As we begin 2014, let’s not forget what took place in 2013. There were a number of sports stories that captured our interest, but which one was the most memorable? Here are the top five choices:
CBA beats Shaker for the Section II Class AA football title. In a game that featured several momentum swings, the Brothers held on for a 13-8 victory over the defending champion Blue Bison to earn their first Sectional championship since 2006.
CBA pulled ahead on quarterback Joe Kolbe’s second-quarter touchdown plunge, and the Brothers made the lead stand by thwarting two Shaker drives inside their own 10-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Blue Bison also had two potential go-ahead touchdowns called back by penalties in the second half.
CBA basketball is ousted in the Class AA Sectional semifinals. Normally that wouldn’t be worthy of being a highlight, but it ended the Brothers’ 10-year run of reaching the Sectional finals — a run that may never be equalled at the Class AA level.
The Brothers fought hard in the semifinals against upstart Green Tech, an independent team that wasn’t around when CBA’s string of Sectional finals appearances began. But led by Jamil Hood Jr.’s 31 points, the Eagles knocked off the Brothers 64-60 to end CBA’s season.
Colonie bowlers win second state title in three years.Led by juniors Justin Carl and Rick Rovelli, the Garnet Raiders defeated Long Island champion East Islip by 60 pins to bring another state team championship home to Colonie.
It wasn’t as easy as the final margin looked. Colonie needed a mid-game rally in the fifth of its six games to pull ahead of East Islip for good. But with Carl (231.5 average), Rovelli (225) and senior Charles Moeske (218.83) bowling well, the Garnet Raiders prevailed.
Shaker’s James Steck is king of the pole vault.One year after leaving gymnastics for track and field, Steck won the overall pole vault title at the state indoor championships and claimed the Division 1 (large school) crown at the state outdoor meet three months later.
Steck was part of a trio of strong pole vaulters at Shaker. His toughest competition often came from teammates Casey Ogden and Dan Gavin, both of whom had the ability to clear the bar at 14 feet. Steck, though, cleared the bar at 14 feet, 6 inches several times to stay head and shoulders above the rest.
Loudonville Christian boys basketball meets Joey Lufkin and Argyle in Class D finals.The meeting didn’t go well for the Eagles, as the Scots pulled away for a 63-49 victory over the Central Hudson Valley League champions. Lufkin was a big part of Argyle’s success, as he scored 26 points and dished out six assists.
The Sectional title was only the beginning for Argyle, as Lufkin guided the Scots to the state Class D championship with a 58-33 victory over Martin Luther King High School in the finals. Lufkin was named the state’s Player of the Year after averaging 33.5 points per game in his senior season. But, Loudonville Christian can say it went toe-to-toe with the best player in the state at hi class level.
Make your choice for the top sports story of 2013 in the box to the left of the screen. Votes will be counted through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.