Rick Lyons Staff Writer: Close contests throughout the league Friday night on both the boys and girls side of things, with a couple games going down to the wire.
Boys
Mechanicville 55 Granville 54
Leading Scorers: Red Raiders – Adam Dunn 20 Adam Pickett 11 C.J. Tironi 10 Horde – Trace Bourn 14 Morgan Williams 12 Matthew Fuller 12
Key Stat: Both teams placed three players in doubles, both made seven free throws, and Granville held a 5-4 edge in made 3’s. Mechanicville led 42-30 after three periods and a 24-13 final quarter by the Horde came up just short.
Take Away: Mechanicville improves to 4-0 in league play and hosts the Valley next week, while Granville sits at 2-2 and takes on the Falls on Tuesday.
Stillwater 61 Hoosick Falls 53
Leading Scorers: Warriors – Mitchell Wayand 37 Panthers – Connor McCart
Key Stat: This game was tied at half, the Warriors held a three point lead after three, and a 22-17 final period for Stillwater sealed it.
Take Away: A shootout between Wayand and McCart, with Wayand dropping nine 3’s, and McCart hitting four treys while adding 11 boards. Nice players on quality teams that will both be in the hunt for a league title at season’s end.
Greenwich 56 Cambridge 52
Leading Scorers: Witches – Lukas Whitehouse 18 Colin Skiff 15 Brendan Stout 11 Bailey Winch 10 Indians – Ryan McLenithan 15 Daniel Genevick 12 Malacki Best 10
Key Stat: Greenwich places four in doubles who combined to bottom nine from behind the arc, where the Witches held a 9-1 advantage on the night.
Take Away: Although it’s the first league win for Greenwich let’s remember their deep run in football season, which always affects the opening weeks of basketball. Four players in doubles may be a sign things are coming together in Greenwich.
Hoosic Valley 60 Tamarac 42
Leading Scorers: Valley – Dan Joslin 23 Jimmy Burnell 14 Bengals – Dillon Maxon 12
Key Stat: The Valley gradually pulled away in this one and a 7-1 advantage in made 3’s helped them get it done.
Take Away: Tamarac falls to 1-3 in league play, while the Indians pick up their first conference win and try to gain some traction. That footing will be tested on Tuesday when they run with the Red Raiders of Mechanicville.
Girls
Tamarac 35 Hoosic Valley 30
Leading Scorers: Bengals – Kayla Doody 17 Indians – Emily Norman 9
Key Stat: The lines were good to Tamarac where they held a 5-0 edge from deep, and shot 8 for 10 from the charity stripe where the Valley was 6 of 16.
Take Away: Tamarac stays perfect at 4-0 and and has had a different leading scorer in their last three outings. The Valley goes to 2-2 with the tough loss in which they led 22-21 going to the final period.
Mechanicville 56 Granville 33
Leading Scorers: Raiders – Sammy Poisinello 15 Horde – Alexis Smith 9
Key Stat: Mechanicville had 10 players score, won every quarter, and took control over the middle two periods out scoring the Horde 28-11.
Take Away: Next up for the 0-4 Horde is Hoosick Falls while the 2-2 Red Raiders host the Valley.
Hoosick Falls 40 Stillwater 25
Leading Scorers: Falls – Megan Flynn 10 Lizza Ryan 10 Warriors – Abby Higgins 10
Key Stat: The Panthers needed a 15-2 fourth quarter to pull away from a determined Stillwater squad.
Take Away: Stillwater falls to 1-3, while the Falls stays perfect at 4-0 with Granville up next.
Cambridge 33 Greenwich 27:
Leading Scorers: Indians – Lila Nolan 9 Lynn Brownell 9 Witches – Olivia Barnes 10
Key Stat: Cambridge won every quarter, three by the slimmest of margins and pulled out their third league win in four tries.
Take Away: Greenwich continues to search for a league victory when they travel to Stillwater on Wednesday while Cambridge will be tested on that same night when the Bengals of Tamarac pay a visit.