Through two games, the Shaker girls basketball team has yet to be challenged.
The Blue Bison (2-0) stormed out to a 23-8 lead after the first eight minutes and never looked back in beating Saratoga Springs 74-42 in a Suburban Council North Division game Friday, Dec. 5. That followed a season-opening 72-9 victory over Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Despite the ease of those two wins, head coach Emily Caschera-Blowers said she isn’t reading too much into it.
“Two early games doesn’t mean much, but we’re pretty pumped with our results, especially after graduating four seniors last year,” said Caschera-Blowers.
Shaker kept pulling away with each successive quarter to dominate Saratoga (1-1). The Blue Bison outscored the Blue Streaks 15-6 in the second quarter, 20-13 in the third quarter and 16-15 in the fourth quarter.
Eleven Shaker players reached the scoring column in the victory. Cece Mayo led the way with 16 points, and Vianah Smith contributed 15 points. Maddie Klotz paced Saratoga with 13 points. Mayo had 24 points, and Smith chipped in with 13 points in the season-opening win over Burnt Hills (0-2).
Caschera-Blowers said Mayo, Smith and Becky Rossier are among the players Shaker is counting on this season.
“Those three are in charge, but we’ve got a lot more players who are ready to step up,” said Caschera-Blowers.
Boys basketball
The Shaker boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season with a 57-49 setback against Saratoga Friday, Dec. 5.
The Blue Bison (1-1) had a 41-38 lead after three quarters, but the Blue Streaks (1-1) went on a 19-8 run over the last eight minutes to pull out the victory.
Jack Herman and Alex Skaine each scored 14 points to lead Saratoga. Seamus McHugh paced Shaker with 13 points.
The Blue Bison began the season by beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 60-28 Tuesday, Dec. 2. Shaker had no players in double figures, but it had seven players score six or more points. Ed Shields led the balanced attack with nine points.
Hockey
The Shaker/Colonie hockey team lost to Saratoga Springs 4-1 in its Capital District High School Hockey League opener Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Albany County Hockey Training Facility.
The Jets took a 1-0 lead on Jimmy Morrison’s goal midway through the first period and held onto it until the third period, when the Blue Streaks scored all four of their goals. Colin Paton tallied twice for Saratoga, including the go-ahead goal with 9:44 left in the final period.
Goaltender Zach Dignum made 47 saves for Shaker/Colonie.
Boys bowling
Eric Caufield had a big afternoon for the Shaker boys bowling team in its 22-10 Suburban Council victory over Saratoga Thursday, Dec. 4.
Caufield rolled a high game of 277 and a three-game series of 754 to lead the Blue Bison. Nick Albright had a high game of 240, and Cory Germaine added a 632 series.
Hunter Chandler paced Saratoga with a 247 high game and a 650 series.
Boys swimming
The Shaker boys swimming team began its season with a 107-79 victory over Ballston Spa Tuesday, Dec. 2.
William Matz led the Blue Bison with wins in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Andrew Semmers (200 individual medley), Connor Smith (diving) and George Enright (100 butterfly) also earned victories in individual events.
