Leading off today: Maybe there's a reason why no school has ever won NYSPHSAA football and boys basketball championships in the same academic year.
I mention that because Maple Grove suffered a 66-56 loss last night to Randolph in the first round of the IAABO Tournament small schools division at St. Bonaventure University. Freshman Brady Morrison made all four of his three-pointers in the second half to rally the Cardinals (5-1), ranked 13th in Class C by the New York State SPortswriters Association, to the victory after Maple Grove had build a 27-20 lead at the half.
Ashton Brown led Randolph with 22 points. Dan Rivas topped Maple Grove with 21.
Maple Grove, ranked No. 1 in Class D by the NYSSWA, has also lost to Batavia, which is ranked No. 21 in Class A, and Buffalo St. Joe's, which is also a giant step above Class D fodder, so it's an overreaction to say that a 5-3 record is evidence that the Red Dragons won't be following up their 2008 Class C basketball title with another championship.
But it does have to make you wonder a little whether playing football through Thanksgiving weekend and then jumping into basketball season -- indeed, actually practicing on the hardwood on a limited basis while the football season was still in progress -- has taken some spring out of the Red Dragons' legs.
Count me among those who aren't too worried. Most of the schedule between now and the start of the Section 6 tournament in mid-February looks like 20- and 30-point victories.
O-A suffers first loss: Oakfield-Alabama, ranked third in Class C, suffered a 69-66 loss to Marion in the first round of the Caledonia-Mumford boys basketball tournament. The Hornets took a 21-7 lead in the first quarter but were outscored by 27-8 in the third period.
Sal Iannello scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter, and Jon Leeuwen posted 13 of his 15 points, including three 3-pointers, in the quarter.
Police blotter: Police used a Taser weapon to subdue one of two men arrested after a shouting match at a girls JV basketball game last night at Glens Falls High School,
