News & notes

 After earning his 800th career win last season, Craig Phillips has retired as baseball coach at Fort Plain. On Wednesday, the school announced that Dale Smith will succeed Phillips in the Fort Plain dugout when play begins (weather permitting, of course) in early April. Phillips began his run in 1975, and, with his school in the Adirondack League, didn't have the attention of larger schools such as CBA, Shenendehowa, or Saratoga. Congratulation, coach. You've earned it.

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UAlbany swept its games against Binghamton on Wednesday night.

The women remain undefeated at home (13-0) as they dunked the Bearcats, 61-48. Helene Haegerstrand led the Lady Danes with 15 points. Local products Grace Heeps & Lilly Phillips had just 2 points each. Abby Ray (Saratoga) didn't play.

Meanwhile, in Western NY, Albany clipped Binghamton, 68-67. Jarvis Doles led the way with 21 points for the Great Danes.

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Bishop Maginn rose from the ashes of Vincentian Institute & Cardinal McCloskey's closings in 1977, and, in basketball in particular, was a powerhouse in the Big 10 in the 80's & 90's.

Declining enrollment, however, forced the school to move from its original campus on Slingerland Street in Albany to its current home on Park Avenue. Things, though, began to improve on the court in recent times, with the Griffins moving from the Big 10 to first the Western Athletic Conference, then, presently, the Central Hudson Valley League. 

Come June, however, after 45 seasons, it ends. The Albany Catholic Diocese announced Wednesday that Maginn will close its doors after its annual commencement exercises in June. Current underclassmen (Grades 9-11) will end up transferring elsewhere, to either CBA or Albany or other schools.

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Even though the coaches of the Capital District High School Hockey League (CDHSHL) will meet tonight, the seedings are starting to take shape for the 2022 playoffs in a more organic fashion.

Last place LaSalle, for example, travels to Saratoga for a play-in game on Sunday (puck drop 5 pm), this after the Blue Streaks were thumped by defending champion Adirondack, 9-2, on Wednesday.

Shenendehowa clinched the regular season title, beating Queensbury, 6-3, and will close the regular season vs. the Guilderville Storm tomorrow.

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Wednesday's high school basketball scoreboard:

Men:

Fort Plain 62, Mount Anthony 27. The Patriots' winless tour of the 518 ends with another blowout loss. Fort Plain's Robert Jordan scored his 1,000th point in the game, finishing with 21.

Warrensburg 43, Schroon Lake 37.

Women:

Central Hudson Valley League:

Bishop Maginn 55, Germantown 44.

Western Athletic Conference:

Mekeel Christian 49, Middleburgh 30.