News & notes

 It's a good thing Siena's men's basketball team has today off so they can tour Disney World.

The Saints will need a break after losing to Mississippi, 74-62, on Friday. Javian McCollum had a career best 24 points, while Jackson Stormo added 13. Andrew Platek, after a career day on Thanksgiving Day, was held to 4 points.

Siena will play the 3rd place game against either Seton Hall (Big East) or Oklahoma (Big 12) Sunday night.

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Just when you thought the Troy Turkey Trot went without incident on Thursday, it didn't.

4th place finisher Xavier Salvador was disqualified, and removed from the record book after a collision just before the finish with Delmar's Jack Huber, who moves up from 5th to 4th. Unlike in horse racing, where a disqualified horse remains in the final record, the organizers of the Trot have the right to completely expunge a DQ'd runner, such as was the case here.

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For Section II football, Class A has always had to deal with a final boss, if you will, before reaching the state finals in Syracuse.

The Tuskers of Somers High have, more often than not, been that final boss. They eliminated Burnt Hills, for example, in consecutive years, and, on Friday, Somers reached its 2nd straight state final, ending the dream season for Niskayuna in a dominating 35-7 verdict.

The Silver Warriors finish 10-3, seeing a 9 game winning streak end in such wrenching fashion.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day at Middletown, Class D titlist Cambridge-Salem downed Moriah, 47-22, behind 8th grade QB Stephen Yakubec, who threw for 114 yards and a touchdown. Think about it. This young man is only in middle school, and will be the leader of the Cambridge-Salem offense for four more years. Next stop is Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome (formerly the Carrier Dome) next Saturday against Tioga.

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UAlbany's women's basketball team is spending the weekend in Las Vegas, but host UNLV treated them like a common jobber in a 78-55 win on Friday. Ellen Hahne led Albany with just 10 points. No other Great Dane reached double figures. The Lady Danes will take the court vs. East Tennessee State in just a few minutes as I write.

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In high school hoops, Duanesburg dominated Heatly 65-16, in the first round of the Waterford tournament on Friday. Heatly didn't score until the 3rd quarter after falling behind, 39-0, at the break. We'll have additional information tomorrow.