News & notes

 Former Guilderland star Andrew Sischo and Daemen College are a step closer to a NCAA Division II title.

Sischo scored 25 points, and had 12 rebounds to lead Daemen past St. Thomas Aquinas, 71-70, to advance to the Division II Elite Eight next week in Evansville.

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Siena College senior Manny Camper has decided to pass on a fifth year of eligibility that the NCAA offered because of COVID, and will enter the NBA draft this summer. Given the spotty history of players from the 518 to make the pros, Camper may soon be looking for work overseas. The last Saints player to make the NBA was Kenny Hasbrouck, who had a couple of cups of coffee with Miami a few years back. Of course, the only 518 product in the NBA now is Atlanta's Kevin Huerter (Shenendehowa), now in his 3rd season with the Hawks.

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Speaking of Siena, their lacrosse match, set for Saturday, has been postponed due to COVID. The Saints' athletic program seems snake-bitten by the virus, which caused multiple disruptions during basketball season.

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Volleyball season began last night in Section II. The matches that have been reported all went straight sets, except where otherwise noted. To wit:

Foothills Council:

Gloversville over Broadalbin-Perth.

Scotia-Glenville over Amsterdam.

Suburban Council:

Schenectady over Averill Park.

Saratoga over Albany.

Burnt Hills over Bethlehem.

Niskayuna over Columbia, 3 sets to 1.

Shenendehowa over Troy.

The Shen-Troy match was not reported at press time. Luckily, it's on YouTube:

Troy begins a 3 match road trip at Schenectady tomorrow.

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With Marquette assistant Dwayne Killings not yet confirmed as UAlbany's next men's basketball coach, though a press conference is scheduled for later this week, the Great Danes are going to have to do some recruiting to fill out the roster.

As of press time, 7 players have entered the transfer portal, including Antonio Rizzuto and Cameron Healy. What I don't get is why they're not giving the school a chance to let the new coach settle in. Former player Jon Iati, Rizzuto's cousin, is the interim coach, but the question becomes one of whether or not he'll stick around once Killings is formally introduced. Stay tuned.