Jimmy Breslin would've loved this game (Schenectady @ Troy, women's basketball, 1/17/23)

 "One is the loneliest number...."--Three Dog Night, 1969.

"The waiting is the hardest part."-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1981.

"Can anyone here play this game?"--Casey Stengel, 1962, regarding the then-expansion Mets.

It had been 11 months since Troy High's women's basketball team had last won a game. You'd have to go back to the 1st round of the Class A sectionals last year vs. Lansingburgh for the Lady Horses' last win. Fortunately for coach Steve Lombard and his squad, the Lady Patriots of Schenectady have been just as futile, if not worse, and Schenectady was in town for tonight's game.

Both teams have had issues trying to put opponents away. Troy had come close three times in recent weeks, in losses to Guilderland, Ballston Spa, and the Academy of Holy Names, losing by 5, 4, & 4 points respectively. Schenectady went to double-teaming any Troy player that had the ball, and got a ton of turnovers as a result. They also out-rebounded Troy by a comfortable margin because they would have at least three players around the basket for every shot. 

However, their one weakness, their, ah, kryptonite, if you will, was shooting. The scorebooks will, I believe, show that Schenectady took more shots, adding to their offensive rebounds as a result. We should have the box score as early as tomorrow, but Troy snaps a 13 game losing streak dating back to February 2022, in downing Schenectady, 38-30.

I believe coach Lombard can send the Lady Patriots home with copies of Jimmy Breslin's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. It's really a crime novel, but given the shooting woes of both teams, well, it'd be a fitting change of context. I believe if he can't get enough copies for the players tonight, a FedEx from Metropolis will be sent to Schenectady in the morning.

Check the video:

No truth to the rumor that Superman will escort the FedEx truck.....!

It was not entirely a good day for Troy, though, as the bowling team fell to Columbia, 26-6, for their 3rd straight loss. Aidan Goodwin led the Blue Devils with a perfect game and a 735 triple.

Back to the Lady Horses, who will welcome Guilderland on Friday with a shot at redemption and revenge after losing last month at the Shenendehowa-Impact Holiday Classic. Then, they'll visit Kingston on Saturday before returning home to play Averill Park & Shenendehowa next week. By the way, Lady Warriors coach Sean Organ won his 300th career game tonight, as AP downed Columbia, 57-38.

Full stats, we hope, tomorrow.