It's going to be a long winter at Troy High

When the Suburban Council basketball schedules came out earlier this year, the coaches at Troy High could see their teams facing a virtual gauntlet right from the jump. It didn't help on the boys' side when it came out a week ago that their leading scorer, Daniel Buie, had transferred to Gould Academy in Maine, part of the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), in an effort to boost his chances of landing at a Division 1 college. Buie, as reported, has reclassified as a junior, so he'd be part of a Class of 2023 in college.

Interim boys' head coach Greg Davis found that his job had just gotten tougher with Buie gone. Fortunately, he found Buie's successor in Alonzo Alexander, who led Troy with 19 points (5 3 point goals) in a 57-56 loss to Shenendehowa last night. The road, though, won't get easier going forward, as Troy has their home opener Friday vs. Shaker, which beat Albany on Tuesday. Next week, CBA makes their annual visit to Zotto Memorial Gym before Troy goes on the road at Mohonasen. After that is a Saturday home game vs. Kingston in a non-league tilt.

Meanwhile, women's coach Paul Bearup, in his 13th season at Troy, starts 0-3. The Lady Horses knew they'd have trouble replacing their two-woman scoring machine (Shallie Frierson & Sabrina Wolfe) from last season, but there were signs of life last weekend in the Anthony Drago pre-season tournament in Oneonta. Even though Troy finished last in the tournament, it served as a showcase for sophomore Abby Burns, the leading scorer for the women's soccer team during the fall. Not sure if Abby was on the JV team last year, probably was. Troy was blown out by Horseheads, 55-21, on Friday, then dropped a 48-43 decision to Haland Patent in the 3rd place game on Saturday. Jenalyse Alarcon, a returning starter from last season, led Troy with 11 points in the Saturday game.

However, reality struck in the home opener vs. Shen, and did it ever. After playing a tough game vs. the Lady Plainsmen in January at Zotto Memorial Gym, the Troy women were blown off the court last night in a 79-12 demolition. Burns was held scoreless, and Alarcon had only 1 basket. Troy was shut out in the 3rd quarter, held to just 2 points overall in the 2nd half, as Shen had their way the entire night. It was so bad, that on Sports Night on Spectrum News, anchor Marissa Jacques opted not to have the score posted on the screen to save the Lady Horses from further embarrassment.

The Troy women will play at Shaker for the 3rd time in 2017, and the 4th meeting between the 2 schools in a calendar year, dating back to New Year's weekend last year, on Friday. Then, it's right back home for a non-league matinee vs. Baldwinsville before Mohonasen comes in on the 15th.

It's too early to project how deep either Troy team will go in the sectionals in late February-early March, but as of now, the prospects don't look good. Troy High Nation has to prepare for a long, cruel winter.