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High School Hoops
If you'd like something to do this week check out the sports pages of the Press-Republican and drive over to the nearest high school basketball game. It's the time of the season when the action really heats up. There's perhaps no greater example of that than last week's varsity boys basketball matchup between Saranac Central School and Northeastern Clinton Central School. If you didn't get there early, and I mean a couple of hours early, you didn't get a seat. It had all the ingredients of a great game. Both teams were undefeated (7-0). Both teams have great athletes. Saranac's veteran coach Gary Castine grew up in the NCCS school district. The NCCS coach, young Robb Garrand, is enjoying his first year on the varsity level. Both schools have fans that love to support their teams. The players didn't let their fans down. It was a great game and Saranac prevailed by one point in overtime. Saranac remains undefeated, and it won't be the last you'll hear about NCCS. Fans from both schools went home exhausted, knowing they'd gotten their two bucks worth.
But on any given night, fans can be treated to great high school sports. By virtue of our television coverage of local sports, I get to watch athletes almost every night. In basketball this season try to catch the Ausable Valley girls team. Their tandem of Nikki Dirolf and Shannon Nutbrown are leading the way. Again this season the NCCS girls are outclassing the competition with the Coryea sisters, along with Alex Forey and a cast of others. I like watching hard-working Lauren Vilbert at Plattsburgh High School, and Peru's Jenna Ruff has had some big games.
In boys' basketball in addition to the treat of watching Saranac or NCCS, you can try to catch the Ausable Valley boys, who work so hard for Coach Jamie Douglas. For pure outside shooting check out Seton Catholic's Josh Davis. Peru's Ian Passino can take over a game at the sound of a whistle.
Basketball is a very different game from the Sixties when I played. However, from game to game and gym to gym, I see the stars of 10 years ago, 20 years ago and more, back in the bleachers watching high school basketball. See you at a game this week, I hope!
Comments
hey foxy
speaking of high school hoops the readers should know that the mvac race for first place is even closer than the cvac with a probable high school classic between willsboro and e-town tonight. willsboro has one league loss tied with schroon lake for first but e-town has two losses in the league. they lost both games by one point to both schroon lake and willsboro.
Posted by: garrett h | January 20, 2006 2:05 PM
Foxy,
I'd like to commend Frank T. on his observations of the officials and his positive remarks. Mr. Lacey and Mr. Criss are just 2 of many outstanding men and women who provide a tremendous service to our schools and to our student/athletes by going out 2 to 5 times a night doing without question the most difficult job in sports. As athletes, parents, coaches and fans we must begin to appreciate their efforts more as we begin facing shortages in their associations. As the legendary Ray Holmes used to say, we should always look to give back to something that was good to us and if sports were good for you than maybe becoming an official would be a good way of giving back to your sport. Just a thought!!!!!
Posted by: Joe Staves | January 19, 2006 8:27 PM
Hey Foxy, Congrats & thanks for a great web log. I was lucky enough to get a seat at last week's Saranac-NCCS game and it was all that you described. Tremendous action, hustle and school spirit made for such an exciting game. Being a great fan of High School athletics I had to write you and mention something that very often gets overlooked. What a great job the two officials for that game did. Mr. Tom Lacey and Mr. Steve Criss. They handled all the fast and furious action just perfectly. When you leave a game and remember the plays, players and not any calls or non-calls you know they did a super job. So along with the players, coaches I'd like to say congrats to Tom & Steve, obviously two of the finest officials Section 7 is lucky to have.
Posted by: Frank T | January 18, 2006 1:05 AM
good to see you writing and still bringing the best action to the home viewers, nothing like north country cable !!! i'll save ya a seat at the big games
(Foxy's note: More than once at a big basketball game, Bob McCorry has saved a few seats in the bleachers for me and my North Country Cable Network crew!)
Posted by: robert mccorry | January 17, 2006 10:09 PM
Foxy, Thanks for recognizing high school basketball in the area-- it really is an exciting sport. When I was in high school, every Friday and Saturday night there was a game somewhere in the city/suburbs of Philadelphia...and every game drew a crowd...of course one of the best parts of a PHS game is your running commentary!
Posted by: Olivia | January 17, 2006 10:05 PM
Hey Foxy,
I have enjoyed reading your blogs. I, too am a Plattsburgh native and have recognized many of the people you have spoken about. You speak of High-school hoops, my father is "Tank" Squires and my father-in-law is Carl King, two of the great players from way back!!!
I look forward to reading many more of your stories.
thank you,
Dianne King
Posted by: Dianne (Squires) King | January 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Hey, Foxy, you should do more high school hockey games from this area. I know you were at the recent Beekmantown vs. PHS game, but you should try to make games more often...PHS plays Saranac Lake on Wednesday at 7 at the Field House if you are interested.
Posted by: Pmo 30 | January 15, 2006 10:46 PM
Yes, basketball is exciting as are all high school sports. Especially, Varsity Ice Hockey. High School Hockey has been around our area for soooo many years and it continues to be a very exciting sport to watch. I believe it is a sport of talent, commitment, very hard work but extremely good for the athlete who decides to pursue this very demanding sport. Our area is lucky to have some very talented high school hockey players participating in the sport this year (as in previous years). While I am partial to one very talented team, I enjoy watching the competition and have enjoyed hockey for many years. Keep up the great athletic ability, hockey players!!!!!!! The other Varsity sport that is awesome to watch with the
talent running by is Varsity Track & Field. The girls and boys who partake in this sport are also dedicated, disciplined, and keep in great shape. To see the expression on the runners face when they cross that finish line, whether coming in 1st or last place is exhilarating. So, no matter which sport our high schoolers are participating in, isn't it great that they are exercising!!! Isn't it going to be great as they get older and still exercise. If the number of kids who participated in physical activity increased, maybe our rates of obesity would decrease. Because our high school athletes are working on lifelong healthy physical activity habits that are great for mind and body!!!!!
Posted by: Dkmc | January 14, 2006 4:55 PM