Saturday, January 17, 2015

In the end, it was just another night

If it hasn't sunk in yet at LaSalle and/or Troy High that Friday's basketball game between the two schools would be the last regular season meeting, due to them going to different leagues next season, it probably will when the school year is over.

The local press virtually whiffed on this plot point, if you will. The Record & the Albany Times-Union didn't list the game on their schedules for Friday, although there was a mention in the latter paper in a separate article. Today's Times-Union provided only a box score, with the game recap likely reserved for their website. We'll know by tomorrow if The Record, which shares printing space with the Times-Union, follows suit.

The house wasn't quite full at McCornick Hall, but the LaSalle fans were loud in support of the hosts. Then again, the acoustics in the gym aren't that good, when the tacky buzzer is jacked up to about 12, louder than it has any right to. Having been at Troy and Times-Union Center for games, I can tell the difference.

Anyway, Troy led virtually the entire game, even after senior star Zach Radz went down with a knee injury just before halftime. Radz bravely tried to continue, checking back in with about two minutes left in the 3rd quarter, but sat out the 4th. Radz was held to two 3-point goals, while teammates Dyaire Holt & Maurice Watson each had 20 to lead Troy. Joe Germinerio, who transferred from Troy after the 2013 football season, led all scorers with 24, but ran into foul trouble in the 2nd half, and was pulled with 2 minutes left in regulation. Even with Troy pulling away, LaSalle still had a chance, but couldn't take a chance on Germinerio fouling out with the game on the line. Troy extends its winning streak to 4 after they closed 2014 with 4 straight losses.

When I paid my admission, I had mentioned to the ticket-takers that this was the end of an era. The response was, well, they accepted the reality of it, but had no real idea that, unless the two schools can schedule each other in at least 1 non-league game a year going forward, this was it. LaSalle will play in the Colonial Council next season, while Troy moves to the tougher Suburban Council. Their last test vs. a Suburban team will be against Bethlehem in approximately 2 weeks.

Right now, reviving the in-city basketball tournament at the start of the season is still very appealing. It's just a matter of whether or not the athletic directors at the 4 schools (Troy, LaSalle, Catholic Central, Lansingburgh) can agree on it. For the sake of the city, and the schools' alumni, they should.

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