News & notes

 Mason Courtney is stepping down in class.

Courtney (Shenendehowa) is transferring from Siena to Division II St. Edward's University in Texas after playing for Siena for 2 seasons. St. Edward's coach Andre Cook has 518 ties as well, having played his high school ball at Watervliet, and collegiately at Skidmore, before embarking on a coaching career that includes stops at Union (as an assistant) and Hudson Valley Community College.

Best of luck to Mason going forward.

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The Albany Firebirds are 2-0 after defeating Nashville, 51-41, Thursday at MVP Arena. QB Jake Medlock threw six TD passes, 5 of them to Darius Prince, and ran one in himself to ice the game. The 'Birds will be in Minnesota next week.

There were some issues with the livestream, as there were buffering problems throughout the game. Local announcers Andrew Santillo and Tom Gozlowski were unaware of the issues. In terms of attendance, it looked like Albany had less than 10,000 fans again, but this time because it was a mid-week, school night game. As long as the 'Birds keep winning, the fans will return in droves.

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After nearly 6 1/2 years of inactivity, the Knickerbacker Ice Arena in Lansingburgh will be springing back to life this fall.

Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello, a Lansingburgh native, announced Thursday that the city has received $2 million in federal funds to repair the ice-making equipment, paving the way for the reopening of the arena sometime in the fall. Presently, Frear Park's ice rink is the only active one in the city for public skating, and is home----for now, anyway----to LaSalle Institute's hockey team.

The Knickerbacker Ice Arena, located at 103rd Street & 8th Avenue, could be a future home for the Cadets if Hudson Valley Community College doesn't change its present administration and reopen Robert Conway Arena.

Stay tuned.

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Andre Jackson, Jr.'s rookie season is over in Milwaukee.

Jackson played just over 5 minutes, scoring just 2 points, as the Bucks were eliminated by Indiana on Thursday, 120-98, winning their 1st round playoff in 6 games. The Pacers will move on to play the 2nd seeded Knicks this weekend. Had the Bucks advanced, we'd be hearing about how local fans would be angling for MSG tickets.....!

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Thursday's high school scoreboard:

Baseball:

Colonial Council:

Voorheesville 4, Ravena 1.

Patroon Conference:

Maple Hill 14, Germantown 4 (5 innings).

Suburban Council:

Shenendehowa 17, Colonie 1.

Wasaren League:

Stillwater 5, Waterford 0.

Western Athletic Conference:

Mayfield 12, Schoharie 2.

Non-league:

Coxsackie-Athens 10, Broadalbin-Perth 4.

Men's lacrosse:

Ballston Spa 18, Guilderland 11.

Niskayuna 19, Bethlehem 6.

Women's lacrosse:

Voorheesville 16, Emma Willard 2.

Softball:

Schalmont 17, Duanesburg 1 (5 innings).

Stillwater 10, Saratoga Catholic 4.