Wednesday, November 26, 2014 by Aidan Joly
TJ Marron and Adam Monroe for The Lightning Rod (file photo)
Football season is over, and that means that basketball season is just around the corner at Saratoga Springs High School.
“We are hoping to improve as a team over the course of the season,” said Blue Streaks head coach Matt Usher, who is in his second season with the team. “We are very excited about how hard this group has been working over the first two weeks of practice.”
The team will have to deal with the loss of star Noah Arciero, who averaged 20 points per game last season and graduated last June, but Usher hopes to use that as a good opportunity for others to shine in any game.
“Our scoring is going to have to be more balanced than last season. There could be three or four guys that could lead us in scoring on any given night,” he said. However, the team will retain Chris Byno, who averaged 10 points per game and 5 assists per game last season, and Sean Grecco, who averaged 8 points per game.
Usher expected this year’s seniors to play a big role. “We will look to our seniors to provide us leadership, through all the ups and downs involved in a basketball season,” he said. “There are definitely going to be some new players in the mix looking to find their own roles.”
Some of the roles for new players on the squad have not been determined yet, But they will likely be decided on as the season picks up.
Usher said that being able to play in sectionals come February is a goal of his.
“We would love to peak at the right time, and get hot come sectionals. We are excited to see what we can do.”
The team will open up their season on the road on Tuesday, December 2, playing at Niskayuna High School, and will open up their first of 12 regular season home games on Friday, December 5 at 7 p.m., hosting Shaker.
The Blue Streaks will also play four games in a tournament December 27 and 28, all at home, starting with Burr and Burton and Queensbury on Saturday the 27th.
Aidan Joly is a freshman covering sports for The Lightning Rod.