Shenendahowa High School

He’s stepped up when other players have not, and has some impressive performance. He’s got a bright future one way or another.

When you are 23-years-old and just pitched 5-innings of no-hit baseball in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, you may think "this is easy!" However, staying on top in the big leagues is anything but easy, especially when injuries set-in.

The NBA's Atlanta Hawks have been busy making trades this week. Friday, after adding All-Star guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Atlanta sent a Capital Region favorite out west in a puzzling move.

With some NBA teams playing with playing with abbreviated rosters in limited capacity arenas, Section II high school student-athletes are doing the same thing. Tuesday night was no exception in the Capital Region. There were 27 scheduled match-ups in boys hoops and another 14 for the girls.

As holiday shoppers were navigating for that perfect parking space, local boys and girls high school hoops teams were on the hardwood courts Tuesday. It is certainly an unsettling time for these young student-athletes, as they observe major league sports pausing games. Many of these high school players remember their older classmates competing in empty gyms, while others didn't play at all. Memories that we'd all like to forget. On Tuesday, it was great opportunity to get out there and enjoy some holiday season hoops.

Fridays are always busy on high school fields and courts, December 10th one was no exceptions. There were 38 basketball games on the Section II schedule for the boys and 32 match ups for the girls. Anyone that wants to submit photos of games, it will be greatly appreciated. You can submit them to charles.voelker@townsquaremedia.com.

The one of the best things for high school student-athletes is getting to compete for your school against the next town over or a long-time rival. Numerous times, athletes from different schools have talked to me about their moms and dads competing against those same schools and therefore passing down the rivalry. Friday night, we start to get into the meat of the high school basketball season with plenty of those rivalries on local courts.

Most high school basketball players didn't get to play in front of their friends and family last season, some didn't get to play at all. Though wearing masks is being required at most schools, at least these seniors will be able to play with fans in the stands. Tuesday night features two of the Capital Region's better boys basketball teams meeting up. One played last year. One did not.