The brackets are out for the high school boys basketball sectionals here in Section 2. When the dust settles the weekend of March 8th and 9th, 6 teams will have their tickets punched to the NYSPHSAA tournament.
Now, before I begin breaking down the brackets, let's note a few things.
1) There are a couple of changes this year. The Sectional Semifinals will remain at the Cool Insuring Arena the week of March 3rd, however, the Adirondack Thunder are at home the weekend of March 8th, and therefore the championships will be played at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
2) The schedule is subject to change. It is still winter, after all, and many of us remember the patchwork Section 2 had to do to get the games to fit when the schedules got disrupted due to winter weather in 2023.
3) These picks are one man's opinion, and I will be wrong.
With that being said, let's break these brackets down.
CLASS AAA:
Outbracket:
#9 Guilderland (7-13) 43, #8 Schenectady (6-14) 47
Quarterfinals: All games at Hudson Valley Community College, Sunday, March 2nd
#8 Schenectady (7-14) 28, #1 Green Tech (11-7) 69
#5 Albany (12-6) 40, #4 Christian Brothers Academy - Albany (13-6) 61
#7 Saratoga Springs (9-11) 35, #2 Shaker (17-3) 80
#6 Colonie (8-11) 58, #3 Shenendehowa (18-2) 48
Semifinals: All games at Cool Insuring Arena, Thursday, March 6th
#4 Christian Brothers Academy (14-6) vs. #1 Green Tech (12-7) - 8:00pm
#6 Colonie (9-11) vs. #2 Shaker (18-3) - 6:30pm
Championship: At Hudson Valley Community College, Sunday, March 9th
Semifinal Winners - 4:15pm
ANALYSIS: Shaker got snubbed. I would get Green Tech getting the nod if their record was closer to that of Shaker, but it feels like Tech was awarded more for their schedule than Shaker was credited for running the table in the Suburban Council -- their loss to Niskayuna was a non-conference loss, and Niskayuna is the #1 seed in Class AA. Green Tech it seems was rewarded #1 through last year's state championship merit than this year's, but that's enough of the grievance.
Because it's going to need to be settled on the court.
The biggest challenge to Shaker will likely happen at the Cool Insuring Arena, when they could align with a rematch against Shenendehowa. Shaker ruined Shenendehowa's party when the Plainsmen retired Kevin Huerter's jersey. It was the first loss of the season for Shenendehowa, and then they would fall to CBA.
Meanwhile, CBA Albany is gearing up for what could be a battle of the non-public schools in the semifinals in Glens Falls.
PREDICTED FINALS: Shaker vs. Green Tech
CHAMPION: Shaker
CLASS AA:
1st Round:
#9 Ballston Spa (8-12) 45, #8 Queensbury (11-9) 66
#12 Columbia (5-15) 61, #5 Bethlehem (11-9) 69
#10 Mohonasen (8-12) 66, #7 South Glens Falls (9-11) 55
#11 Burnt Hills (2-18) 40, #6 Averill Park (11-9) 37
Quarterfinals: At Hudson Valley Community College, Saturday, March 1st
#8 Queensbury (12-9) 42, #1 Niskayuna (15-5) 61
#5 Bethlehem (12-9) 62, #4 Amsterdam (14-5) 60
#10 Mohonasen (9-12) 43 vs. #2 Lasalle (15-4) 90
#11 Burnt Hills (3-18) 52, #3 Troy (15-5) 74
Semifinals: At Cool Insuring Arena
#5 Bethlehem (13-9) vs. #1 Niskayuna (16-5) - Wednesday, March 5th @ 8:00pm
#3 Troy (16-4) vs. #2 Lasalle (16-4) - Thursday, March 6th @ 5:00pm
Championship: At Hudson Valley Community College, Sunday, March 9th
Semifinal Winners - 2:30pm
ANALYSIS: Niskayuna won their first sectional championship since the 1970's last year, and haven't done anything to remove that feeling that they are going to be denied back to back. Knocking off Shaker on the final day of the regular season has to be a confidence boost. Most of this classification went the way the computer projections showed with the exception of a flip between Queensbury and South Glens Falls -- in part due to a head-to-head win the Bulldogs had over the Spartans.
None of the non-Suburban Council teams offers me enough of a reason why they would be favored here -- even though Lasalle and Troy will be a strong case for the lower part of the bracket... especially since Lasalle kept things close with Shenendehowa early in the season.
PREDICTED FINALS: Niskayuna vs. Lasalle
WINNER: Niskayuna
CLASS A:
1st Round: All games will be Wednesday, February 26th at 7:00pm
#9 Lansingburgh (5-15) 39, #8 Broadalbin-Perth (6-14) 80
#12 Schalmont (2-18) 40, #5 Watervliet/Heatly (15-5) 39
#13 Scotia (2-18) 54, #4 Hudson (17-3) 66
#10 Cohoes (5-15) 80, #7 Gloversville (9-11) 75
#11 Ravena (5-15) 54, #6 Ichabod Crane (11-9) 57
Quarterfinals: All games will be Sunday, March 2nd at Guilderland High School
#8 Broadalbin-Perth (7-14) 56, #1 Glens Falls (20-0) 96
#12 Schalmont (3-18) 42, vs. #4 Hudson (18-3) 74
#10 Cohoes (6-15) 49, #2 Hudson Falls (16-4) 76
#6 Ichabod Crane (12-9) 62, #3 Catholic Central (12-8) 77
Semifinals: All games at the Cool Insuring Arena on Wednesday, March 5th
#4 Hudson (19-3) vs. #1 Glens Falls (21-0) - 6:30pm
#3 Catholic Central (13-8) vs. #2 Hudson Falls (17-4) - 5:00pm
Championship: At the Hudson Valley Community College on Saturday, March 8th
Semifinal Winners - 8:15pm
ANALYSIS: Glens Falls has been unstoppable this season. Whether it be in the Foothills Council or playing out of state in Springfield, MA, this squad has been very solid. Their closest game was a 3 point win over New Jersey's Ridgewood, but 18 of their 20 were double digit wins. Defending State Champs, Glens Falls hopes a trip to Glens Falls won't be the end of the road this time -- more because of where the State Championships are being held this year.
So the question here is ... can any team come close to Glens Falls?
The #2 seed in this bracket lost to Glens Falls twice by more than 30 points in the Foothills Council. Catholic Central is not the same squad that rivaled Glens Falls for the past two seasons as their chief scoring player from those two seasons went to a prep school this year, but can still be dangerous.
Then there's Hudson. Their 3 losses are non-conference. Two out in Springfield, MA at the same Hall of Fame Classic that Glens Falls attended, and the third being to Lasalle Institute. But getting Glens Falls in Glens Falls will prove to be a tough proposition for the Hawks should the higher seeds prevail.
PREDICTED FINALS: Hudson Falls vs. Glens Falls
CHAMPION: Glens Falls
CLASS B:
Outbracket:
#17 Cambridge/Salem (6-14) 53, #16 Coxsackie-Athens (6-14) 43
#18 Bishop Gibbons (5-15) 40, #15 Schuylerville (5-15) 65
#19 Rensselaer (4-14) 45, #14 Cairo-Durham (7-12) 48
1st Round: All Games are Tuesday 2/25 @ 7:00pm
#17 Cambridge-Salem (7-14) 40, #1 Hoosick Falls (17-3) 66
#9 Tamarac (12-8) 59, #8 Corinth (15-5) 55
#13 Taconic Hills (9-11) 49, #4 Greenville (16-4) 80
#12 Catskill (9-11) 43, #5 Fonda-Fultonville (15-5) 61
#15 Schuylerville (6-15) 59, #2 Mechanicville (15-5) 70
#10 Greenwich (11-9) 60, #7 Cobleskill-Richmondville (13-7) 75
#14 Cairo-Durham (8-12) 41, #3 Voorheesville (14-6) 61
#11 Stillwater (11-9) 46, #6 Johnstown (14-6) 49
Quarterfinals: All Games Saturday March 1st at Guilderland High School
#9 Tamarac (13-8) 44, #1 Hoosick Falls (18-3) 52
#5 Fonda-Fultonville (16-5) 38, #4 Greenville (17-4) 51
#7 Cobleskill-Richmondville (14-7) 51, #2 Mechanicville (16-5) 72
#6 Johnstown (15-6) 38, #3 Voorheesville (15-6) 62
Semifinals: All Games at Cool Insuring Arena
#4 Greenville (18-4) vs. #1 Hoosick Falls (18-3) - Monday, March 3rd 8:00pm
#3 Voorheesville (16-6) vs. #2 Mechanicville (17-5) - Tuesday, March 4th 8:00pm
Championship: At Hudson Valley Community College on Saturday, March 8th
Semifinal Winners - 6:30PM
ANALYSIS: It's easy to see where the committee thought the Adirondack League ranks among the WAC, Wasaren, Colonial and Patroon Conference. But to be honest, where would you have placed Corinth when the top 5 teams are convincing. Especially top seeded Hoosick Falls. Stillwater is not the same team that won the state championship last year as they lost a lot of talent due to graduation. Schuylerville having a tough season is the result of several factors including the football team claiming the State Championship back in December, and other athletes concentrating on other sports.
Mechanicville getting the #2 nod is thanks to their resurgence in the final weeks of the regular season. Part of that includes their win over Greenville that earned them the head to head that surely weighed in the committee's eyes when composing this bracket.
And if that becomes the championship, keep in mind that both teams beat each other by 11 points with the home team claiming each match. On a neutral court in Troy, that could result in some fireworks.
Mechanicville could see a challenge from Voorheesville, a team they only beat by 5 in the regular season.
PREDICTED FINALS: Hoosick Falls vs. Mechanicville
CHAMPION: Mechanicville
CLASS C:
1st Round: All Games Tuesday, February 25th
#9 Granville (12-8) 68, #8 Whitehall (16-4) 72
#13 Schoharie (10-9) 65, #4 North Warren (14-6) 82
#12 Middleburgh (9-11) 38, #5 Maple Hill (13-7) 51
#15 Waterford (2-18) 44, #2 Duanesburg (18-2) 83
#10 Northville (10-9) 36, #7 Canajoharie (14-6) 55
#14 Lake George (5-15) 28, #3 Spa Catholic (18-2) 85
#11 Fort Plain (9-10) 38, #6 Hoosic Valley (12-8) 65
Quarterfinals: All Games Friday, March 28th (Upper 2 at HVCC, Lower 2 at Guilderland High School)
#8 Whitehall (17-4) 38, #1 Berne-Knox-Westerlo (20-0) 80
#5 Maple Hill (14-7) 49, #4 North Warren (15-6) 54
#7 Canajoharie (15-6) 53, #2 Duanesburg (19-2) 63
#6 Hoosic Valley (13-8) 24, #3 Spa Catholic (19-2) 53
Semifinals: All Games Monday, March 3rd at the Cool Insuring Arena
#4 North Warren (16-6) vs. #1 Berne-Knox-Westerlo (21-0) - 6:30pm
#3 Spa Catholic (20-2) vs. #2 Duanesburg (20-2) - 5:00pm
Championship: At Hudson Valley Community College on Sunday, March 9th
Semifinal Winners - 12:45pm
ANALYSIS: Berne-Knox-Westerlo hasn't been as lights out like Glens Falls in Class A, but has done enough to come into Sectionals with a perfect record. The team that has come close but hasn't been able to get over the hump in the past couple years, but complimented their regular season win over Duanesburg with a solid effort in the WAC Championship.
Duanesburg has a prolific scorer, who has been earning quite the attention. But they need to figure out this Berne-Knox-Westerlo team if they're going to go back to winning ways. Spa Catholic is going to be dangerous too ... it's hard to believe it's been 9 years since their last sectional championship.
North Warren gets boosted into Class C after claiming last year's Class D State Championship, and it will not be easy for the crew from Chestertown. Should they survive the first two rounds, a potential spot against undefeated Berne-Knox-Westerlo could be quite challenging. But here's the thing with the Cougars -- they knew they needed to challenge themselves, and pieced together a schedule that included a trip to Springfield, MA to face teams like Longmeadow (MA) and Yorktown ... also tackled Class AAA's top seeded Green Tech. Even though the Cougars lost that game soundly, it had to be a learning experience to prepare them for this.
But Whitehall getting seeded 8th with a 16 win season is crazy. You can tell the Railroaders were penalized heavily for that January 6th loss to Granville -- and now they open with Granville in the first round.
This might be the bracket that falls apart the most. Several good teams that could see their seasons come down to the last basket.
PREDICTED FINALS: Spa Catholic vs. North Warren
CHAMPION: Spa Catholic
CLASS D:
Quarterfinals: All Games Saturday, March 1st at Stillwater High School
#5 Fort Edward (7-12) 50, vs. #4 Hartford (11-9) 61
#7 Doane Stuart (4-10) 59, #2 Hawthorne Valley (13-6) 78
#6 Germantown (1-19) 58, #3 Fort Ann (11-9) 47
Semifinals: All games Tuesday, March 4th at Cool Insuring Arena
#4 Hartford (12-9) vs. #1 Loudonville Christian (13-6) - 6:30pm
#6 Germantown (2-19) vs. #2 Hawthorne Valley (14-6) - 5:00pm
Championship: At Hudson Valley Community College on Sunday, March 9th
Semifinal Winners - 11:00am
ANALYSIS: Class D comes down to Loudonville Christian and Hawthorne Valley. Fort Ann has the best chance of an Adirondack League team to conquer, but needs things to go their way with the home crowd's backing. Hartford is decent, but can they topple Loudonville Christian who has good returning talent?
If Loudonville Christian and Hawthorne Valley meet, it will guarantee the winner will claim their first ever Section 2 Boys Basketball championship.
PREDICTED FINALS: Loudonville Christian vs. Fort Ann
CHAMPION: Loudonville Christian
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