News > Boys Varsity
03.16.07
Boys basketball state tournament
Capsule look at games involving area teams
James Johnson
Staff writer
(March 16, 2007) — At Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls
Class AA
Saturday's semifinals: No. 4 in state Albany Bishop Maginn-II (22-3) vs. No. 9 Fairport (21-4), 12:30 p.m.; No. 3 Mount Vernon (22-4) vs. No. 16 Copiague (21-3), 2:15 p.m. Sunday's final: 2:45 p.m.
Outlook: Fairport's first boys state semifinal comes against Bishop Maginn, which knocked off Albany Christian Brothers Academy (23-1), the last unbeaten team in the state. It's clear what the Red Raiders need to do. The Griffins rely on six-foot senior point guard Talor Battle (27.5 points per game), who will play at Penn State. Battle has more than three times as many points as Bishop Maginn's next-leading scorer.
The Griffins like to play an up-tempo game — get the ball and go. Fairport, obviously, would like to keep that under control. Bishop Maginn also is aggressive on defense. Fast and precise ball movement could work for the Red Raiders.
Class C
Today's semis: No. 2 Sidney-IV (22-2) vs. No. 3 Schenectady Christian-II (24-1), 1:30 p.m.; No. 5 Friends Academy-VIII (14-7) vs. No. 1 Campbell-Savona (24-1), 5 p.m.
Saturday's final: 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: Campbell-Savona might have a slight advantage. Members of last season's state championship team, like senior guard Will Cornett, played in the Glens Falls Civic Center. It can be a tough arena to shoot in because of no backgrounds behind the baskets and tight rims. Campbell-Savona's defense has needed no help stopping opponents. None of the Panthers' five postseason opponents have scored 50 points.
Friends Academy can score by pounding the ball inside to center Alex Petrossian or by having guards Josh Jacobs and Jon Williams shoot from the perimeter. The Panthers might need to choose which to shut down.
Class D
Today's semis: No. 2 Charlotte Valley-IV (24-1) vs. No. 3 Chateaugay-X (21-3), 10 a.m.; No. 4 Greenport-XI (19-5) vs. No. 1 Finney (22-3), 11:45 a.m.
Saturday's final: 5:30 p.m.
Outlook: Finney can overwhelm opponents with 3-point shooting from Andy Marchand, Tim Modeste and Kyle Carlson, who made seven during last week's regional round. The Falcons rarely run into teams that can use one defender to guard Marchand. His ball-handling is strong enough that he can penetrate a defense and either score or pass out to often open shooters.
You will hear the name Ryan Creighton often. Creighton, a 6-3 sophomore, is Greenport's best player.
He scores, rebounds and hawks the ball for steals. He already has 1,000 varsity points.