The Shaker boys basketball team is getting closer to winning its first game of the season.
The problem is, the Blue Bison are only close to winning a game. They haven’t won yet.
After suffering a one-point loss to Columbia last Tuesday, Shaker found itself on the short end of a 48-45 score against Niskayuna Friday in Latham.
The Blue Bison (0-4 league, 0-6 overall) had several chances to take the lead in the final two minutes, but they never got their shots to drop as the visiting Silver Warriors earned their first Suburban Council victory of the season.
It’s very difficult, said Shaker coach Jeff Holmes. `I feel bad for (the players). A couple of bounces here, a couple of shots there, and we could easily be 5-1.`
Shaker got off to a good start against Niskayuna, as it took a 13-9 lead in the first quarter. But once the Silver Warriors (1-3, 2-5) turned up their defensive pressure, the Blue Bison started turning the ball over. That helped Niskayuna chip away at Shaker’s lead until it pulled ahead in the fourth quarter.
`It wasn’t the end of the game that beat us so much as the turnovers, and we couldn’t stop them on defense. That’s what hurt us,` said Holmes.
John Weinheimer kept the Blue Bison in position to take the lead late in the fourth quarter with a pair of driving layups that pulled Shaker within a point each time. But two key free throws from Alex Olbrych with 13 seconds left gave Niskayuna its winning margin.
Shaker still had a chance to tie the game in the final nine seconds, but Niskayuna’s defense forced Pat Fallon to take a contested three-pointer at the buzzer that clanged off the rim.
`We didn’t really have a play,` said Holmes. `We tried to set something up off a screen, but we weren’t able to do that in time.`
`We’ve got to do a much better job of closing out games, but that’s what you get when you have a bunch of guys with no varsity experience,` said Niskayuna coach Mike Black. `What I’m pleased about is we did enough to win the game.`
Olbrych and John Randolph each scored 12 points to lead Niskayuna. Brian Hooks had 14 points, and Weinheimer contributed eight points for Shaker.
The Blue Bison looked to break into the win column Tuesday when they traveled to crosstown rival Colonie, which was coming off a tough loss of its own against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Friday.
`We know they’re a good team. They have a good inside game,` said Holmes. `Hopefully, we will regroup and be ready to play.`
Spartans edge Raiders
BH-BL scored the go-ahead basket in the final 10 seconds to nip Colonie 71-70 Friday.
Jacob McCrindle scored 20 points to lead four Spartans in double figures. Dave Fischer netted 14 points, Paul Layton contributed 12 points and Jaret Falkowitz added 11 points for BH-BL (2-2, 3-3).
Brian Sheldon had 21 points, Tashaun Newsome chipped in 13 points and Jim Bacher added 11 points for the Garnet Raiders (1-3, 3-3).
In other boys basketball action Friday, Christian Brothers Academy rolled past Schenectady 60-41 in a Big 10 matchup, while Loudonville Christian defeated Doane Stuart 72-40 in a Central Hudson Valley League game.
CBA (4-0, 6-0) built a 32-11 halftime lead and never looked back in beating Schenectady (1-3, 1-4).
DeAndre Kennedy had 17 points, and Luke Weaver added nine points for the Brothers.
Loudonville Christian (4-0, 5-1) had three players in double figures against Doane Stuart, led by David VanDenHouten’s 15-point performance. Matt Smith contributed 11 points, and Nate Brown added 10 points for the Eagles.
Robert Smith had 25 points for the Thunder Chickens (0-5, 0-6).“