Three days after being blown out by Shenendehowa, the Guilderland boys basketball team got its defense back in gear for a 52-42 Suburban Council victory over Ballston Spa Friday.
The Dutchmen (2-5 league, 3-6 overall) limited the Scotties to four points in the second quarter on their way to taking a 22-17 halftime lead. Guilderland closed the game by outscoring Ballston Spa 17-12 in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Gallo netted 17 points, and Joseph Terry added nine points for Guilderland. Ryan McVeigh led Ballston Spa with 14 points.
The Dutchmen couldn’t contain Shen’s offense in a 69-40 loss last Tuesday. The Plainsmen built a 34-20 halftime lead and never looked back.
Matt Miner had 26 points, and Dan Lee contributed 20 points for Shen, which remained the league’s lone undefeated team. Gallo and Ryan Ochs each scored eight points for Guilderland.
While the Dutchmen got in the win column last Friday, Bethlehem (0-7, 0-9) continued to struggle in that department. The Eagles fought tooth and nail against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake before falling to the Spartans 52-49.
Bethlehem led 13-10 after the first quarter, but BH-BL scored 18 points in the second quarter to grab a 28-26 halftime lead. The game remained close in the second half, but key free throws by Zachary Morton helped the Spartans hold on for the win.
Morton made eight of his 11 foul shots and finished with 16 points to lead the Spartans. Bret Dennis contributed 13 points.
Shane Natale had 14 points, and John Morrill added 11 points for Bethlehem, which looked for its first win of the season Tuesday when it hosted Columbia.
Elsewhere Friday, Voorheesville suffered its first loss of the season when Watervliet posted a 66-60 Colonial Council victory.
The Cannoneers (6-1, 9-2) had a 42-34 lead after three quarters and made several free throws in the fourth quarter to fend off a Blackbird rally.
Devonte Gleason had 22 points, and Nick Durocher chipped in 18 points for Watervliet, which moved into a first place tie with Voorheesville in the Colonial Council.
Ethan Mackey netted 26 points for the Blackbirds (6-1, 7-1).`
