High School Fridays: 4 for the price of 1

I stand corrected from earlier posts after assuming Bishop Maginn was hosting the two-day basketball event at the Washington Avenue Armory. They're not.

The hosts in this case are Mekeel Christian Academy out of Schenectady. Due to the fact that everything was coming together at the 11th hour, if you will, this explains why none of today's games were listed in the local papers, except maybe for the Daily Gazette.

As such, the Lions Classic drew a sparse crowd to the ancient Armory at the start of the JV double-header at 1:30. There were no programs to be had, and they're hoping to have them available for tomorrow. As a result, I can't really offer game stats for today's contests. Trying to decipher all the names through the Armory sound system, as I've discovered over the last few years, is just next to impossible.

JV scores:

Albany 50, Mekeel 49.
Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 83, Bishop Maginn 21.

Notes: Maginn dressed just six players for the JV game. A recipe for disaster if there ever was one. Along the same line, Mekeel dressed 10, and Albany 7. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons had a full complement of 13 players.

Varsity scores:

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 70, Bishop Maginn 58.
Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn) 55, Shenendehowa 53.

8 games are reportedly scheduled for tomorrow, headlined by Lincoln vs. Mekeel. Admission is $5 for students, $8 for adults for all-day passes. However, courtside seats are $10. That says fund-raising to me.
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They'll be hard-pressed for attendance again tomorrow, due this time to UAlbany's mens' basketball team playing a midday matinee vs. American at SEFCU Arena. Due to the Great Danes' football team in the playoffs, the hoops were moved from 1 pm to 10 am.
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Next week, we'll see Shen at Troy. We'll see Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons in the Troy Holiday Classic in 4 weeks.

News & notes

The other shoe dropped for the Albany Empire, and the rest of the Arena Football League, for that matter, on Wednesday when it was announced that the league had filed for bankruptcy under chapter 7, keeping the league shuttered permanently.

The league had to deal with a multi-million dollar lawsuit that predated the introduction of the Empire prior to the 2018 season, but could not raise enough capital to overcome and cancel the debt.

This makes Empire star Malachi Jones perhaps the smartest player in the league, having signed with an XFL franchise last month, ensuring he will see action at least in the first half of 2020. For everyone else, there'll be free agent tryout camps in the US & overseas, and maybe, just maybe, the XFL, overseen by WWE CEO/Chairman Vince McMahon, might open its doors to more AFL players. Stay tuned.
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There are a fair number of basketball tournaments opening up tonight throughout Section II. Unfortunately, pre-game details are sketchy at the moment, including a tournament at the Washington Avenue Armory, which will feature, among others, Watervliet, Shaker, Catholic Central, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, and host Bishop Maginn. A phone call to the Armory on Wednesday netted nothing, only because event organizers hadn't been in contact with the venue in advance. That usually spells trouble.
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Former Shenendehowa star Kevin Huerter, in his 2nd season with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, has been sidelined of late with a shoulder injury, and, at last check, was held out of the team's current road trip. We'll keep you updated.
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Just as he's basking in the glow of national television exposure for the first time in his career, NXT star and Albany native Bobby Fish was pulled from the Undisputed Era's tag title defense vs. Keith Lee & Dominic Dijakovic (whom local wrestling fans will remember as Donovan Dijak) on Wednesday when he suffered a knee injury after Lee dropped Fish over the top rope and onto Kyle O'Reilly. NXT North American champion Roderick Strong replaced Fish and finished the match. As of press time, there's no word on how long Fish will be out of the ring. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to one of the 518's very own.

News & notes

Winter sports season has begun in Section II, even though football doesn't wrap up until Sunday.

Troy High opened the bowling season Tuesday with the first of a three match homestand at Uncle Sam Lanes, and, for the second straight season, Troy opens with a win, putting down Bethlehem, 21 1/2-10 1/2. The Flying Horses are idle until December 3.

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Turning to basketball, LaSalle & Saratoga renewed acquaintances on Tuesday to open the season for both clubs. Aiden Holmes led the Blue Streaks with 24 points. LaSalle's Bo Catherwood matched Holmes with 24 of his own, but it wasn't enough, as Saratoga came away with a 63-55 victory. LaSalle is also idle until next week.

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Congratulations to UAlbany football coach Greg Gattuso, named Coach of The Year by the Colonial Athletic Alliance on Tuesday. QB Jeff Undercuffler was named CAA Offensive Rookie of The Year, also on Tuesday.

The Great Danes will play Central Connecticut State, coached by former UAlbany assistant Ryan McCarthy, on Saturday.

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The Foothills Council will have one fewer team in women's varsity basketball this season.

Gloversville announced on Tuesday that they simply don't have enough varsity-ready players for the women's team, but will still field a junior varsity team, along with 2 modified squads (Grades 7-9). The Lady Dragons also had similar issues from 2012-14 before returning to league play in 2014. 

Football news & notes

Section II is down to one team vying for a state championship.

Class B titlist Schuylerville punched its ticket to Syracuse with an 8-7 win over Port Jervis Saturday afternoon at Middletown. This was all about defense, but the Raiders had a chance to win it late in the 4th quarter, but Liam Tomasi's field goal try was blocked, and Schuylerville ran out the clock.

The Black Horses will play Chenango Forks, from Section IV, for the title, next weekend at the Carrier Dome.

Unfortunately, Class AA champion Shenendehowa saw its 9 game winning streak end in a 24-17 loss to New Rochelle. Star running back Billy Beach was limited to just 45 yards on 13 carries, but the Plainsmen overcame a 10 point deficit to take a 17-10 lead into the final frame, only to fall short. Congratulations to coach Brian Clawson on a sensational 2019 campaign, as the Plainsmen finish 10-2.
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Union College took the first step toward a possible NCAA Division III title with a win over Case Western, 24-21, at Frank Bailey Field on Saturday. The Dutchmen hit the road to play Salisbury College in Maryland next week.

UAlbany secured a spot in their playoffs by beating Stony Brook, 31-26, on the road. The game aired live on SNY, which might air an encore during the week.

However, RPI's football season is over, as the Engineers dropped a 41-38 decision to Grove City in Pennsylvania. The Engineers finish 6-5, having dropped their last two.

Section II Class A announces its All-League team

While the Exceptional Seniors game took place last night at LaSalle, Section II announced the top players of the year in Class A, and the loop's all-league team. Bear in mind the all-stars are for the Capital Division only, thanks to El Cheapo Media.

Player of the Year: Xavier Leigh, Troy. El Cheapo Media screwed up, claiming Leigh is a senior. He's actually a junior.

Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Rodriguez, Queensbury.
Defensive Player of the Year: Aiden Thomas, Ballston Spa.
All-Purpose Player of the Year: Peyton Ausfeld, Amsterdam.

Class A 1st team:

Offensive linemen:

Alex Simon, Amsterdam.
Robert Gapp & Deondre Butler, Troy.
Nick Marchese, Averill Park.
Timmy Sciacca & Scott Blais, Columbia.

Tight End: Angelo Cioffi, Columbia.

Wide Recivers:

David Romer, Columbia.
Brady Fenton, LaSalle.
Xavier Ward & Makai Cruel, Troy.

Running backs:

Cameron Chrzanowski, Amsterdam.
Dan McShane & Joe Milanese, Averill Park.
Traydon Lawrence, LaSalle.

Quarterback: Alex Wolfe, Troy.
Punter: Jonah Griswold, Troy.
Placekicker: Andrew Welch, Amsterdam.

Defensive linemen:

Prince Wadjas, Troy.
Christian Robinson, Amsterdam.

Defensive End:

Jaeshawn Brown, Troy.
Austin Fahrenkopf, Columbia.
James Shatas, Amsterdam.

Linebackers:

Inside:

Tyrell Penalba, Troy.
Ed McDonough, LaSalle.

Outside:

Connor Dwyer, Troy.
Ryan Kelson, Columbia.
Nick Pino, LaSalle.
Jack Long, Averill Park.

Defensive backs:

Nasir Dawud-Soto, Troy.
Rein Desbiens, Amsterdam,
Nassiz Young, LaSalle.
Matt Morin, Averill Park.

All-purpose: Bo Catherwood, LaSalle.
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Class A 2nd team:

Offensive linemen:

Detreck Rivenburg, Troy.
Daimon Aviles, Amsterdam.
Blessing Jackson, LaSalle.
Mike Minehan & Dominick Paradise, Averill Park.

Tight End: Clifton Manns, Green Tech.

Wide Receivers:

Josiah Newborn, Amsterdam.
Ben McHugh, Columbia.
Kwali Poole, Albany.

Running backs:

Mike Altomer & Jacob Slovak, Columbia.
Nazir Sheldon, Green Tech.
Kquazay Dickens, Albany.

Quarterbacks:

Anthony Childrose, Averill Park.
Branden Biggane, Columbia.

Punter: Eli Blaauboer, Columbia.
Placekicker: Luke Hempel, Averill Park.

Defensive Linemen:

Anthony Modonia, LaSalle.
Jordy Nelson (no relation to the former NFL star), Columbia.

Defensive ends:

Nick Clemenzi, Averill Park.
Anthony Ruddock, Green Tech.
Dan Amasha, LaSalle.

Linebackers:

Inside:

Jaylen Riggins, Troy.
Alejandro Christopher, Amsterdam.
Matt Shoemaker, Averill Park.
Michael Altomer, Columbia.

Outside: Nazierre Holder, Green Tech.

Defensive backs:

Darius Holmes, Troy.
James Mooney, Averill Park.
Derek Ouimette, Columbia.
Prince Rukundo, Albany.

Congratulations to one and all.

Minor league baseball contraction? Say What???

Tri-City Valleycats can breathe a little easier this evening.

According to the Albany Times-Union, the 'Cats are not on a list of NY-Penn League teams that would be contracted or eliminated after the 2020 season.

A plan proposed, ironically enough, by Houston GM Jeff Luhnow, would have 42 minor league teams, including more than half of the NY-P League, contracted at the end of next year because some minor league ballparks aren't meeting the higher-than-they-should standards of the so-called Lords of Baseball.



Bruno Stadium, on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College, holds 4,500, but has had more than 6,000 fans for some games over the course of 18 seasons. Even if the 'Cats were forced to leave town, HVCC would still have the stadium for their varsity baseball & softball teams, and would host Section II high school games.

What apparently is in the cards for the 'Cats is moving to a full season schedule, starting in April 2021, which would mean sharing The Joe with HVCC. The Friday Night Lights high school miniseries, which has been plagued by weather issues, would likely be squeezed out, depending on the 2021 schedule.

What it all comes down to, of course, is money, and saving as much of it as humanly possible. There are already threats of lawsuits, and complaints from politicos representing some NY-P League teams, such as Lowell, have made their voices heard.

The Valleycats are one of five NY-P teams that would be saved, along with Brooklyn (which would replace Binghamton in the Eastern League), Hudson Valley, West Virginia, and Aberdeen. There hasn't been a full season pro baseball team since the independent Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs left town, and not one affiliated with a major league club since the A-C Yankees relocated to Trenton nearly 20 years ago. Tri-City is one of the bigger draws in the NY-P League,  but there are no guarantees that they would still be a Houston affiliate after 2020, even though, if memory serves, the team did extend their agreement with the Astros earlier this year.

Here's a thought. The Yankees, under the current plan, would lose their Staten Island team, which would raise a ruckus in the Bronx, especially considering the Mets would keep Brooklyn. The thought I have is that the Yankees, if they have to give up Staten Island, and if the Astros buy out the 'Cats, Yankee minor league baseball could conceivably return to the 518. Some of the bigger draws at the Joe, especially on weekends, have been when Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Lowell have come to town, due to their parent clubs having strong fan bases here.

I'm a firm believer in that if it isn't broken, you don't fix it, but the 30 MLB owners are, as usual, thinking with their wallets first. And they wonder why television ratings for the World Series weren't so great........

And then, there were two

Queensbury had waited five years to get back into the state football tournament. Apparently, no one told them how much things had changed.

Having dethroned Section II's other Spartans, from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, before beating Troy last week, Queensbury returned to Shenendehowa on Saturday afternoon for a twilight game vs. defending state champion Cornwall. For the second straight week, Queensbury fell behind early, but this time, despite a furious second half rally, Matt Crossman's Spartans were eliminated, 28-27.

The loss wrapped up a disappointing day for the teams from the North Country, as Class D titlist Warrensburg also goes one-& done in state play, falling to Moriah.

That leaves Shen (AA) & Schuylerville (B) as the only Section II teams left heading into regional finals next weekend, and there's also no more home cooking, as the Black Horses & Plainsmen will be outside Section II going forward. That Section II got to host four of the five games the last two days is an achievement unto itself.