Over the years the league known as the Wasaren has undergone a number of changes. Until the early 70’s the league was recognized as the Washington County League. Six present day schools remain in the Wasaren from that era including Cambridge, Greenwich, Hoosick Falls, Hoosic Valley, Stillwater and Tamarac.

Schuylerville and Salem have since left, Granville was in, now out, and in recent years Mechanicville, Saratoga Catholic, Waterford and Berlin have joined.

About what you’d expect over 50 plus years.

But through the decades one feature has been ever present.  The high level of competition night after night, year after year.  It’s been said there are very few nights off in the Wasaren, and it’s well known if you don’t bring your “A” game on the road most likely you’ll head home with a loss.

And while this gauntlet of competition has provided years of memorable races for the league championship, it also has consistently prepared schools for the post season.

With the Section II basketball tournament down to the semifinal round in all classifications, Wasaren squads dominate the landscape in Classes B and C.

With eight teams left standing in Class C, boys and girls combined, league teams own four spots.  Saratoga Catholic and Hoosick Falls boys and Cambridge and Hoosick Falls girls are all just a win away from a sectional final berth.

The same holds true in the Class B girls where Tamarac and Mechanicville look to punch their tickets to the championship run with semifinal “W’s”.

That’s six Wasaren squads out of the 16 still playing in the C and B classifications.

In comparison the Colonial Council has four teams remaining while the Patroon and Western Athletic Conference (WAC), both have two squads alive.

How many Wasaren teams will earn the chance to play for a Section II title?  Hard to say, and we know at best it will only be five of the six with Cambridge and Hoosick Falls girls facing each other tomorrow night in a C semifinal.

My guess is four league squads will tip in sectional finals in Classes C and B on Saturday. That would be half of the finalists over the two classifications coming from the Wasaren. Given the rich history and tradition of the league, that number seems about right.