‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

December 24, 2025in Uncategorized | Leave a comment | Edit

‘

Twas the night before Christmas and in Wasarenland

Players had gathered for the basketball tournament at hand.

A two-on-two tourney was about to unfold

Standing room only, no tickets left unsold.

A boy and girl player from each league school

Playing as teammates on the eve of the Yule.

Make it Take it, was the rule on this day

Or “Winner’s Outs”, said another way.

First team to 11, have to win by two

Would reduce the field to a precious few.

The sound of a whistle began first round play

Games at each end in a half court fray.

Cross-overs and jumpers, blocked shots and more

It was something to see, the talent on the floor.

As the round played out it was great holiday fun

Except for good players who were one and done.

McMahon and Sparks, DiSiena and Munger

Despite their best hustle for the trophy, they’d hunger. 

Kuiken and Darling, MacDougal and Brown

Scunziano and Morris all left town.

In the semi’s Wiley and Coffin said so long

Their J’s were the truth, their defense all wrong.

Davis and Redgrave also would fall

In this holiday run they’d no longer ball.

The Witches Kuzmich and Ingber had the trophy in sight

But waiting were Thornton and Schneller on this Christmas eve night.

Just as the game started, at the far end of the gym

The door swung open with Santa and the Mrs. stepping in.

“Combine your teams,” yelled Santa, “Two in and two out.”

“While Mrs. C and I show you what the game’s all about.”

Kuzmich and Ingber started against the holiday pair

Quickly learning Kris’s wife could score from anywhere.

Knocking down jumpers and scoring at the rim

The hopes for the Wasaren began to look grim.

Trailing 6-2 Thornton and Schneller stepped on the floor

Each connected once from deep but would score no more.

Santa blocked a Thornton floater that opened everyone’s eyes

It had plenty of arc, but the Kringle Man can rise.

He showed athletic skill belying his diet

The man lives on cookies and milk, I think I might try it.

Santa bottomed five in a row to close the championship out

As for the tourney’s best, the north’s duo left little doubt.

And from a cheering gym Santa quickly ran to his sled

Filled with plenty of gifts for the long night ahead.

Having enjoyed his run in the gym down below

Santa’s magical sled rose through the nighttime snow.

And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Stillwater 62   Cohoes 42

Leading Scorers:  Stillwater – Tye Morris 20 4, 3’s    Rocco Schneller 17    Mason Wagner 14 4, 3’s        Cohoes – Chase Harris 10

Key Stat:  Stillwater held an 8-1 advantage in made threes.

Take Away:  Stillwater put three players in doubles pulled away from Cohoes building a 61-31 led after three periods before closing out the nonleague win over Cohoes.

 

Lansingburgh 71   Hoosick Falls 40

Leading Scorers:  Burgh – Carson G. 20     Corey Miles 15          Panthers – Ryan Sparks 14

Key Stat:  Lansingburgh jumped out to a 23-6 lead after the first frame.

Take Away:  Lansingburgh took control early and owned a 43-16 lead at the break, on their way to the nonleague victory over the Falls in the Burgh on Tuesday. 

 

Ravena 80   Hoosic Valley 49    No other info provided

Fort Plain 63   Waterford 27    No other Info provided

 

 

Saratoga Catholic 62   Hartford 50

Leading Scorers:  Saints – Sophia Ryan 19    Addison Whitbeck 16    Margaret Crowe 11      Tanagers – McKenzie Johnson 34 4, 3’s    Silver Stewart 12

Key Stat:  Spa Catholic outscored the Tanagers 21-14 over the final eight minutes.

Take Away:  Holding a slim 41-38 advantage entering the final frame, the Saints put 21 points on the board, led by Whitbeck’s 11-point quarter, to pull away for the non-league win in Saratoga.

 

Stillwater 65   Guilderland 43

Leading Scorers:  Stillwater – Addison Thornton 19 4, 3’s    Maddie Chatt 18 3, 3’s    Andie Luskin 17      Guilderland – Cameron Kile 13    Olivia Bigness 10

Key Stat:  Stillwater decisively won each of the first three quarters.

Take Away:  Stillwater led 38-14 at the break and cruised from there to the home win over Guilderland.  Stillwater put three players in doubles and drilled seven triples in the dominant “W” over a class A squad.  

 

Greenwich 59   Mechanicville 32

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Jordan Wolfe 15    Brooke Kuzmich 14              Mechanicville – Elle Richardson 12     Madison Couser 8 2, 3’s

Key Stat:  Greenwich held their hosts to single scoring numbers in each of the first three periods.

Take Away:  The Witches continue to roll stacking another one-sided decision in their 6-0 start to the season.   

 

 

 

Tamarac 69   Voorheesville 50

Leading Scorers:  Bengals – Sam Kuiken 23    Braiden Stanfield 23          Blackbirds – Alex Burch 17    Nick Coluccio 10

Key Stat:  Tamarac won every quarter.

Take Away:  The Bengals built a 38-24 lead by halftime and continued to pull away for the win at the Forever Franzy, Coaches vs. Cancer event at Siena.  Kuiken and Stansfield combine for 46 points leading Tamarac to their fifth win in six outings this season. 

Greenwich 59   Spa Catholic 45

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Ryan Ingber 24    Mike Cronin 11 3, 3’s    Ethan Mullen 10       Saints – Davis Redgrave 14    Thomas Zayac 11

Key Stat:  The Witches held Spa Catholic to 14, first-half points.

Take Away:  Greenwich built a 29-14 advantage by halftime and rode that cushion to the road win in Saratoga.  The Witches connected on seven triples and put three players in doubles in the victory.

 

Stillwater 68   Hoosic Valley 33  

Leading Scorers:  Stillwater – Rocco Schneller 24     Williams 14         Valley – Austin Brown 8

Key Stat:  Stillwater outscored the Valley 25-5 second quarter.

Take Away:  After an even first frame, Stillwater pulled away for the road win in Schaghticoke.

 

 

Waterford 52   Cambridge 24

Leading Scorers:  Fordians – Grace Figueroa-Davis 22       Piper Morris 15             Cambridge – Emily DeSouza 7

Key Stat:  Waterford converted 18 of 28 free throws while Cambridge connected on 5 of 12 attempts from the stripe.

Take Away:  The Fordians won every quarter but put the game away after the break outscoring their guests 30-10 over the final two frames to earn the home win.

 

Greenwich 89   Spa Catholic 37

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Brooke Kuzmich 29    Bailey Wolfe 20    Jordan Wolfe 20       Saints – Sophia Ryan 19

Take Away:  The Witches put three players in high doubles and roll to the road victory over the Saints.

 

Stillwater 67   Hoosic Valley 20

Leading Scorers:  Stillwater – Andie Luskin 25     Addison Thornton 15     Maddie Chatt 14        Valley – Lainey Bochette 8

Take Away:  Stillwater built a 42-10 lead by halftime and cruised from there to the win in Schaghticoke.  

 

Tamarac 64   Hoosick Falls 28

Leading Scorers:  Bengals – Becky Barbera 14     Allie Lockrow 14      Liz Darling 11 3, 3’s       Falls – Hickey 8     Wiggins 8

Key Stat:  Tamarac held the Panthers to single scoring numbers in each of the first three periods.

Take Away:  The Bengals drilled eight triples on the night while putting three players in doubles and 10 in the scoring column in notching the win at Clum’s Corners.  

Mechanicville 58   Fonda 12

Leading Scorers:  Raiders – Molly DiSiena 21    Madison Couser 13

Key Stat:  Mechanicville held their hosts to single scoring numbers in every quarter.

Take Away:  Mechanicville built a 27-7 lead by halftime, on the way to their second, one-sided decision in as many nights.  

 

Waterford 56   Berlin/New Lebanon 51

Leading Scorers:  Fordians – Billy Scunziano 14    Tristan Philo 12 3, 3’s    Thomas Callan 10         B/NL – Alex Esposito 19 3, 3’s    Aiden DeGroff 11

Key Stat:  The Fordians outscored B/NL 31-17 over the middle two frames.

Take Away:  Waterford put three players in doubles and connected on five triples in earning the win in Waterford on Wednesday. 

Join us for a look the top Wasaren girls and boys teams as well as our Games of the Week and “Dirty Dozen” and Player of the Week announcements.

Cambridge 59   Saratoga Catholic 57

Leading Scorers:  Cambridge – Luke MacDougal 24 4, 3’s     Myles Mason 19       Saints – Bryce Petersen 17    Davis Redgrave 16 4, 3’s    Jasyn Thompson 10

Key Stat:  Cambridge converted 15 of 23 free throws while the Saints connected on 10 of 16 from the stripe.  

Take Away:  Cambridge won each of the first three periods and took a 40-31 lead into the fourth where they held on for the narrow home win.

Greenwich 59   Hoosic Valley 45

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Ryan Ingber 19    Ethan Mullen 12     Langston Hall 11        Valley – Aiden Wiley 18 4, 3’s    Owen Simpson 12

Key Stat:  Greenwich held a 15-2 advantage in made free throws with the Witches working their way to the line 22 times while the Valley took just six trips to the stripe.  

Take Away:  The Witches led 14-2 after eight minutes and rode that cushion to the home “W”.  Greenwich puts three in doubles and continues to stack wins in December.

Stillwater 63   Hoosick Falls 30

Leading Scorers:  Stillwater – Rocco Schneller 19    Mason Wagner 20         Panthers – Spencer Tate 8    Ryan Sparks 8

Key Stat:  Stillwater held their hosts under 10 points in three of the four periods. 

Take Away:  Stillwater uses a big defensive effort and good nights from Schneller and Wagner to earn the comfortable road victory over the Falls.  

Tamarac 60   Mechanicville 46

Leading Scorers:  Bengals – Sam Kuiken 18, 10 rebounds    Braiden Stanfield 10      

Take Away:  Tamarac built a 35-27 advantage by the break and after an even third frame, sealed the road win over the final eight minutes.

Greenwich 72   Hoosic Valley 23

Leading Scorers:  Witches – Bailee Wolfe 21     Brooke Kuzmich 16     Ella Celani 12         Valley – Hayley Valcik 12

Key Stat:  Greenwich held the Valley to single digit scoring in every period.

Take Away:  The Witches led 26-5 after eight minutes of play and cruised from there to the home win. Greenwich connected on five threes, shot 11 of 17 from the line and put eight players in the scoring column in the victory.

Mechanicville 67   Tamarac 17

Leading Scorers:  Raiders – Tanner Eiseman 25     Madison Couser 10      Bengals – no stats provided

Ket Stat:  Mechanicville held their visitors to three, first-half points. 

Take Away:  Mechanicville won every quarter, including a 15-0 first frame.  Eight Raiders scored in the win led by Eiseman’s 25-point night.

Spa Catholic 53   Cambridge 31

Leading Scorers:  Saints – Addison Whitbeck 23    Sophia Ryan 11        Tigers – Emily DeSouza 18

Key Stat:  The Saints put the game away with a 13-2 third quarter.

Take Away:  Spa Catholic built a 29-14 lead by halftime and continued to pull away after the break for the road “W”.   

Stillwater 63   Hoosick Falls 28      No other stats provide