Union court has become SCCC’s new home

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

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Home cooking is making a difference for the Schenectady County Community College men’s basketball team.

When forced to move out of the Schenectady Washington Avenue Armory last season, the Royals had to play their remaining schedule at the Albany Washington Avenue Armory on short notice.

This season, until it moves into its new home at Center City, SCCC (5-3) is playing much closer to campus, at Union College.

But the home cooking doesn’t just involve where the Royals play. It also includes where the players come from. Almost the entire team is from either Schenectady or the surrounding Capital Region.

Schenectady High School graduate Chris Lewis, a freshman forward, is producing team-highs in scoring (20 ppg, sixth in Region III) and rebounding (10 rpg), while fellow Schenectadian Anthony Wilson, also a freshman, is the starting point guard.

“Chris is a tremendous athlete,” said head coach Brian Adams. “He plays the four-spot, which is like a power forward, but he’s really a guard, and is as quick as anyone.”

Sophomore Larry Ritter, from Niskayuna, freshman guard Nick Battaglia (Mohonasen) and 6-foot-4, 235-pound freshman forward Vernon Cross (Shaker) round out the starting lineup, while Donnie Jones (Niskayuna) and Troy Turner (Colonie) are the top two players off the bench.

Four players average in double digits for the Royals. Ritter produces 14 ppg, Wilson chips in at 12 ppg and Jones, who played for the Royals a couple of years ago before blowing out his knee, is next at 12 ppg.

“We play up-tempo, in-your-face basketball for 94 feet,” said Adams. “We start four guards and one forward, and that works to our advantage. We have a combination of speed, athleticism and good shooting from our guards.

“Playing at Union has really helped our attendance, because we have so many local kids,” Adams added. “Our entire roster is from Section II, and most of the kids are from Schenectady County. We play an exciting brand of basketball.”

DANES ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE

University at Albany’s men’s lacrosse team, which has won four America East Conference championships in 10 years at the Division I level, will face a formidable schedule next season.

The Great Danes open the 2010 campaign Feb. 27 against Denver, which is led by first-year head coach Bill Tierney, who guided Princeton to six national titles.

Aside from its tough conference schedule, UAlbany will play five games against teams which made last year’s NCAA tournament field, including national champion Syracuse. The Danes will play the Orange in the Carrier Dome the first Saturday in April. Syracuse won its 10th national championship this past season.

Albany will be Johns Hopkins’ homecoming opponent April 10 in a game that will be televised by ESPNU at 2 p.m. The Blue Jays have won nine NCAA titles, including the 2007 crown.

UAlbany will also play Massachusetts, defending America East winner UMBC and Siena.

The Great Danes’ home schedule includes three America East rivals, as well as Patriot League regular-season champion Bucknell and

Colonial Athletic Association member Drexel. UAlbany faces Ohio State for the first time, and squares off against Delaware for the eighth consecutive year.

The Great Danes return 27 letterwinners from last year’s 7-7 campaign. Brian Caufield, who earned honorable mention USILA All-America honors, registered 24 goals and 27 assists. Joe Resitarits was voted all-conference after connecting for 34 goals and nine assists. Goalkeeper John Carroll posted a .496 save percentage as a freshman.

SCHEDULE

Feb. 27 – at Denver, 3; March 2 – SIENA, 4; March 6 – at Delaware, 12; March 9 – at Massacusetts, 3; March 12 – at Ohio Stat; March 21 – DREXEL, 1; March 27 – BUCKNELL, 1; March 31 – at Hartford 3:30; April 3 – a Syracuse, 4; April 10 – at Johns Hopkins, 2; April 11 – VERMONT 3; April 17 – at UMBC, 1; April 24 – STONY BROOK, 7; May 1 – BINGHAMTON, 7; May 5 – at America East Conference Tournament; May 8 – at America East Conference Tournament.

Home games in CAPS.

AROUND CAMPUS

— Michelle Quimby (Shenendehowa), a freshman at Kennasaw State in Atlanta, broke the school pole vault record by clearing 11-6, shattering the program record by two feet. The former New York State pole vault champion owns both the pole vault and high jump records at Shenendehowa.

— Sage’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are remaining competitive by utilizing Section II players. For the men, Saratoga Springs graduate Garrett Bishop, a junior guard, is leading the Gators in scoring at 13.3 points per game. He is shooting 83.3 percent from the line, and is averaging 30 minutes per game. Junior guard Ryan Harris (Glens Falls) has returned to the lineup after missing some time with a short illness and is averaging 9.1 points in 20.3 minutes per game. Matt Lee (Shenendehowa) averages 6.3 points and is fifth in the Skyline Conference with a 43.8 shooting mark from three-poin range. Forward Mason Horne (LaSalle) is producing 7.4 ppg, and is shooting 54.4 percent from the floor. Scotia-Glenville’s Jeff Stopera tops the league in steals (21), while forward Alex King (Saratoga Springs) averages 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. The Sage women are led by Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk’s Jessica Byerwalters (16.0 ppg), Catholic Central’s Kelsey Frament (7.8 ppg, team-best 8.9 rebounds), Saratoga Springs’ Carlin DeMarinis (6.5 ppg, 11 three-pointers) and Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons’ Amber Muir (4.9 ppg).

— The three Union College representatives ended their collegiate careers with strong performances in the 2009 Division III Football-Senior Classic Game in Salem Stadium Saturday. Colin Berry (Latham), Tim Furcillo and John Peters all were instrumental in the North team’s 14-0 victory over the South team. Berry and Furcillo helped lead an offensive line that did not allow the South team to post a sack. The defensive front for the South team included some former Division I players who had transferred to Division III programs. The line for the North squad also aided in the production of a 100-yard rusher and a rushing score. Peters starred with an interception, and returned it to the North 10-yard line. The Liberty League had an excellent day overall. Rochester tight end Pedro Sosa had a touchdown reception, and St. Lawrence defensive tackle Gerard Bryant had six sacks. Berry, Furcillo, Peters, Sosa and Bryant were all Liberty League first-team all stars. Following the game at a banquet honoring the participants, Peters was acknowledged for his inclusion as a national finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy.

— Union senior forward Lauren McCormick scored a career high 28 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, and senior forward Megan Clark also had a double-double with a career best 15 rebounds and 11 points as the Union women’s basketball team defeated Bridgewater State, 65-54, Tuesday. McCormick’s 28 points were the most by a Union women’s basketball player since Michelle Rogers scored 38 points in a home win over Williams on Nov. 30, 2008. Clark’s total of 15 rebounds was the most since Krystal Hammond had 15 on Feb. 12, 2007 vs. Clarkson. Hammond had 16 on Jan. 21, 2006 at home against William Smith.

— SUNY-Cobleskill’s Heidi Anderson (Canajoharie) averaged 14 points in three games for the Fighting Tigers’ women’s basketball team, while Haneef Scott (Lansingburgh) averaged 13.3 points in a pair of games for the men’s team.

— SUNY-Cobleskill’s Pat Krug (Averill Park) won the pole vault at the Wesleyan Invitational by clearing 14-11. It was an ECAC Division III championship qualifying standard vault.

HONOR ROLL

SUNY-CORTLAND

Bridgette DeSantis, who played five years of varsity soccer at Mohonasen High School, was named to the NSCAA NCAA Division III Women’s All-East Region first team.

NOTRE DAME

Senior Trever Sipperly (Greenwich) has been named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American honorable mention.

SIENA

Goalie Brent Herbst was named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American honorable mention.

UALBANY

Brian Caufield was named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American third-team selection.

RPI

Whitney Coleman was named the Liberty League guard of the week, and Daniel Martin was named the Liberty League rookie of the week in women’s and men’s basketball, respectively. Coleman averaged 17.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games. Martin averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds in a pair of wins in RPI’s own Tri-State Tournament.

UNION

Sophomore Kayleigh Ahern was selected the Liberty League swimmer of the week. It is the second consecutive award won by Ahern when Union came off a meet. Ahern won her first award on Nov. 17 after competing at home against Rochester. Ahern set a new pool record at the Liberty League championships last weekend in Rochester.

Senior forward Megan Clark has been named the Liberty League co-forward of the week for women’s basketball. She shares the honor with Dana Leonard of Skidmore, and the awards include games through Dec. 6. Clark scored a career high 15 points at Middlebury.