Entering this year’s Section II Class AA boys basketball playoffs, the Big 10 had high hopes to get a team to the finals. After all, the league has won every Class AA championship since the classification was added a decade ago, and it won the Class A title every time since the turn of the millenium (the 1998-99 Colonie Garnet Raiders were the last Suburban Council squad to win it).
A funny thing happened, though. Big 10 champion Catholic Central was upset by Niskayuna in the opening round. The Crusaders were not alone in that regard, either, as Schenectady, LaSalle and Albany also bowed out in that round.
Christian Brothers Academy was the last Big 10 team left in the Class AA field. The Brothers have been one of the most successful teams since the start of the 2000’s, as they strung together 10 Sectional final appearances in a row before losing in the 2012-13 semifinals to Green Tech. And with senior center Greig Stire leading the way, the Brothers had the capability to get back to the Times Union Center this season.
Guilderland had other ideas, though. The Dutchmen made four three-pointers in the second half as they pulled away to a 54-43 win over CBA in last Saturday’s quarterfinal round — eliminating the Big 10 from the Class AA playoffs before the semifinal round for the first time.
Guilderland’s win also placed three Suburban Council teams in the Class AA Sectional semifinals for the first time, as Columbia and Shenendehowa also won their quarterfinal contests against Niskayuna and Saratoga, respectively. Unfortunately, there will be no all-Suburban final as Green Tech eliminated Shen in Wednesday’s semifinal, but Guilderland will be there by virtue of its 102-100 five overtime victory over Columbia.
With all of that said, we want to know if you believe the Suburban Council has overtaken the Big 10 as the Section II Class AA power. Vote in the box to the left side of the screen. Votes will be counted through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
