The Section II basketball committee has spoken, yesterday releasing the pairings for the upcoming tournament in girls and boys basketball.  Eight Wasaren girls teams and nine squads on the boys side of things will compete in the open format where everyone has the opportunity to compete.

Which league team, if any, can make an extended run in the second season?  Here’s a quick look.

Boys

Class B:  #11 Mechanicville @ # 6 Hudson    #15 Tamarac @ #2 Glens Falls  

Both games are next Tuesday and that’s when the Bengals season will end at the hands of Joe Girard and company.  The Red Raiders I think have a shot to advance as Hudson comes out of the Patroon which isn’t the best of conferences.  The Blue Hawks can score averaging 66 per and have some nice wins this season, but if Mechanicville brings it’s “A” game they could post a first round “W”.

Class C:  Opening Round – Friday – #17 Hoosic Valley @ #16 Galway   #19 Waterford @ #14 Mayfield    #22 Canajoharie @ #11 Cambridge

The first two games are coin flips.  Both the Valley and Waterford struggled to be consistent this season but are products of the very competitive Wasaren. Both are on the road, and both will have a hard time advancing although I like Hoosic Valley to do just that.

Cambridge, who enjoyed a solid season, at home will handle their business and advance to play at Maple Hill, taking on the #6 Hilltoppers next Tuesday.

Second Round – Tuesday – #9 Stillwater @ #8 Greenwich    Berlin/Duanesburg winner @ #4 Saratoga Catholic     Corinth/H-L winner @ #2 Hoosick Falls

Greenwich and Stillwater split their regular season matchups with both games decided by less than five points.  The Witches are home and that may be the difference here.

Spa Catholic has been hurt by injury and illness over the second half of the year but will still have enough to get past their second round opponent.

The Panthers are the #2 seed for a reason and will have no problem advancing is this round and all others on a march to the Class C finals.

Girls

Class B Opening Round – Tuesday – #16 Emma Willard @ #1 Tamarac     #15 Fonda @ #2 Mechanicville

The two B schools from the Wasaren nail down the top seeds in the classification and both will be playing in the quarterfinals later in the week.

Class C- Play-in Games – Friday – #22 Spa Catholic @ # 11 Warrensburg      #20 Chatham @ # 13 Stillwater

The Saints won’t have enough to get past a solid Warrensburg squad, but I like the young Stillwater Warriors to post a win and move into the next round where they’ll face #4 Berne-Knox next Tuesday.

Opening Round – Tuesday – Cairo-Durham / Schoharie winner @ #1 Cambridge     #9 Maple Hill @ #8 Greenwich     Granville / Duanseburg winner @ #5 Hoosick Falls     #10 Middleburgh @ #7 Hoosic Valley

Cambridge is the best Class C team I saw this year and it’s not close.  Look for the Indians to win easily here, on their way to the Class C finals.

The 8/9 matchup more times than not is a close competitive run and the Witches/Hilltoppers game should be just that.  I like the improving Greenwich squad at home to win close and advance.

The Panthers of Hoosick Falls have great size and steady guard play, enough to get past their first round opponent.

Hoosic Valley has champion pedigree and while this year’s team struggled late losing 4 of their last 5, the Valley at home will find a way to secure the opening round “W”.