipiac.

February 12-13: @ Niagara.

February 17: Canisius.

February 26-27: Manhattan (Senior Day is February 27).

March 4-5: @ Iona.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament is scheduled to begin around March 10-11 in Atlantic City. The Saints were on the verge of winning the tournament last year when play was suspended due to COVID.

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Speaking of COVID, Syracuse's Joseph Girard III (Glens Falls), recovering from a bout with the virus, scored 8 points in 26 minutes, but the Orange were blown out of the gym by Virginia, 82-56, on Monday. The Orange fall to 3-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, 9-5 overall.

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Troy High & Ballston Spa very quietly rescheduled their bowling meet at Uncle Sam Lanes, presumably last Friday, but the result wasn't reported until today's editions of the Albany Times-Union and other newspapers. Olivia DeCitise rolled a 630 triple for high honors as Troy earned its first win of the season, 4-1.

Unfortunately, the momentum didn't last, as Troy dropped a 3 1/2-1 1/2 decision to Guilderland on Monday, also at Uncle Sam. Not including the January 7 meet at Albany, which for unknown reasons was never reported, Troy is 1-3, and could be either 2-3 or 1-4 with the Albany result. The Flying Horses are on the road the rest of the week, at Saratoga today, and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake on Thursday. However, with a snow storm arriving this afternoon, the Saratoga meet could wind up postponed. We'll wait & see.

Update, 1:51 pm: The match has been postponed. No makeup date has been set.

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It was UAlbany's 10th game of the season, and, with the Great Danes comfortably in front in a win over New Hampshire on Sunday, coach Will Brown decided to give son Jackson (Catholic Central) his first minutes on the court. Jackson played the final two minutes, but didn't score. That's not to say he was running on empty, or allowed to drive the boulevard to the basket, but that will come in time. Seems he felt he stayed on the bench just a little too long.......!

News & notes

 State Senator Tom O'Mara is asking Governor Cuomo to extend the curfew on local bars & restaurants beyond 10 pm tonight only due to the AFC title game between Buffalo & Kansas City. The Bills are one of the hottest teams this post-season, and all of New York is rallying behind them.

No word if O'Mara's request has been granted at press time.

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Siena earned a split of their weekend series at home vs. St. Peter's, but, contrary to Friday's game, this was bowling shoe ugly.

Defenses ruled the night at the Alumni Recreation Center. Jordan King & Manny Camper led Siena with 12 points each. Jalen Pickett added 11. No Peacock reached double figures, and Siena gets back on the winning tip with a 47-40 win.

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UAlbany gained a split of their series with New Hampshire, 83-64, earlier today. CJ Kelly led the Great Danes with a season high 23 points.

On Saturday, the Wildcats beat the Danes, 71-64. Kelly had 11, and Jamel Horton led Albany with 19 points.

The women, on the other hand, swept New Hampshire at SEFCU Arena.

On Saturday, Kayara Frames led Albany with 12 points, and Helene Haegerstrand added 10 as the Lady Danes won, 59-47. Columbia alum Grace Heeps added 6 for Albany.

Today, though, Heeps had a breakthrough game, scoring a season high 17 points. Frames had 10, and Ellen Hahne led Albany with 18, as the Lady Danes completed the sweep, 63-50.

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Albany Academy alumnus Dion Lewis, currently with the Giants, will be appearing at the annual #518 Gives telethon on WXXA next Sunday afternoon. However, for the first time, the telethon has been reduced to 2 1/2 hours (2:30-5 pm), a sign that the telethon, which began as a benefit for United Cerebral Palsy years ago, may be on its way out. Either that, or the time is being trimmed as another casualty of COVID-19. Telethons have been a dying breed in recent times, and last fall's attempted comeback by MDA was a critical failure.

News & notes

 St. Peter's couldn't stop Siena sophomore Jordan King. The CBA graduate topped 20 points for the 3rd straight game, with 21, but it wasn't quite enough. The Peacocks, the last team to beat the Saints before Siena went on a 16 game winning streak, ended said streak Friday night, 68-62. Manny Camper added 18 points. Jalen Pickett, in his first game back, had 8.

The game aired on ESPNU (Spectrum channel 370), but when the game started at 7 pm, viewers were rerouted to ESPNews (Spectrum channel 302), as coverage of a Big 10 gymnastics meet between Michigan & Minnesota ran late. ESPNU picked up the game around 7:05.

Tonight's game will be seen locally on WNYA (Spectrum channel 1215), also at 7.

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UAlbany alumnus Eli Mencer will play his pro football in, like, Canada, eh?

Mencer signed a free agent contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Mencer joins former Albany Empire star Malachi Jones, who signed with Montreal last year when things didn't work out for him in the short-lived XFL.

==================================

Finally, some good news for Section II athletes.

Pending authorization from county health departments, high risk sports (wrestling, hockey, basketball, competitive cheerleading) will begin the week of February 1. The state has given the green light, but with the caveat that each county (i.e. Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Schenectady, Saratoga) has to give their approval.

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, interviewed by WNYT last night, has indicated that the county health department will give the green light, which would make student-athletes at Emma Willard, Troy, LaSalle, Catholic Central, & Lansingburgh very happy.

Stay tuned.

Troy High update, 1/21

 Troy High & CBA's combined men's swimming & diving team snapped a season opening three meet losing streak Thursday in beating Schenectady, 60-34. The Flying Brothers (1-3) will have a week off before meeting Albany next Thursday.

On the other hand, Troy's co-ed bowling team could use some help.

The Flying Horses had two home matches in as many days the last two days, and lost them both, shut out, 5-0, in each case, by Niskayuna & Columbia.

The result of Wednesday's virtual meet (which is what they may all be, methinks) wasn't published until today, and that may be the fault of the Silver Warriors, more so than homestanding Troy. Olivia DiCitise led Troy with a 623 triple in the losing effort. On Thursday, Colin Shepherd tallied the high score for Troy with a 573 triple.

We'll see if we can obtain the result of Troy's season opener vs. Albany on January 7.

Like everyone else in the Suburban Council, Troy is waiting to find out if there will be a basketball season. If there is, as we wrote the other day, we're looking at a 4 week schedule for the month of February, with a minimum of 8 games. We'll keep an eye on that, too.

News & notes

 For the 2nd straight season, the Federation Tournament of Champions basketball tournament has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. This year's event was to be contested at Fordham University, which won the right to host the tournament beginning this year.

As it stands now, basketball season has yet to begin in New York, and there are concerns that it might not happen at all. If play does begin the week of February 1, it would be a very short season, with no sectional tournaments, previously cancelled on the docket. The winter season is supposed to end at the end of February, meaning that schools would be looking at a minimum 8 game schedule, if they play 2 games a week.

Add to that the fact that there is at least one, and maybe multiple petitions being circulated to convince Governor Andrew Cuomo to let the kids play high risk sports such as basketball & hockey.

=========================================

It seems as though the Suburban Council has caught up with the combined CBA-Troy High men's swimming & diving team.

The Flying Brothers are 0-3 after a 179-96 drubbing at the hands of Niskayuna Tuesday afternoon. There is no risk for the weary, however, as the Flying Brothers are back in the pool tomorrow to host Schenectady.

Meanwhile, Troy's bowling team is back on the lanes today, and will begin a stretch where they'll have five matches in nine days, starting with a home match vs. Niskayuna at Uncle Sam Lanes. Tomorrow, Columbia comes in, and then, Guilderland is in Monday for a makeup from a postponed match. Everything gets underway at 4:15 pm. Check with Uncle Sam Lanes about whether or not you can attend as a fan.

News & notes

 Earlier today, the Atlanta Hawks downed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-97. Kevin Huerter, in his 2nd start, scored 17 points, as all 5 Hawks starters were in double figures.

Of course, it'd be nice if local radio showed some love for Huerter, not just when the Hawks plays Boston, Brooklyn, or the Knicks.

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Antonio Rizzuto scored a season high 19 points to lift UAlbany over NJIT, 83-71, to complete a series sweep on Sunday.

It might be a good idea, though, if coach Will Brown could help his counterpart on the women's side, Colleen Mullen, get the Lady Danes into the win column. Maine completed a weekend sweep Sunday, 63-47. Kyara Frames led UAlbany with 16 points. Lucia DeCortes added 14. Grace Heeps, still having a difficult time adjusting to the America East conference, had just 2 points.

I've a feeling that if things don't change soon, Ms. Heeps will find herself out of the starting lineup. Just sayin'.

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In a show of respect to a fallen opponent, Buffalo Bills fans, which would include fans here in the 518, have contributed a total of $360,000---and counting----to a charity run by Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson after Jackson left Saturday's playoff game at Buffalo with a concussion. 

The message? Get well soon. Much love & respect to one of the best in the game today.

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WTMM-FM (104.5) made a last minute decision and terminated the contract of afternoon co-host Tom Goslowski, 1/2 of Levack & Goz, their long-running afternoon drive talk show, according to the Daily Gazette. Goslowski, from the looks of things, appeared to have been blindsided by the decision by station owner Townsquare Media.

We should have more information on this next time.

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Former Tri-City Valleycats pitcher Joe Musgrove is on the move again.

Musgrove is being traded from Pittsburgh to San Diego for prospects, allowing the left-hander to play for his hometown team. Houston had traded Musgrove to Pittsburgh a few years back,

News & notes

 Kevin Huerter got his first start for Atlanta on Saturday night at Portland. Huerter had 13 points, but the Hawks lost to the Trail Blazers, 112-106.

Atlanta, at least, kept it close, unlike on Friday when Utah thumped the Hawks, 116-92. Huerter had 10 points off the bench in that game.

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Siena hasn't missed a beat since Jalen Pickett went down with a hamstring injury 9 days ago.

In his place, Jordan King has been, as they saying goes, en fuego. The Rider Broncs would be happy if they didn't see him again this season.

The CBA graduate had 21 points Friday in a 78-69 win, leading all scorers. Saturday night was a nail-biter, but King, for the fourth straight game, carded a career best point total, upping it to 22, as Siena completed the sweep, 74-72.

The Saints return home Friday to play St. Peter's, with the game airing on ESPNU. As Dan Patrick, now with NBC Sports Network, would say, you can't stop King. You can only hope to contain him.

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After a 3 1/2 week layoff, the UAlbany women hosted Maine Saturday in the first half of a men's/women's doubleheader at SEFCU Arena. Unfortunately, there was too much rust on Colleen Mullen's squad, and it showed, as the Lady Bears beat the Lady Danes, 66-48. Lucia DeCortes led Albany with 12 points. Helene Haegerstrand added 10. Grace Heeps contributed 3 points.

The second game in the series is going on at press time.

The men, meanwhile, dispatched New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), 83-75. Jamel Horton led the Danes with 18 points, while Antonio Rizzuto, newly named captain of the Danes, added 16.

The second game in this series will be played later today.

News & notes

 The spectre of coronavirus continues to haunt two schools in the 518.

Troy High had three bowling matches scheduled this week, two of them at home. All three have since been postponed, the latest being Thursday's match vs. Shaker at Spare Time Latham (formerly Latham Bowl), now rescheduled for Wednesday, February 10. We're still waiting on a make-up date for a home match vs. Ballston Spa, which was originally booked for January 11.

Meanwhile, Siena College's women's basketball team was supposed to travel to Quinnipiac for a series starting today, but another positive COVID-19 test has postponed that series.

The Lady Saints (2-2) just can't buy a break. Here is the official statement from Siena's Twitter page:

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The Albany Times-Union is reporting that the Tri-City Valleycats, following the lead of other teams in the now-defunct NY-Penn League, has filed suit against their former parent club, the Houston Astros, and Major League Baseball to the tune of $15 million.

The suit comes just a week after the team had inked a deal to join the Frontier League, and comes on the heels of the Staten Island Yankees doing the same thing after the NY Yankees decided to ankle them and take over the Hudson Valley Renegades, who will now play in the Atlantic League.

Stay tuned.

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UAlbany's women's basketball team was to travel to play the New Jersey Institute of Technology this weekend, while the schools' men's teams play at SEFCU Arena. However, due to some coronavirus issues involving the Vermont women's team, the road trip to New Jersey has been postponed, and the Lady Danes will play Maine at SEFCU arena this weekend, creating a men's/women's doubleheader at the campus arena.

The women will tip off at 12 noon (radio coverage on WCDB) both days, while the men's games tip off at 5 pm. Sunday's men's game is being pushed back 2 hours from its original 3 pm tip time to allow for complete sanitizing of the arena between games.

Radio coverage of the men's games is supposed to be on WTMM (ESPN radio 104.5 FM), but the station could be running into conflicts with NFL football for the 2nd straight weekend. Check your listings in tomorrow's papers.

News & notes

 Siena College announced Tuesday that the January 22 game vs. St. Peter's at the Alumni Recreation Center will be telecast on ESPNU (Spectrum Cable channel 370), with a 7 pm tip. This might not be the only nationally televised game for Siena this year, at the rate things are going, with the Saints at 4-0 headed into this weekend's road series at Rider.

Also, due to coronavirus surges in Albany County, fans will continue to be prohibited from attending men's & women's home games at the ARC. Doesn't look like the men will see the inside of Times-Union Center any time soon.

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Ballston Spa's men's swimming & diving team overcame an early deficit, winning the 200 meter breastroke relay to lift the Scotties past CBA/Troy High, 82-78.

The Flying Brothers fall to 0-2 on the season, and will travel to Niskayuna next Tuesday.

==================================

Two former Section II stars met on the court Tuesday night, as Syracuse visited North Carolina on the ACC Network.

Joseph Girard III (Glens Falls) was held to 6 points on 2 second half 3 pointers. Andrew Platek, formerly of Guilderland, tallied 7 points coming off the bench, as the Tar Heels held off the Orange, 81-75. The two teams will meet again at the Carrier Dome later this season.

News & notes

 COVID-19 issues forced a last minute postponement of Monday's scheduled bowling match between Troy High and Ballston Spa at Uncle Sam Lanes. The Flying Horses' Wednesday match vs. Guilderland, also at Uncle Sam Lanes, has also been postponed, and has already been rescheduled for January 25. No makeup date has been set at press time for the Ballston Spa match. Not a good start to the season for Troy, which was one of the most improved teams in the Suburban Council last season.

================================================

No Pickett, no problem.

Freshman Aiden Carpenter led Siena with 19 points. Manny Camper added 17, and Jordan King bested his career best from a week earlier by scoring 18 points, as the Saints completed a weekend sweep of Fairfield on Sunday, 75=68.

Siena (4-0) now heads to New Jersey to play Rider this weekend. Jalen Pickett is day-to-day with a leg injury sustained on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Lady Saints squared their record at 2-2 by sweeping Rider, 69-60. Margo Peterson led the way with 21 points. They'll be on the road, too, this weekend, at Quinnipiac.

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UAlbany's men & women will face New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) this weekend. The men are home at SEFCU Arena, while the ladies are on the road.

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Shenendehowa alumnus Kevin Huerter scored 8 points off the bench in support of Trae Young's team-high 26 points as Atlanta beat Philadelphia, 112-94, on Monday, evening their record at 5-5. Huerter had scored 10 in a loss to Charlotte on Saturday.

News & notes

 To update an earlier story, former Yankee and Shaker High grad Tommy Kahnle, now with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, might not see a mound until 2022 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery last summer that ended his 2020 campaign with the Yanks a wee bit early. Kahnle, back home in Latham, was interviewed for today's Albany Times-Union.

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UAlbany wilted under the bright lights of a national television audience, what little was there, anyway, on Saturday night as they dropped a 67-64 decision to St. Joseph's in Philadelphia. The Danes (1-5) were led by Jarvis Doles, who had 13 points. UAlbany returns home next weekend to play New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

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Jalen Pickett wasted little time scoring his 1,000th career point Saturday, but it was a bittersweet end to the night as Pickett limped off the court with a leg injury late in the second half.

However, undefeated Siena (3-0) had the game won by that point, as they beat Fairfield, 74-56, in the first of a 2 game series in Connecticut. Pickett and Jackson Stormo led Siena with 15 points each. Jordan King (CBA) added 8. The two teams meet again this afternoon at 4 pm.

Back at home, Isis Young scored 23 points to lift the Lady Saints to their first win of the season, 73-64, over Rider. Ahniysha Jackson (Albany High) had 4 points in limited action for Siena (1-2). They'll play the Lady Broncs again today at 1.

News & notes

 As of press time, Troy High's season-opening bowling match vs. Albany has not been reported. The Falcons are using Del Lanes in Delmar as their new home base, sharing the venue with Bethlehem. The match was live-streamed on the Falcons' Facebook page, but the feed shows only Albany players and no sign of any Troy bowlers.

Troy's home opener at Uncle Sam Lanes is Monday vs. Ballston Spa.

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Former Troy basketball star Daniel Buie, who moved to Gould Academy in Maine a couple of years back, is now a sophomore with Northwestern University. The Wildcats are off to a 6-1 start overall (3-0 Big 10). Buie is currently averaging 11.4 points a game.

You might recall that Daniel's brother, Taran, played his college ball at Penn State a few years back.

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To update our report on the Tri-City Valleycats from yesterday, the Albany Times-Union confirmed that, yes, the 'Cats will have to find a new manager all over again. Former 'Cat Wladimir Sutil didn't see the field as manager last year due to coronavirus forcing the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season. Sutil has since been reassigned by the Houston Astros.

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The baseball world is mourning the passing of former Los Angeles Dodgers manager and coach Tommy Lasorda, 93, who passed away earlier.

Lasorda took the Dodgers to four World Series, winning two (1981, 1988), after succeeding Walter Alston as the Dodgers' manager in the late 70's.

File photo obtained from Wikipedia.

Lasorda had ties to the 518, too. He pitched for the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Canadian-American League in 1948 before being signed away from the Philadelphia Phillies' organization by the then-Brooklyn Dodgers. Lasorda also had a comic side to him, playing the Dugout Wizard on the syndicated children's series, The Baseball Bunch, hosted by Cincinnati Reds star Johnny Bench.

The Dodgers most assuredly will wear black (or maybe dark blue?) armbands in memory of Lasorda when pre-season play begins in late February-early March.

Rest in peace.

News & notes

 UAlbany's men's basketball team will get a national television spotlight on Saturday. That's the good news.

The bad? It's airing opposite the NFL playoffs.

The Great Danes' road game at St. Joseph's has been picked up by NBC Sports Network (Spectrum Cable digital channel 314), and the game will air at 6 pm. Where the game will air on local radio is a different story, depending on which, if any or all, of the NFL games will air on ESPN Radio.

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The Atlanta Hawks, after a hot start, have lost three of their last four after a loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Kevin Huerter scored 19 points off the bench. With that kind of production, despite a nagging ankle issue, it might be in the Hawks' best interests to promote Huerter to the starting lineup, preferably ASAP.

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North Carolina has seen its share of players from the Empire State, not just the 518 (Monmouth coach King Rice is an ex-Tar Heel, and played his high school ball in Binghamton).

Guilderland's Andrew Platek, who took the prep route to the ACC, becomes the first Section II alumnus to play for North Carolina since, if memory serves, Sam Perkins (Shaker) back in the 80's. Perkins had the good fortune of playing for the legendary Dean Smith, and with a future Hall of Famer in Michael Jordan.

We bring this up because Platek had the game winner in a recent game for the Tar Heels. Now, you have to hope he follows Huerter to the NBA.......!

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A month ago, Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee asked Gregg Langbehn, newly retired as manager of the Washington Wild Wings, for a favor. He had Langbehn open a dialogue with his former boss with the Tri-City Valleycats, Rick Murphy.

Three weeks ago, Langbehn was interviewed by Mark Singelais of the Albany Times-Union, promoting the league as a possible destination for the Valleycats following the dissolution of the NY-Penn League.

Today, we can report that the 'Cats have joined the Frontier League.

The season will start sooner, in mid-May, and is longer than the NY-PL, 96 games as opposed to over 70, meaning a 48 game home schedule.

The only question that remains is who would be the 'Cats' manager? Wladimir Sutil was hired prior to the 2020 season, but the season was cancelled. If Sutil is still employed by the Astros instead of the Valleycats, then Tri-City would have to search for a new manager all over again.

Stay tuned.

Siena shuffles the schedule

 Siena College's men's basketball team was to wrap up a 4 game homestand this weekend at the Alumni Recreation Center vs. Canisius. Unfortunately, the Griffins have paused athletic activities, which forced a cancellation of a women's game on Sunday, and so the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has shuffled the schedule, sliding in a road trip to Fairfield, which had been postponed from last month, for this weekend. Game time is 4 pm Friday & Saturday, which now begins a 4 game road trip, as the Saints visit Rider next weekend.

Following is the official announcement from Siena.

That means WNYA, which picks up ESPN3's feed for Siena for the 2nd straight season, will have time to fill on Saturday. On Friday, they'll use their regular late afternoon schedule

Meanwhile, Rider's women's team will be at the ARC on Saturday & Sunday to face the Lady Saints, with a 1 pm tip both days.

The Lady Saints, however, are out one freshman from the 518.

The Albany Times-Union, among other media outlets, reported today that Grace Field has left the team after not playing in the Lady Saints' season opening series vs. Fairfield. Field has since transferred to a Division II school, Colorado Christian University. Field actually made her CCU debut on Sunday, getting her first collegiate points at the free throw line in a win over Adams State. Field made her decision to transfer after the Fairfield series, but the story wasn't picked up locally until three days after the CCU-Adams State game. CCU had recruited Field during last season at the Academy of Holy Names, but due to coronavirus concerns, Field felt it best to stay closer to home.

That said, it appears that Siena women's coach Ali Jacques' decision not to user her vs. Fairfield may have spurred Field's decision to leave halfway through her freshman academic season, and transfer to CCU. Since she was moving down in classification from Division I to Division II, Field was able to play right away. Best of luck to her as the season contnues.

The waiting game continues

 Per Schedule Galaxy, Section II hasn't received clearance from the state health department, due to recent surges in coronavirus cases in the state, to begin basketball/hockey season, which was to start next week. Now, the soonest basketball can begin, if at all, would be the week of February 1.

What this says is that there is more of a chance, given the present health situation, that there won't be any basketball or hockey this season. Players, coaches, and their families don't want to think about that, but it is still a realistic possibility.

All we can say for now is, stay tuned.

News & notes

 Winter sports season has finally begun at Troy High. That's the good news.

The bad news? Troy's men's swimming & diving team, merged with CBA for the 2nd season, dropped its opener, 61-30, to Bethlehem this afternoon.

A quick check of the roster shows one senior, three freshmen, and three 8th graders, along with the usual mix of sophomores & juniors. In other words, a mostly inexperienced team, even if it's partially CBA's team.

The Flying Brothers have a week off before beginning a 2 meet road trip next Tuesday at Ballston Spa.

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Shenendehowa alumnus Kevin Huerter had 9 points coming off the bench as Atlanta lost to the Knicks, 118-108, on Monday. Huerter, averaging almost 11 1/2 points a game, is nursing a slight ankle injury, and the Hawks are hoping he'll play tomorrow night vs. Charlotte.

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With a week to go before basketball season can begin, teams and parents are still waiting for clearance from the state health department. With a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Albany County, I'd not be surprised if the season was further delayed. Stay tuned.

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Siena completed a sweep of their series vs. Monmouth Monday night, blowing away the Hawks, 76-62. Jordan King (CBA) tallied a career high 15 points to back up leading scorer Jalen Pickett.

News & notes

 Siena's men's basketball team finally took the court Sunday in opening a 2 game series vs. Monmouth, winning, 78-77. The two teams meet again later today at the Alumni Recreation Center. Jordan King (CBA) had 2 points, while Jalen Pickett led the Saints with 20 points.

The women, meanwhile, had hoped to play Canisius on the road on Sunday, but that was postponed for the 3rd time this season. If at first you don't succeed.....!

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After two days off, the Atlanta Hawks will welcome the Knicks for the first meeting between the two teams this season. Atlanta split their two game series with Brooklyn last week, winning on Friday in convincing fashion. Shenendehowa grad Kevin Huerter scored 10 points off the bench for Atlanta, and will see action tonight vs. the Knicks.

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UAlbany's men's team split a weekend series vs. Vermont.

The Great Danes escaped with a 63-62 win on Saturday, only for the Catamounts to salvage the split on Sunday. Jackson Brown, son of coach Will Brown, has yet to get into a game this season.

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The Giants' season is over, so Albany Academy grad Dion Lewis is on his way home.

Lewis had 1 carry for 7 yards, and had 63 total return yards in Big Blue's win over Dallas on Sunday. As noted over at The Land of Whatever earlier today, there is some controversy surrounding Philadelphia's decision to pull QB Jalen Hurts in the 4th quarter of their game vs. Washington, and it's clear the Giants feel like they were screwed by their territorial rivals' decision to "tank" in the final frame. Wouldn't be surprised if the local press sought out Lewis for his take on things.

News & notes

 The "chess match", if you will, between local colleges and coronavirus continues.

UAlbany's women's basketball team has postponed their weekend series this week vs. Vermont, as well as next week vs. Stony Brook due to "tier 1" positive tests for the virus. No make up dates have been set as of press time.

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Barring any last minute positive tests, Troy High's winter sports season should get underway Tuesday with a home swimming & diving meet vs. Bethlehem. For the 2nd straight season, Troy's men's team will merge with CBA. The Flying Brothers, if you will, carded a 7-1 ledger in 2020.

The bowling season begins with a road match at Albany on January 7. Basketball season, pending approval from the state health department, will begin January 12 vs. Ballston Spa. Stay tuned.

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Kevin Huerter came off the bench and scored 7 points in a losing effort Wednesday, as the Atlanta Hawks suffered their first loss of the season at Brooklyn, 145-141. The Nets & Hawks will play again tonight at Barclays Center (Yes Network, Fox Sports Southeast, 7:30). There's a reason Huerter isn't starting, as ownership sees more value in Trae Young, who, like Huerter, was drafted in 2018. No fans will be admitted into the Barclays Center.

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In case you haven't heard, Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving the green light to Buffalo Bills fans to attend the team's 1st NFL playoff game next week, opponent to be named. That means Bills boosters from the 518 are packing their bags for Western NY for the wild card round (January 9-10), as the Bills are seeking to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the last of their 4 straight appearances in 1994.