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.

One for the Vets (CD Jets @ LaSalle, 1/14/23)

 It's taken a couple of years and a change of venues, but Cadets For Vets IV took place tonight at Frear Park Ice Arena in front of a packed house, as LaSalle hosted the Capital District Jets.

One quick glance tells you everything you need to know about Frear Park's arena. The room is smaller, with about 1/2 the bleachers of Conway Arena at Hudson Valley Community College, which was shuttered at the beginning of the school year, with the ice removed. The more intimate setting will put your ears at risk if you've got people, especially kids, shouting behind you.

Pre-game ceremonies were delayed about half an hour due to the LaSalle alumni game going to overtime, and, in turn, the puck drop was delayed 20 minutes to 7:05 pm.

That having been said, the Jets drew first blood, as Colin Wilson put the biscuit in the basket behind Carter Irving to give the visitors the early lead. Late in the period, Braxton Shields brought LaSalle even off an assist from Chase Rose, and it was 1-1 at the first intermission.

However, the Jets regained the lead in the 2nd period, with Cole Davidson and Wilson lighting the lamp. Nick Kraz then beat Nick Mirabile to draw the Cadets within 1 at 3-2 entering the 2nd intermission.

Through two periods, and for a good part of the 3rd, the Cadets seemed to be a few steps behind the Jets, who had the numbers advantage on both sides of the ice, offense and defense. Things changed late in the 3rd after a Jets timeout. That timeout turned out to be to LaSalle's benefit, as their senior leaders came to the fore in the final 88 seconds. First, it was Shaun Branon, who beat Mirabile to tie the game just five seconds after the timeout. Branon saluted the fans afterward. With under a minute to go, Nathan Harriman tallied the game winner, as Irving shut down the Jets, aided by a defense that woke up just in time. LaSalle rebounds from last night's loss to Shenendehowa with the 4-3 win.

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LaSalle's basketball team, however, fell to Colonie in a non-league clash this afternoon, 58-50. In other hoops action:

Men's basketball:

Ballston Spa 77, Auburn 67.

Mayfield 42, Fort Plain 41.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 84, Schoharie 54.

OESJ 42, Richfield Springs 36.

Stillwater 79, Mount Anthony Union 75.

Germantown 58, Coxsackie-Athens 51.

Albany Academy 52, Shaker 46.

Kingston 45, Niskayuna 38.

Women's basketball:

Cherry Valley 66, Fort Plain 10.

Academy of Holy Names 54, Troy 50.

Niskayuna 44, Schalmont 42.

Greenwich 66, Schenectady 38.

Hudson Falls 50, Cambridge 33.

Shenendehowa 72, Fairpoint 68.

Ausable Valley 48, Whitehall 35.

Friday's high school & college scoreboard, 1/13

 Siena's men's basketball team sits atop the MAAC standings at 6-0 (12-5 overall) after dispatching Niagara, 70-64, Friday night. Javion McCollum led the Saints with 27 points. Siena travels to Buffalo to play Canisius on Sunday.

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Other college scores:

Men's basketball:

Maine-Farmington 79, SUNY-Cobleskill 73.

Women's basketball:

SUNY-Cobleskill 62, Maine-Farmington 42.

Union 61, RIT 47.

RPI 59, Clarkson 43.

Skidmore 60, Vassar 52.

Russell Sage 86, Medalle 64.

Women's hockey:

Clarkson 2, RPI 1 (OT).

St. Lawrence 3, Union 0.

Men's hockey:

Yale 4, RPI 1.

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High schools:

Men's basketball:

Adirondack League:

Warrensburg 66, Hartford 50.

Granville 93, Salem 49.

Whitehall 78, Argyle 48.

Hadley-Luzerne 54, Fort Ann 34.

Lake George 64, Fort Edward 17.

Colonial Council:

Lansingburgh 79, Cobleskill-Richmondville 57.

Cohoes 60, Mohonasen 54.

LaSalle 74, Ravena 45.

Schalmont 81, Ichabod Crane 79.

Catholic Central 72, Voorheesville 57.

Patroon Conference:

Chatham 68, Cairo-Durham 40.

Watervliet 100, Greenville 44.

Maple Hill 46, Hudson 41.

Taconic Hills 50, Rensselaer 42.

Foothills Council:

Queensbury 69, Broadalbin-Perth 41.

Gloversville 67, Glens Falls 66.

Schuylerville 45, Scotia-Glenville 43.

Amsterdam 53, Hudson Falls 50.

South Glens Falls 46, Johnstown 44.

Suburban Council:

Colonie 81, Schenectady 55.

Shaker 48, Averill Park 38.

Bethlehem 69, Burnt Hills 54.
Albany 81, Troy 74. The Flying Horses have now dropped four of five, and begin a four game road trip at Schenectady on Tuesday.

Ballston Spa 62, CBA 51.

Saratoga 54, Columbia 47.

Shenendehowa 57, Guilderland 40.

Wasaren League:

Tamarac 70, Hoosick Valley 50.

Greenwich 66, Waterford 38.

Hoosick Falls 68, Cambridge 15.

Stillwater 78, Berlin-New Lebanon 45.

Western Athletic Conference:

Canajoharie 60, OESJ 57.

Duanesburg 68, Northville 22.

Fonda-Fultonville 50, Galway 21.

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 85, Middleburgh 47.

Women's basketball:

Adirondack League:

Whitehall 72, Salem 34.

Warrensburg 48, Hartford 42.

Hadley-Luzerne 50, Fort Ann 24.

Colonial Council:

Academy of Holy Names 65, Ravena 51. Sophia Bologna had 35 points for the winners, who host winless Troy today.

Cobleskill-Richmondville 59, Lansingburgh 18.

Schalmont 53, Ichabod Crane 48.

Patroon Conference:

Maple Hill 57, Hudson 32.

Chatham 36, Cairo-Durham 30.

Greenville 43, Watervliet 33.

Coxsackie-Athens 52, Germantown 16.

Suburban Council:

Albany 77, Troy 27. The Falcons took out some frustration on Troy after losing to Bethlehem on Tuesday. Speaking of the Eagles.....

Bethlehem 62, Burnt Hills 30.

Averill Park 57, Shaker 33.

Saratoga 65, Columbia 52.

Colonie 65, Schenectady 24.

Shenendehowa 77, Guilderland 57.

Wasaren League:

Tamarac 48, Hoosic Valley 18.

Cambridge 48, Hoosick Falls 23.

Non-league:

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 60, Mekeel Christian 27.

Northville 51, Gloversville 44.

Swimming:

Glens Falls 95, Fonda-Fultonville-Johnstown 77.

Burnt Hills-Scotia 86, Queensbury 77.

Mohonasen-Schalmont 72, Canajoharie-Fort Plain 67.

Hockey:

Shenendehowa 4, LaSalle 1. Chase Rose had the only goal for the Cadets (3-3 league, 6-5-1 overall).

Saratoga 5, CBA 0.

Bethlehem 3, CD Jets 1.

Guilderville 3, Mohawks 2.

News & notes

 Siena College's women's basketball team saw their 4 game winning streak end at Manhattan Thursday afternoon, falling to the Lady Jaspers, 78-53. Local talents Valencia Fontanelle-Posson (Guilderland) & Ahniysha Jackson (Albany) combined for 9 points in the loss, as both were shut down by the Jasper defense (7 & 2 points, respectively).

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We shan't be surprised if the flag at Spare Time Latham (formerly Latham Bowl) is at half-staff this morning after the passing of pro shop owner Ken Hall at 65.

Hall spent some time competing in PBA regional events, and appeared locally on TV Tournament Time, before becoming color analyst on Capital Region Bowling during its runs on WXXA & WNYA. 

In his memory, we serve up an episode of the latter series from April 2017. Executive producer Art Hunsinger stands in for John Craig on play-by-play.

Rest in peace, Ken.

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Thursday's high school scoreboard:

Wrestling:

Colonial Council:

Ravena 51, Ichabod Crane 9.

Men's basketball:

Wasaren League:

Tamarac 70, Hoosick Falls 50.

Women's basketball:

Foothills Council:

Schuylerville 76, Scotia-Glenville 41.

Swimming:

Gloversville-Mayfield 93, Hudson Falls-South Glens Falls 59.

Albany Academy 93, Albany 92.

Men's bowling:

Colonial Council:

Cohoes 30, Cobleskill-Richmondville 2.

Ravena vs. Catholic Central has an incorrect final score per the Albany Times-Union. Ravena won in total pinnage. We're going to assume the correct score is Ravena 16 1/2, Catholic Central 15 1/2.

Foothills Council:

Scotia-Glenville 4, Schuylerville 0.

Patroon Conference:

Maple Hill 3, Hudson 2.

Chatham 3, Coxsackie-Athens 2.

Suburban Council:

Saratoga 26, Shaker 6.

Columbia 30, Ballston Spa 2.

Colonie 19 1/2, Bethlehem 12 1/2.

Shenendehowa def. Troy. Again, the score listed in the paper is incorrect due to an editing error. We're going to guess it was actually 23-9 in favor of Shen, dropping Troy to 4-5.

News & notes

 Listener requests at WROW (Magic 590 AM) have prompted morning host Ben Patten to read at least men's college basketball scores for our local teams. The ladies, on the other hand, have been given the Rodney Dangerfield treatment. That is, no respect.

While UAlbany's men lost to Bryant, it went the other way at Hudson Valley Community College, where the Lady Danes continued to roll through the America East after dispatching the Lady Bulldogs, 63-50. Helene Haegerstrand led Albany with 23 points. Kayla Cooper added 22. Grace Heeps (Columbia/UMass) had just 3 points, while Abby Ray (Saratoga) and Lilly Phillips (Cambridge) were held scoreless in limited minutes.

The Lady Danes return to HVCC Saturday to host the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Alumni Day.

Meanwhile, as noted, the men lost, 86-69, to Bryant. Jonathan Beagle led Albany with 21 points. Marcus Jackson (Albany Academy) added 15. UAlbany will be in New Jersey Saturday to play NJIT before returning home next Thursday at HVCC to play in-state rival Binghamton.

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LaSalle Institute will have their annual Cadets For Vets night Saturday at Frear Park, as the Cadets host the Capital District Jets, with a scheduled puck drop at 6:45 pm. This could wind up giving LaSalle their first sellout of the year at Frear.

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Wednesday's high school scoreboard:

Hockey:

Queensbury 10, CBA 1. Aiden Melrose's Brothers are struggling at 2-6-2 overall (2-4-1 league).

Saratoga 2, Bethlehem 0.

Adirondack 4, CD Jets 3.

Men's bowling:

Suburban Council:

Albany 28, Schenectady 4.

Women's bowling:

Suburban Council:

Columbia 29, Averill Park 3.

Niskayuna 20, Ballston Spa 12.

Non-league:

Mohonasen def. Mechanicville.

Wrestling:

Suburban Council:

Colonie 48, Guilderland 30.

Men's basketball:

Adirondack League:

Argyle 58, Warrensburg 46.

Western Athletic Conference:

Duanesburg 78, Canajoharie 28.

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 65, Northville 45.

Galway 46, Middleburgh 38.

Non-league:

Hoosic Valley 91, Mount Anthony Union 53.

Women's basketball:

Patroon Conference:

Watervliet 66, Cairo-Durham 36.

Western Athletic Conference:

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 48, Northville 37.

OESJ 48, Fort Plain 19.

Mayfield 80, Schoharie 22.

Wasaren League:

Mechanicville 50, Hoosick Falls 29.

Tuesday's high school scoreboard, 1/10

 Men's bowling:

Patroon Conference:

Chatham 4, Cairo-Durham 1.

Suburban Council:

Guilderland 23, Troy 9. Olivia DeCitise led Troy with a 641 triple. Troy falls back to .500 at 4-4.

Shenendehowa 19 1/2, Columbia 12 1/2.

Burnt Hills 25, Schenectady 7.

Niskayuna 22, Colonie 10.

Shaker 22, Albany 10.

Averill Park 25, CBA 7.

Albany 24, Ballston Spa 8.

Non-league:

Lansingburgh 27, Mechanicville 5.

Women's bowling:

Monday:

Colonial Council:

Schalmont 23, Cohoes 9.

Swimming:

Albany 100, Schenectady-Colonie 70.

Burnt Hills-Scotia 89, Ballston Spa 73.

Niskayuna 94, Shaker 72.

Shenendehowa 99, Guilderville 84.

Saratoga 105, Bethlehem 81.

Men's basketball:

Adirondack League:

Granville 59, Whitehall 43.

Colonial Council:

Ichabod Crane 57, Cobleskill-Richmondville 54.

Patroon Conference:

Watervliet 72, Hudson 55.

Maple Hill 51, Greenville 24.

Suburban Council:

Averill Park 50, Burnt Hills 46.

Bethlehem 57, Albany 52.

Saratoga 56, Niskayuna 55.

Ballston Spa 67, Schenectady 42.

Wasaren League:

Hoosick Falls 48, Mechanicville 41.

Non-league:

Mekeel Christian 75, Bishop Ludden 56.

Women's basketball:

Adirondack League:

Warrensburg 54, Salem 51.

Argyle 40, Fort Ann 15.

Hadley-Luzerne 84, North Warren 25.

Whitehall 35, Granville 30.

Hartford 58, Lake George 37.

Colonial Council:

Albany Academy 66, Academy of Holy Names 32.

Schalmont 48, Mohonasen 45.

Suburban Council:

Bethlehem 65, Albany 48. The Eagles handed the Falcons their first loss of the season.

Photo courtesy Bethlehem High Twitter.

Shaker 47, Columbia 44.

Shenendehowa 68, Colonie 51.

Wasaren League:

Stillwater 66, Greenwich 62.

Non-league:

Cohoes 45, Mekeel Christian 26.

Troy High 2023 softball schedule

 It may be the 2nd week in January, but Troy High has its 2023 softball schedule out, along with partials for lacrosse & baseball.

The 2022 Class A champions are taking on a good sized chunk of non-league games as well against opponents from the Colonial & Foothills Councils this season. Some games may be postponed or cancelled due to weather.

March 24: Home opener vs. Catholic Central.

March 30: Glens Falls.

April 1: @ Chatham (Patroon Conference).

April 3: Suburban Council opener vs. Colonie.

April 5 @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

April 8: Whitesboro, a school from Western NY, visits.

April 10: Chatham. Game time is 12 noon to start Easter break.

April 12: Shaker. Game time 11 am.

April 14: @ Averill Park. Game time 11 am.

April 17: Saratoga.

April 19: Ballston Spa.

April 22: Cohoes. Game time 12 noon.

April 24: Albany.

April 26: @ Schenectady.

April 28: @ Guilderland.

May 1: @ Shenendehowa.

May 3: Columbia.

May 5: @ Niskayuna.

May 8: @ Schuylerville.

May 10: Bethlehem.

May 12: Senior Day vs. Guilderland.

The men's schedule, absent the non-league games and league games vs. Shaker & Albany, is virtually the same. We'll have the lacrosse schedule up later this week.