Shaker also advances as the Boys Basketball Sectional Championship field is set
GLENS FALLS – In a plot twist that LL Cool J himself wouldn’t have foreseen, brace yourself for an unforgettable comeback!
Troy, staring down a daunting 48-29 deficit in the third quarter, orchestrated a stunning turnaround to shock Lasalle Institute, clinching a dramatic 62-60 victory in the Class AA Sectional Semifinals held at the Cool Insuring Arena.
In a breathtaking final quarter, the Flying Horses unleashed a torrent of scoring, outpacing Lasalle 26-6. It wasn’t until Stetson Merritt’s clutch bucket with a mere three seconds left—after the score had knotted at 60-60—that Troy finally seized their inaugural lead of the match.
WATCH: Stetson Merritt’s decisive shot that sealed the victory for Troy
Merritt finished the night with a stellar 19 points, while Jose Acevedo matched him with an equally impressive 19. Meanwhile, Jordan Hood added a trio of three-pointers, contributing 9 points to the valiant effort.
This stunning turnaround was a stark contrast to their earlier encounter on January 6th, when Troy, boasting a 5-point halftime lead at Troy High, succumbed to a Lasalle comeback that culminated in a bitter defeat by 5.
Both teams had strode into that game undefeated in Colonial Conference play. Lasalle held onto this pristine record until meeting Troy in the semifinals. For an overwhelming majority of time—31 minutes and 57 seconds, to be precise—Lasalle basked in the comforts of the lead, save for the tie-ups at the game’s start and the fleeting moment Troy’d leveled the score at 60.
Davon Maloney and Stephen Mulinio each contributed 17 points for Lasalle, with Tre’Dell Faison emerging as the Cadets’ leading scorer, racking up an impressive 20 points.
With this exhilarating victory, Troy has secured their place in Sunday’s Championship, where they will face off against the top-seeded and reigning Sectional Champion, Niskayuna. Tip-off is set for 2:30 PM at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
SHAKER ROLLS OVER COLONIE IN A COAST-TO-COAST CLASH
In another thrilling matchup, Shaker made a statement against their rivals, Colonie, with a commanding 55-36 victory. Tye Mariano led the charge with 15 points, while Marcelin Mukendi chipped in with 10, as Shaker never once relinquished their grip on the game, racing out to a staggering 21-3 lead in the second quarter.
Colonie struggled mightily, stuttering to a dismal 6-for-21 shooting in the first half and only marginally improving to 8-for-22 thereafter. Although Shaker’s shooting percentage of 17-for-42 was hardly monumental, the Blue Bison made a significant impact at the charity stripe, converting 17 of 25 free throw attempts.
Shaker now looks to secure their first Sectional Championship since 1992 this coming Sunday.
GREEN TECH CRUISES TO A THRILLING TRIUMPH AS CBA FALLS JUST SHORT
In a nail-biting finish at the Cool Insuring Arena, Green Tech triumphed in a whirlwind of lead changes, eking out a 53-52 win over CBA. The Brothers’ desperation attempts in the closing seconds fell flat, ensuring Green Tech’s victory.
WATCH: CBA’s final possession ends in heartbreak for the Brothers in Green Tech’s close win
The wild encounter featured nine lead changes, with both squads unable to establish a lead greater than five points throughout the turbulent contest.
U’Mier Graham was instrumental for the Green Tech Soaring Eagles, amassing 16 points coupled with 12 rebounds for a double-double performance. Indavier Barnes contributed 11 points, and Olivan Owens showcased defensive prowess with three blocks.
On the other side, Jayden Osinksi led CBA with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to clinch victory.
Now, Green Tech advances to challenge Shaker in the Class AAA Championship, scheduled for Sunday at 4:15 PM at Hudson Valley Community College.
In addition to the nail-biting action on the court, the Soaring Eagles electrified the audience not just with their gameplay, but also with the rhythmic beats of their Drum Corps, who entertained fans during breaks and halftime.
Green Tech brought their Drum Corps with them. 26-24 Green Tech at the half. #518Hoops pic.twitter.com/wJmF181ANA
— Adirondack Sports (@SportsAdk) March 7, 2025
CHAMPIONSHIPS SET TO COMMENCE
As the dust settles from the electrifying semifinals, the spotlight now turns to Hudson Valley Community College, set to host the much-anticipated boys championships. The Cool Insuring Arena will come alive this weekend with thrilling action.
Saturday Games
CLASS B: #4 Greenville vs. #2 Mechanicville – 6:30 PM (after four girls games, so timing is approximate)
CLASS A: #3 Catholic Central vs. #1 Glens Falls – 8:15 PM
Sunday Games
CLASS D: #6 Germantown vs. #1 Loudonville Christian – 11:00 AM
CLASS C: #2 Duanesburg vs. #1 Berne-Knox-Westerlo – 12:45 PM
CLASS AA: #3 Troy vs. #1 Niskayuna – 2:30 PM
CLASS AAA: #2 Shaker vs. #1 Green Tech – 4:15 PM
Tickets for the Sectional Championships are up for grabs online at gofan.co. Streams of all 6 championship games will also be available on the NFHS Network.
