High School Fridays: Growing pains (Burnt Hills @ Troy, women's basketball, 12/9/22)

 It's easy to identify the biggest problems 1st year Troy women's basketball coach Steve Lombard is facing after just four games.

Nine players on the roster.

Not enough varsity experience. Most of this year's team was promoted from junior varsity

A clear case of nerves under duress.

The latter became more and more evident in the 2nd half in the home opener tonight vs. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Troy actually led after the first quarter, but the Lady Spartans went into the break with a four point lead, 17-13, and it grew from there. Gary Bynom's club outscored the Lady Horses, 13-5, in the final frame to come away with a 47-31 win, handing Lombard's young team their 4th straight loss. The losing streak actually extends back to the end of last season.

During the 2nd half, Burnt Hills turned up the pressure. They had been forcing turnovers all night, showing no mercy. They had a full complement of players, enabling Bynom to make substitutions more frequently to keep fresh players on the court. Troy? Not so much. Lombard had to spot his subs a little more liberally. Not that it'd matter in the final outcome.

Check the video:

If you're a Troy High booster, it's easy to get angry over the losing, and there are very few gimme's on this year's schedule, if any at all. The margin tonight was 16, which would be an improvement. The "Murderer's Row" schedule continues next week at Shaker, then back at Zotto Gym for a rematch with Averill Park.