Berlin Boys Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Nathan Ellis

2018-19 Record:  1-15

Key Returning Players:  Connor Votra   Shawn Pawlows   Roman Kane

After struggling a season ago the Mountaineers will hit the reset button, start fresh and look to change things, beginning with team chemistry.

” Building team chemistry has been the best part of out preseason.” remarked head coach Nathan Ellis.  ” We have merged with another district this year, (New Lebanon), and it’s great to see a different perspective from these new athletes.  ” They have forced us not only to create new team chemistry with them, but also given us an opportunity to rebuild our own chemistry.”

In addition to team chemistry, the scoring woes from last season need to be remedied.  “We have to work on consistent scoring this season.  Last year we struggled to find a way to put up points and it caused frustration within, and we have to work on that this year,” offered Ellis.

As for team strengths Ellis pointed to the other end of the floor.  ” We’ve identified ourselves as having a strong defense and to use that to lead us forward this year.”

Ellis says his Mountaineers will embrace the underdog role this upcoming season.  ” Plain and simply we had the worst record last year.  We are identifying ourselves as underdogs to help motivate ourselves moving forward.  We are okay with being the underdogs.”

That being said the Mountaineer mentor feels his squad could contend for the league title.  ” We feel as we were our own worst enemy last year.  Our chemistry was awful and we allowed a lot of outside noise onto the court.  We are working to play as one cohesive unit, and if we can do that, we fell we can accomplish a lot this year.”

The Mountaineers hope that their new basketball culture will translate to a competitive environment and more “W’s” this winter in Berlin.

 

Cambridge Boys Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Shea Bromirski

2018-19 Record:  8-14

Key Returning Players:  Brad Rowland  Ben Epler  Nick Murphy  Brian Hall  Soyer Matteson  Kaden Ogilvie

Former Cambridge standout Shea Bromirski takes the reins of the Cambridge program and will welcome back a number of returning players from last year’s team, that played competitively in the season’s second half.

” We return a lot off last year’s team,” said Bromirski.  ” We have experience and upper classmen running our show.”

Regarding the Indians identity this season Bromirski responded, ” I expect us to have great depth and the ability to play 9 or 10 guys.”  He continued, ” We have good size and will play tough physical defense.”

The Indians head coach touts, ” Hoosick Falls,” as the top contender in the Wasaren, high lighting a pair of Panther players.

” Jon Kempf has a scorer’s mentality unlike anyone in the league.  He can really shoot the ball.”

” Tristan Williams is bigger and more physically talented than anyone in the league, he can score around the rim or from deep.”

Both talented players in the competitive Wasaren as was Bromirski just a few years back. The first year head coach knows the league well and what it takes to navigate the gauntlet of the league schedule.

With an experienced and deep Indians roster, look for Cambridge to build on last season, putting themselves in the mix as tough out on a nightly basis for all league opponents this winter.

 

 

Witches Win, Warriors Fall

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Greenwich 62  Whitehall 19

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Molly Brophy 28      Tess Merrill 10       Railroaders – Blake Bird 8

Key Stat:  Greenwich held the Railroaders to single digits in every quarter and cruised to the non-league “W”.

 

Ballston Spa 68  Stillwater 61

Leading Scorers:  Ballston Spa – Samantha DeVito 22      Emily Robbie 21        Warriors – Marley Mueller 33      Brooke Pickett 16

Key Stat:  Ballston Spa built a 54-35 advantage heading into the final quarter, where Stillwater put 26 points on the board to make things close.

Waterford Boys Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Brian Eastman

2018-19 Record:  12-9

Key Returning Players:  Mike Talavera   Evan Fairclough   TJ Kelley   Gavin Bodah   Dom Pontore

I saw the Fordians just once last season and that was in the Wasaren championship game against Hoosick Falls.  They took the Panthers down to the wire in that one and I came away impressed with Waterford.

Well the Fordians return plenty of talent from last year’s group starting with Mike Talavera and TJ Kelley.  Over the weekend in the Waterford Tip-Off Tournament,  Talavera enjoyed 34 and 27 point outings with Kelley adding 16 and 20 point efforts as the Fordians cruised to the tournament championship.

Coach Eastman has liked what he’s seen in the preseason saying, “They are working hard each day.”

Eastman touts, “Quickness and work ethic,” as the Fordians main strengths of which there seem to be many.

“For us to be successful this year we must rebound and continue to get better each day,” added the head coach.

As for title contenders in the Wasaren, Eastman echoed what many have said, “Until somebody proves they can beat Hoosick Falls they are the favorites.”

“Team toughness,” is a phrase Eastman would like people to associate with his team this season.

That trait was evident watching the Fordians a season ago and if they can bring that to the floor again this year, look for Waterford to fill the win column and once again vie for a Wasaren title.

 

 

 

Greenwich Girls Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Jason Slater

2018-19 Record:  13-9

Key Returning Players:  Molly Brophy Jr.  Tess Merrill Jr.

The Witches had a nice year a season ago and seem cautiously optimistic that they can  build on that 13 win campaign.  Thus far head coach Jason Slater has liked what he’s seen in the preseason.

“We have a good work ethic and strong chemistry, although we’re young.” Slater said.

He summarized the identity of this years team in two words, “Quick and athletic.”

Returning to the Greenwich line-up this year is 5’9″ junior point guard Molly Brophy. one of the league’s top scorers from a year ago.  Brophy likes to push the pace and slash to the rim, but is equally dangerous from the perimeter.

As for keys to his teams success this year Slater highlighted the need to, “Be aggressive and rebound.”

He pointed toward Cambridge and Mechanicville as top league contenders and the Witches will get an early look at the Indians when they host Cambridge on December 13th.

Slater hopes people see an, “Energetic and positive,” squad when they watch his Witches play this year, and, “An athletic team that works well together.”

A young, athletic squad that should improve as the season progresses, anchored by the high scoring Brophy, points towards a promising winter season this year in Greenwich.

 

 

 

 

Tip-Off Tourneys Results

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A host of Wasaren teams wrapped up Tip-Off Tournaments on Saturday with a pair of league schools earning tournament championships.

Waterford 75  Salem 53

Leading Scorers: Fordians – Mike Talavera 27    TJ Kelley 20    Jake Houle 13       Generals – Eli Truhart 14     Ian Lockhart 12

Key Stat:  Waterford puts three players in doubles, shoots 16 of 17 from the stripe, and wins their own tip-off tournament in convincing fashion.

 

Hoosick Falls 63  Lake George 43

Leading Scorers:  Panthers – Jon Kempf 34     Max Kipp 10        Warriors – Cameron Orr 10   Juan Garcia 10

Key Stat:  The Falls used a 24-7 second period to take control, and used a 19-1 advantage in made free throws to keep the Warriors at bay.   With the win the Panthers claim the Lake George Tip-Off Tournament championship, beating two solid squads in St. Lawrence and Lake George over the weekend.

 

Argyle 74  Saratoga Catholic 73

Leading Scorers:  Scots- Peyton Lufkin 21    Derek Liddle 15    Parker Frost 12    Gabe Wood 12    Caide Flanders 12   Saints – Robbie Bolen 28    Anthony Barile 15    Hayden Day 12    Jordan Catone 11

Key Stat:  Argyle outscored the Saints 27-23 in the final period capped by a Gabe Wood’s tip-in at the buzzer giving the Scots the one-point “W” in the championship game of the Mike Beson Memorial Tournament.  Argyle held a 15-5 advantage in made triples, as the Scotties scored 60% of their game total from beyond the arc.

 

St. Lawrence 56  Stillwater 44

 

Saratoga Catholic 42  Loudonville Christian 35

Leading Scorers:  Saints – Ryleigh Dempsey 13         LC – Skyler Householder 18

Key Stat:  The Saints trailed 30-27 heading to the final frame, but outscored LC 15-5  over then final eight minutes to post the come-from-behind victory in the consolation game of the Mike Beson Memorial Tournament.

Friday Night Buckets

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Boys Basketball

Waterford 105  Heatly 20

Leading Scorers:  Fordians – Mike Talavera 34    TJ Kelley 16      Heatly –  Christian Sogardorf  6

Key Stat:  The Fordians hung 38 points on the  board in the first period and cruised to the one-sided decision.

Take Away:  Waterford wins in a mismatch here but the Fordians are a good basketball team that will be a tough out for anyone this year.

 

Lake George 51  Stillwater 49

Leading Scorers:  Lake George – Cameron Orr 16   Juan Garcia 14        Warriors – Josh Luca 15   Brian McNeil 12

Key Stat:  Lake George used a 16-13 advantage in the final frame to pull out the narrow “W” in the Lake George Tip-Off Tourney.

 

Saratoga Catholic 64  Galway 52

Leading Scorers:  Saints – Robbie Bolen 33   Jordan Catone 12         Galway – Ryan Bredan 13

Key Stat:  The Saints jumped out to a 19-4 lead after the first quarter and rode that cushion to the season-opening victory in the Beson Memorial Tournament.  Spa shot it well from deep, bottoming 13 triples with Bolen connecting on seven.

 

Hoosick Falls 57  St Lawrence 44

 

Girls Basketball

Cohoes 37  Stillwater 29

Leading Scorers:  Tigers – Olivia Huneau 15       Warriors – Trinity Cutler 8     Marley Mueller 7

Key Stat:  In a low scoring affair, free throws played a major part with Cohoes converting on 11 of 24 attempts, while Stillwater managed just 3 of 9.

 

Mechanicville 56  Watervliet 23

Leading Scorers:  Red Raiders – Chloe Goverski 12      Charli Goverski 10     Gianna Cavotta 10     Jada Brown 8         Cannoneers – Amai Maldonado 10

Key Stat:  Trailing 9-8 after one, the Raiders outscoring V’liet 34-4 over the middle two periods in posting the dominant “W”.

 

Galway 43  Spa Catholic 40

Leading Scorers:  Galway – Ryan Ripepi 13     Emma Spadaro 10     Morgan Drouin 10    Saints –  Ashley Upson 12

Key Stat:  Galway knocked down five 3-pointers and put three players in doubles to post the win in the Beson Memorial Tournament.

 

 

Stillwater Girls Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Matt LeMoyne

2018-19 Record:  4-17

Key Returning Players:  Brooke Pickett  Molly Sheehan  Marley Mueller

The Warriors, coming off a rough 18-19 season return a solid core in Pickett, Sheehan and Mueller that second year head coach Matt LeMoyne will build around.  Mueller was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder a year ago.

Added into the mix will be newcomers Leigh Lescault, Devon Wagner and Lauren Conroy, bringing depth and athleticism to the Stillwater squad.

Coach LeMoyne’s Warriors will play both man and zone defensively, while looking to push the ball and utilize isolation opportunities offensively.

The Stillwater head coach summarized his outlook for the coming season saying, “We want to be competitive with some of the upper level teams and get some wins against non conference opponents.”  “Also give some valuable playing time to our newcomers and develop the chemistry between them and our core three.”

Stillwater has some size, an athletic roster and a proven, double figure scorer in Mueller.  If they can develop team chemistry look for the Warriors to improve on their season numbers from a year ago.

 

 

 

Hoosic Valley Girls Basketball Preview

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Head Coach:  Walt Dorman

2018-19 Record:  15-6

Key Returning Players:  Sam Dickenson  Emaleigh Peckham  Anna Jensen

Coming off a 15 win season a year ago the Indians will have,  ” A nice mix of returning players and a few new ones,” according to head coach Walt Dorman.  A trio of starters in Dickenson, Peckham and Jensen give the veteran coach a solid core to build around.

In the early going things have looked good for the Valley with Dorman commenting, ” We had a nice tempo this preseason.”

On a team with strengths on both sides of the ball Dorman highlights what’s been the Indians calling card for years, ” Our ability to play tough man to man.”

As for goals set for the Schaghticoke squad Dorman said simply, ” To improve everyday as a player and a person.”

The head coach touted Cambridge and Mechanicville as the front runners for the Wasaren title in a league with a host of quality teams.

While Coach Dorman didn’t respond with a word or phrase he most would like people to associate with his team this year, I know what fans will most likely see from the Indians.

A tough, physical man to man team, with the ability to extend the floor defensively and turn opponents over, leading to transition buckets.  Also a program that brings to the court a winning pedigree, and a high level of compete.

All longtime cornerstones of the Hoosic Valley program that I’m confident will be ever present, once again, this winter in Schaghticoke.