Lack of offense hurts Adirondack

BINGHAMTON — You can’t win if you don’t score.

The Adirondack Region open men’s basketball team ran into that problem in its Empire State Games opener Thursday night at Binghamton University’s Events Center.

“A lot of different things disrupted us, and we didn’t get in a great rhythm,” said first-year Adirondack coach Rich Gilooly. “We struggled all night long, offensively. Part of it had to do with Long Island, but at the same time, my guys didn’t back down.”

Long Island went on a decisive 33-12 midgame surge to break away from an 18-15 lead and dealt Adirondack its sixth consecutive defeat since 2006, 77-61.

“It was one of those games where we struggled to put the ball in the hole,” said former Scotia-Glenville star and St. Rose-bound Zach Bye, who scored a game-high 20 points for Adirondack. “You can see the potential is there. We have quality, talented guys.”

Adirondack does, yet during that key midgame stretch, the points never materialized as Long Island stretched its advantage to 51-27 with 15 minutes left.

“We’ve got to do a better job of knocking down those open looks, and we had a few too many turnovers for my liking,” said Gilooly. “I’m disappointed with the outcome. It’s not what we wanted, but there are positive things to build on. We didn’t buckle under pressure which was a positive thing.”

After Kahiem Seawright’s hook shot gave Long Island its 51-27 lead, Adirondack responded with its finest run, scoring 10 unanswered points. Bye started the run with a three-point basket and a short jumper, and after Evan Lane delivered down low, Talor Battle sank another three.

Seven straight points at the other end followed, and Adirondack got as close as 12 after that, 60-48, on two free throws by Bye.

“Our defense in stretches was very good,” Gilooly said. “We got in the passing lanes and got some deflections and started to push the ball, and that got us back in the game.”

Adirondack came into these Empire State Games with high hopes of medaling for the first time since winning silver in 2004. Those hopes are still there, with matchups against Central today and defending champion Western Saturday before Sunday’s medal games.

“We dug a hole for ourselves and couldn’t get out, but we’ve got to stay positive and stay with our principals and not throw everything out the window,” said Lane, a former Sharon Springs standout and Saint Rose product. “We’re going to keep our goals high and follow through with the game plan.”

The Adirondack open women got 25 points from Shondaya Burrell (Albany) and 22 out of Melissa Manzer (Waterford) in an 87-73 rout of New York City. Adirondack led at the half, 42-19.

The Adirondack scholastic women lost to two-time defending gold medalist Western, 78-56. Alexis Osborne (Watervliet) scored 12 points. The Adirondack scholastic men lost to Long Island, 85-58. Matt Miner (Clifton Park) scored 13 points.

SOFTBALL

Maureen Brosnan (Duanesburg) and Amber Maisonet (Slingerlands) belted home runs, and the Adirondack open women beat New York City in a mercy-rule shortened game, 9-1, to complete a first-day sweep.

“Everybody hit today, and our pitching was solid,” said Adirondack coach Mike DiNova, whose teams have finished second the last two years after a gold-medal performance in 2005. “That’s the way you want to start. It’s nice to be 2-0.”

Courtney Brinkman (Troy) hit two doubles in a 7-3 win over Western, and smacked a threee-run double against New York City while picking up the pitching decision. Brinkman allowed one hit in her five innings of work. Jennifer Mineau (Schaghticoke) went the distance against Western.

First-time ESG participant Brittney Rose (Schenectady) will start today’s game against 2007 gold medalist Long Island. Adirondack also meets Central.

“We’ll probably see Melissa Donnelly on the mound for them [Long Island] and some other familiar faces,” DiNova said. “It’s going to be a tough game. I’m hoping there’s a carryover from today.”

Long Island beat Adirondack in last year’s title game, 2-0, leaving the locals with a 4-2 record. Since 1999, Adirondack has medaled seven times.

TRACK AND FIELD

Tina Villa (Saratoga Springs) defended her open women’s discus championship (146-10), state titlist Sarah Palmer (Schuylerville) won gold in the scholastic women’s high jump (5-53⁄4), and Jake Platel (Delmar) secured gold in the scholastic men’s pole vault (13-111⁄4) to lead Adirondack at Binghamton University.

Platel beat out teammate Nicholas Gerardi (Queensbury, 13-51⁄4), while Scott Hannay (Westerlo) earned a second silver for Adirondack in the open men’s javelin (176-1). Bronze medals went to state champ Michelle Quimby (Ballston Lake) in the scholastic women’s pole vault (10-111⁄2) and Evan Palmer (Clifton Park) in the scholastic men’s shot put (50-10).

State 100 hurdle champ Madalayne Smith (Ballston Spa) won her scholastic semifinal heat with the day’s best time (14.42), and will go for gold this morning.

Don Lawrence (Albany) went 23.41 to earn a four-second win in the open men’s 5k racewalk at Otsiningo Park.

SOCCER

The Adirondack scholastic women began defense of their gold medal by beating Central on penalty kicks, 3-2. Caitlin Cahalan (Cohoes) and Kylie Watt (Valatie) scored in regulation as Adirondack rallied from a 2-0 deficit and extended its win streak to five games.

Zachary Weidner (Glens Falls) scored in regulation, and Adirondack beat Hudson Valley in sudden death penalty kicks, 2-1, to open defense of its scholastic men’s gold medal.

The defending champion Adirondack open men managed one shot in a 2-0 loss to Hudson Valley.

LACROSSE

Goals were hard to come by for the Adirondack scholastic men, who lost to Hudson Valley, 10-3, before bowing to 2007 silver medalist Central, 12-3.

“We need to play as a team and we have to trust the system. We’re not playing as were taught,” said Niskayuna All-American Dan McKinney. “We’ve got to take it to heart and trust what the coaches are saying.”

Andrew Vivian (Slingerlands) scored two goals against Hudson Valley and McKinney produced another. Garrett Dollard Albany), Jared Franze (Glenville) and Rory Nunamacher (Albany) had the goals against Central.

“We’re not playing up to our capabilities. We’ve got to play smarter and harder,” said McKinney, a Georgetown-bound midfielder who has played for three Section II Class A championship teams. “If we play our best, we can play with anyone.”

Adirondack has a difficult assignment today against three-time defending champ Long Island. The

locals meet New York City afterward and take on 2007 bronze medalist Western Saturday in their quest to reach Sunday’s medal play. Adirondack won bronze in 2004 and 2003.

Kaitlyn Brosco scored with 4:38 left as two-time defending champ Long Island escaped with a 9-8 scholastic women’s win over Adirondack. Danielle Tetreault (Schenectady) scored four goals for Adirondack, including the tying tally with 8:05 to play.

Bridget Daley (Schenectady) and Alexis Dalcol (Loudonville) scored three goals apiece as Adirondack, which is seeking its first medal, opened play with a 16-0 triumph over New York City.

BASEBALL

Chris Tyson (Niskayuna) scattered six hits, and Shane Matthews (Ballston Spa) went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lift Adirondack to a 7-1 scholastic men’s win over Central. Justin Harris (Albany) went 2-for-3

with two RBI, and Dan Peters (Niskayuna) went 3-for-3.

Adirondack dropped its second game, 14-2, to Hudson Valley.

ICE HOCKEY

Michael Blair (Glens Falls) scored the clinching goal as the Adirondack scholastic men stunned 20-time ESG gold medalist Western, 3-1. Western won the last eight gold medals, a stretch in which Adirondack managed only one bronze.

The Adirondack scholastic women rallied from a goal down to avoid New York City’s upset bid in a 3-1 victory.