Sunday, December 26, 2021

Amsterdam & Shen Bring the Epicenter of NY Holiday Hoops to the 518

From the basketball quiet on Christmas Eve & Day to the wild nature of the schedule that directly follows, there's no point during the year that goes from 0 to 100 quite like holiday tournament week. Thankfully for hoop enthusiasts that live in the 518, four straight action-packed days give off more of a March Madness feel than high school midseason play.

There are several holiday tournaments throughout Section II - places like BKW, Glens Falls, Maple Hill, Mayfield, and Mohonasen bring the more traditional four-team format to their courts - but two separate themselves from the pack in many ways. Throw in the late cancellation of Elmira's Josh Palmer Classic and decentralization of the Syracuse area's More Than a Game Classic, who had to pull all games out of Onondaga Community College, and the Amsterdam College Showcase and the Shen/Impact Athletic Center Holiday Classic headline holiday hoops in upstate NY.

The Amsterdam College Showcase, held at Amsterdam High School on December 27-28, features 14 teams representing four NYSPHSAA sections along with a New Hampshire representative. A couple late backouts have forced some late schedule adjustments from 16 overall games down to the currently scheduled 13, but both days include AM-to-PM action. Among the long list of must-watch players at the event are a half-dozen D1 offered or committed players, and seven of the teams were recognized in the NYSSWA's initial state rankings last week. That includes four in the AAs, host Amsterdam (#12 in A), Schalmont (#4 in B), and Duanesburg (the state's top-ranked C). One scheduled out-of-state participant, Holy Redeemer of Wilkes-Barre, PA, was a late scratch, so the remaining non-New York representative is New Hampshire & NHIAA Division II power Hanover.

After the completion of Amsterdam's showcase, Shen/Impact follows suit on December 29-30. This inaugural event currently holds a full field of 16 varsity teams/16 games over two days (along with 10 JV teams on a separate court). Alongside a heavy contingent of Section II teams, there are also teams representing four NYSPHSAA sections & New Hampshire at this event. The similar pre-event watch list can be given for here, as around a half-dozen D1 offered/committed players headline those anticipated to play and eight NYSSWA state-ranked teams. Among the headlining in-state programs are host Shenendehowa (#3 in AA), Averill Park (#1 in A), and Pittsford Mendon (#5 in A). Their lone out-of-state representative is another state power in New Hampshire Division I Bishop Guertin out of Nashua.

Full schedules, as of December 26, are listed below. A lot of good basketball in the 518 between these two places. Hope to see you in the gym!


AMSTERDAM COLLEGE SHOWCASE (all games held at Amsterdam High School)

DECEMBER 27 (Monday)
11:30 - Duanesburg (II) vs. Wallkill (IX)
1:00 - Albany (II) vs. Penfield (V)
2:30 - Troy (II) vs. Saugerties (IX)
4:00 - Shaker (II) vs. Baldwinsville (III)
5:30 - Bethlehem (II) vs. Hanover (NH)
7:00 - Saratoga Springs (II) vs. Fairport (V)

DECEMBER 28 (Tuesday)
10:00 - Troy (II) vs. Wallkill (IX)
11:30 - Baldwinsville (III) vs. Penfield (V)
1:00 - Shaker (II) vs. Saugerties (IX)
2:30 - Schalmont (II) vs. Fairport (V)
4:00 - Saratoga Springs (II) vs. Hanover (NH)
5:30 - Albany vs. Duanesburg (both II)
7:00 - Amsterdam vs. Johnstown (both II)


SHEN/IMPACT HOLIDAY CLASSIC (all games held at Impact Athletic Center)

DECEMBER 29 (Wednesday)
10:00 - Fonda-Fultonville vs. Mechanicville (all II)
11:30 - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake vs. Queensbury (all II)
1:00 - Albany Academy vs. Cambridge (all II)
2:30 - Colonie (II) vs. Our Lady of Lourdes (I)
4:00 - Averill Park (II) vs. Pittsford Mendon (V)
5:30 - Albany (II) vs. Cicero-North Syracuse (III)
7:00 - Shenendehowa (II) vs. Bishop Guertin (NH)
8:30 - Niskayuna (II) vs. Liverpool (III)

DECEMBER 30 (Thursday)
9:30 - Albany Academy vs. Mechanicville (all II)
11:00 - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (II) vs. Liverpool (III)
12:30 - Averill Park (II) vs. Bishop Guertin (NH)
2:00 - Shenendehowa (II) vs. Pittsford Mendon (V)
3:30 - Albany (II) vs. Our Lady of Lourdes (I)
5:00 - Colonie (II) vs. Cicero-North Syracuse (III)
6:30 - Cambridge vs. Fonda-Fultonville (all II)
8:00 - Niskayuna vs. Queensbury (all II)

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