A changing of the guard in high school basketball in upstate NY

One of the most competitive rivalries in New York's Section II in boys' basketball over the last couple of years has been Christian Brothers Academy vs. Troy High. The two teams were atop the Big 10 the last two seasons (CBA won last year, Troy the year before), but after a heated Class AA final in 2012 mired in controversy, there wasn't a rematch last year. Green Tech saw to that by upsetting CBA, but fell to Troy in the final. This year, Troy dropped down to Class A, as they do in most other sports, while the improving Catholic Central High moved up to Class AA. The end result? CBA won't win the league title this year, as the crown goes back across the river.

CCHS has been atop the standings for much of the season, the only undefeated team left in the league. Troy is a game back after completing a season sweep of CBA Friday night at CBA, 64-62. However, you wouldn't know that by The Record, which didn't bother to have even a box score on the game, although a quick check of the paper's website reveals there is an account of the game---it was bumped from the print edition for space considerations, which happens way too often to Troy High's boys team these days. CCHS kept its perfect season intact by beating LaSalle, meaning that a season sweep of Troy would settle the issue of who is top dog in the city among the Collar City's trio of Big 10 teams (Lansingburgh plays in the Colonial Council, and is in Class B). CBA, with the loss, is now 4 games out of first. They would need Catholic High to go on a lengthy losing streak to have a chance, and I just don't see that happening.

It's taken coach Chuck Mack 3 years to get the Crusaders back to prominence in boys' basketball, back to the glory days of iconic coach Don Bassett, and his patience, to this point, has been rewarded handsomely. To be fair, CBA has been, for the most part, a 1-man show, with Greig Stire, a nominee for the McDonald's All-American team, being that 1 man. CCHS & Troy simply have too many weapons for the Brothers to overcome. Troy is done with CBA for the season, but the Brothers have to travel back to Troy to play CCHS in another week or two, and there's the prospect of the sectionals, which start next month. CBA will reload. The elite teams always do. Whether or not they will have enough to bring the Crusaders down to earth the next two years remains to be seen, since Anthony Mack, the coach's son, is CCHS' #1 star, and they went to CBA last month and beat the Brothers, despite the younger Mack fouling out. What does that say about the balance of power in the Big 10 changing this year? Plenty. The Crusaders do have a return match with Troy also on the docket, with the league title hanging in the balance. Oh, that will be fun.

Now, all that's left to complete CCHS' resurrection is an improved football team.........