HERE IS A LINK TO A RECAP OF LAST NIGHT’S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ACTION
http://mixlr.com/rick-lyons/showreel/rick-lyons-on-mixlr-134
Monthly Archives: November 2019
Friday Night Buckets
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
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
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.
Witches Win Season-Opener
Greenwich jumped out to a 26-10 lead at the end of one and extended their advantage to 49-17 at the half in cruising past Corinth 86-34 in the boys basketball opener for both squads on Tuesday night in Greenwich.
Alex Curtis with 23 points and Jesse Kuzmich with 19, led the Witches attack that used the long ball effectively, bottoming nine triples in the contest.
Isaac Melville with 10 points showed the way for the Tomahawks.
Hoosick Falls Girls Basketball Preview
Head Coach: Rich Cooney
2018-19 Record: 14-10
Key Returning Players: Logan Thayne Sr. Maddy Walker Sr. Sophia Estes Sr.
Coming off a nice season a year ago the Panthers return three seniors that first year head coach Rich Cooney will look to for leadership and production. The trio of Maddy Walker, Sophia Estes and Logan Thayne are experienced, athletic and skilled players with Thayne earning the Wasaren League MVP award last year.
Thus far, Cooney has liked what he’s seen from his Panthers in the preseason saying, “This group of girls is committed and dedicated to working hard and improving every day.”
“To be successful this year,” he continued, ” we need to limit our turnovers, play aggressive defense and develop stronger play from some of our younger players.”
The Falls mentor sees, “Height and athleticism,” as strengths and hopes to, “Expose the weaknesses of teams that are smaller and less experienced.”
In the very competitive Wasaren, Cooney sees Cambridge as, “The team to beat with Mechanicville, Tamarac and Hoosick Falls all hoping to contend.”
When asked for a word or phrase he wanted people to associate with his team Cooney chose, “Relentless,” something every league team needs to be when navigating the Wasaren schedule that is frequently described using the same word.
The Panthers will have enough talent on the floor this year, led by SUNY Albany commit Thayne, to put themselves in position to win every night. If they add “relentless” effort to the mix, look for the Falls to have a big number in the win column at season’s end.
Mechanicville Girls Basketball Preview
Head Coach: Blaine Goverski
2018-19 Record: 17-8 Section II Champs
Key Returning Players: Charli Goverski Jada Brown Amy DiSiena AJ Analdo Gianna Cavotta
Fresh off a Section Class B championship a year ago, the Red Raiders bring back nearly everyone and are primed and ready for a big 19-20 campaign.
“We have waited for this year to come and it is here,” said head coach Blaine Goverski. “The girls have been playing all summer long, weight lifting and looking forward to this year.”
Last year the Raiders brought to the floor an up tempo style of play and look for little to change this season according to Goverski. “Our team speed and athletic ability are keys for us. We play with a fast pace, pressing and running the floor,” he continued. “All five players on the court are capable of scoring. We have experience and a deep, athletic bench.”
After winning Section II last year the Mechanicville mentor said the biggest challenge for this season will be, “To keep everyone hungry and get back to playing with urgency every night.”
Goverski touts Cambridge, Tamarac and Hoosic Valley as top contenders for the Wasaren crown this year in a league where there are no nights off.
A key phrase for this year’s version of the Raiders is, “Make our shining moments for our team together ,” according to the head coach. “If we play together we have a lot to look forward to this year.”
Hoosick Falls Boys Basketball Preview
Head Coach: Mike Lilac
2018-19 Record: 14-0 League 21-2 Overall
Key Returning Players: Tristan Williams Sr. Jon Kempf Sr. Max Kipp Sr. Dmitri Rose Sr. Isiah Burnett Sr. ( all who started at some point last season ) Zach Cahill Sr. Nick Houghton Sr. Sam Wickenden Sr. Dylan Baker Soph.
While it’s not true that the last time Hoosick Falls failed to win a Wasaren championship was during the Bush administration, it sure seems it. The Panthers, coming off a perfect 14-0 league campaign a year ago, have a won 84 of their last 86 Wasaren games including 54 straight. They return five starters from last years squad, and seem poised to once again defend their league title.
“Our overall experience should be our biggest strength this year,” said longtime Panthers head coach Mike Lilac. He added, “We will always stress our tough man to man defense,” a cornerstone of the Falls program for years.
As for this year’s preseason, Lilac likes that his team’s, “Shot selection is better and we seem to be taking better care of the basketball, keeping turnovers down.”
When asked what the Panthers need to do for another successful year, the head coach responded, “Rebounding the ball is the single biggest thing we need to do to be successful. Outside of Williams we’re not very big.” He continued, “We will need to bring the intensity every night as we have a bit of a target on our backs. We will see everyone’s best shot.”
As for top contenders chasing the league crown Lilac said, “We should be in the mix,” but pointed out his Panthers last season had, “Several close games with Mechanicville, Waterford and Stillwater and they all return a lot.”
“Grit” is the one word the Falls mentor hopes people will associate with his squad this season. “We always talk about having pride in the program and keeping our strong tradition going.”
And with an experienced, deep and talented Hoosick Falls squad ready to take the floor next week, the smart money says the program’s winning tradition will continue to thrive.
Saratoga Catholic Boys Basketball Preview
Head Coach: Brett Simpson
2018-19 Record: 6-15
Key Returning Players: Jordan Catone Sr. Ryan McCarroll Jr. are the only returning varsity players.
It will be a brand new system for the Saratoga Catholic program this year and head coach Brett Simpson likes the learning curve so far. “Our kids have been working hard inside and out of practices and scrimmages. We have gotten stronger with every practice and will continue to as we move forward.”
Simpson pointed specifically towards, “Ball movement and shooting,” as strengths of his Saints adding, “We will look to push the tempo and use our quickness to our advantage.”
In their effort to improve on the team’s record from a year ago the head coach sites the need to, “Rebound and defend. If we can do both of those things at a high level we will be a tough team to play.”
The Saints mentor realizes the Wasaren is filled with competitive squads listing Hoosick Falls and Mechanicville at the top while adding, “The Wasaren league is extremely tough. Anyone can beat anyone on a given night.”
In closing, when asked for a word or phrase that he hopes people will associate with his Saints, Simpson stated “Play smart, play hard, play together. If we can do those three things we will succeed in basketball and also the real world.”
Cambridge Girls Basketball Preview
Head Coach: Bob Phillips
2018-19 Record: 25-1
Key Returning Players: Sophie Phillips Jr. Lily Phillips Jr. Fiona Mooney Jr. McKayla McLenithan Jr. Ruth Nolan Jr. Stasia Epler So.
Last year the Cambridge Indians earned league, section, and state titles, in winning 25 of 26 outings and this season will return a wealth of talent from that dominant squad.
When asked what he’s most liked about the preseason Coach Phillips replied, “The experience that comes from having so many players returning and continuing to build on that.”
As was the case in last year’s run to a state championship, Phillips sites, “Pressure defense and a fastbreak style of play,” as strengths of his group.
He pointed out the Indians, “Need to grow both as a team and as individuals,” in order to be successful this season. Adding, “We can’t rest on past successes, and realize we’ll get everyone’s best shot.”
When asked, Phillips sited Mechanicville, Tamarac and Hoosick Falls along with his Indians as the top contenders for a Wasaren championship come February.
He hopes the phrase, “We over me,” is what spectators will associate with Cambridge after having watched them this season.
In addition to that I’m sure fans will recognize a deep, talented roster, that pushes the pace and plays the game the right way, all components that will serve Cambridge well in their defense of multiple titles from a year ago.
wasarensportsnet.com 