Thursday's sectional scoreboard, 2/24

 This is not how Bethlehem wanted to end the winter season.

While the men's basketball team punched its ticket to Hudson Valley Community College for the Class AA quarter-finals, scheduled for tomorrow, the hockey team, seeking to regain the Devecchio Cup after losing to Adirondack last year, won't even get a rematch with the Rivermen in the CDHSHL playoffs.

The Skating Eagles instead fell to Albany Academy, 6-4, Thursday night, sending the Cadets to Union College on Sunday for a semi-final round date with Shenendehowa. The Guilderville Storm will play Adirondack after beating the Capital District Jets, 5-0.

Shen-Academy will kick things off at 4:45 pm on Sunday, with Storm-Rivermen at 7:15.

Bethlehem's women's basketball team started with so much promise, opening the season 7-0. Unfortunately, an injury to Ellie Cerf and a 5 game losing streak in the middle of the campaign cost the Lady Eagles the Suburban Council Blue Division, and, on Thursday, their hope for revenge against Albany was thwarted, as the Falcons advance, 46-34. Albany will next play Shaker, which beat Saratoga, 62-39, at HVCC next week. Bethlehem's women finish 11-9 on the season, and will have key players like Cerf returning next season.

The rest of Thursday's basketball:

Women's Class AA:

Colonie 59, Columbia 51.

Shenendehowa 63, Niskayuna 34.

Women's Class A:

Queensbury 63, Academy of Holy Names 47.

Averill Park 81, South Glens Falls 22. The Lady Bulldogs ended their season in the same place where it started, having lost to AP in a pre-season tournament in December.

Catholic Central 37, Amsterdam 28.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 52, Troy 32. The Spartans defeated Troy for the 3rd time this season, as Ryan Meikle's club (6-16) now must spend the off-season learning how to offset the full court pressure defense, or incorporate into their own program.

We must again stress that due to weather, check with your schools or Hudson Valley Community College to see if tonight's games will be played. Section II may have to scramble to reschedule if they have to postpone games tonight. The first game of the Class B men's triple-header at HVCC is scheduled for 5 pm.