The best of the week in Section II
A look at the week’s top performers: Bashir Praileau, Albany Academy boys’ indoor track: The senior went to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex Saturday and captured the long jump title at the state championships with a winning effort of 23 feet, 4 1/2 inches and also established a top 10 time in the nation this season in finishing second in the 55 meter hurdles in 7.43 seconds.
Neil Howard, Taconic Hills boys’ indoor track: The standout junior, who has been battling an ankle injury, still managed to win the pole vault at the state championships with a height of 15-9.
Isaiah Hannah, boys’ indoor track: Broke the school record and finished third with a time of 7.50 in the 55 hurdles.
Hunter O’dell, Broadalbin-perth boys’ indoor track: Recorded a fourth-place showing at the state championships in the triple jump (44-7 1⁄4).
Braiden Pulver, Shenendehowa boys’ indoor track:
The junior recorded a fifth-place finish in the shot put (49-3 3⁄4) at the state championships.
Keegan Collins, Greenwich girls’
indoor track: The senior standout, a national champion in powerlifting, showed off her strength and athleticism by capturing the weight throw title at the state championship with a winning throw of 48-4 1⁄2.
Mckinley Wheeler, Saratoga Springs girls’ indoor track: Produced a second-place finish in the 3,000 (9:37.50) at the state championships.
Sheridan Wheeler, Saratoga Springs girls’ indoor track: Came in third place, just behind her sister Mckinley, in the 3,000 (9:37.67) at the state championships.
Emily Bush, Saratoga Springs girls’ indoor track: The junior posted a third-place finish in the 1,500 (4:29.42) at the state championships.
Amelia Mcbain, Saratoga Springs girls’ indoor track: The junior finished fourth in the pole vault (12-0) at the state championships.
Cole Evans, Ballston Spa boys’ Alpine skiing: Captured the state title in the giant slalom at Bristol Mountain, Evans’ first race victory, with a two-run time of 2:14.10.
Hudson Montgomery, Queensbury boys’ Alpine skiing: The eighth-grade standout finished second in the giant slalom (2:14.94) and third in the slalom (1:34.44) at the state championships.
Colin Cotter, Broadalbin-perth boys’ Alpine skiing: Finished second in the slalom (1:33.00) and fourth in the giant slalom (2:15.43) at the state championships.
Michaela Leonard, Shenendehowa girls’ Alpine skiing: Secured the title in the giant slalom (2:15.16) and came in third in the slalom (1:38.28) at the state championships.
Rylie Ward, Queensbury
girls’ Alpine skiing: Delivered a second-place finish in the giant slalom (2:17.78) at the state championships.
Ben Jenkin, Queensbury boys’ Nordic skiing: Covered the 7.5 kilometer course at Bristol Mountain in a time of 22.15.5 to win the state championship.
Clara Avery, Glens Falls girls’ Nordic skiing: Recorded a second-place finish at the state championships in 27:49.9.
Raquelle Landa, Shenendehowa girls’ Nordic skiing: Finished fourth in the individual race (28:14.0) and combined with Iris Wiedman and Courtney Krawiecki to win the skate relay (24:19.2).
Brayden Henkel, Albany Academy boys’ swimming:
The University of Wisconsinbound star capped his career competing for the Cadets by capturing his second straight state and Federation titles in the 100 breaststroke at the state championships (Ithaca College) with a time Section II record time of 54.33. He also came in second in the state and third in the Federation in 50 free (20.86).
Finnegan Mcfarland, CBA-TROY boys’ swimming: The junior posted a fourth-place finish in the 500 free (4:37.82) at the state championships.
Liam Marshall, Burnt Hills-ballston Lake/scotia boys’ swimming: Finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke (57.01) at the state championships.
Shonyae Edmonds, Albany girls’ basketball: The senior secured her second straight Section II Class AA tournament Most Valuable Player award after tallying 22 points and nine rebounds in the title game as the Falcons beat Bethlehem 57-49.
Taylor Holohan, Averill Park girls’ basketball: A year after earning Class A tourney MVP honors, Holohan did it again Friday when she posted 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in the Warriors’ 62-49 title triumph over CCHS.
Saige Randolph, Albany Academy for Girls’ basketball: Collected the Class B tournament MVP award after scoring 17 points in the final to lead the Bears past Catskill 64-36.
Janay Brantley, Catskill girls’ basketball: The senior scored a game-high 24 points in her final scholastic contest in a 64-36 loss against Albany Academy for Girls in the Class B final.
Brooke Kuzmich, Greenwich girls’ basketball: The Class CC tournament MVP pumped in a game-high 21 points, all in the second half, to help propel the Witches to a 51-44 victory against Duanesburg in the CC/C playoff.
Alex Moses, Duanesburg girls’ basketball: Selected as the Class C tournament MVP, Moses topped the Eagles with 18 points in their 51-44 loss against Greenwich in the CC/C playoff.
Mia Wylie, Bishop Gibbons girls’ basketball: Emerged from the Class D tournament with the tournament MVP award after she scored 22 points in leading the Golden Knights to a 58-48 title win against Hartford. Haisi Mayben, Green Tech boys’ basketball: The sophomore point guard contributed 18 points and six assists in a 59-58 Class AA semifinal win against topseeded Ballston Spa and delivered 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists to collect MVP honors as the Eagles defeated CBA 72-36.
Nick Verdile, Ballston Spa boys’ basketball: The senior landed an all-tourney selection as he netted a game-high 28 points in the Scotties’ 59-58 loss to Green Tech in the Class AA semifinals.
Oreo Odutayo, CBA boys’ basketball: Led the way for the Brothers with 21 points in a 56-43 Class AA semifinal decision over Saratoga Springs and scored 10 points in a 72-36 title loss against Greenwich to earn an all-tournament nod.
Stetson Merritt, Troy boys’ basketball: Only an eighth grader, Merritt pumped in 17 points in a 53-50 win against Hudson Falls and landed Class A MVP plaudits as he delivered 23 points in the Flying Horses’ rousing 72-68 title win against topseeded Amsterdam in double overtime.
Terrance Clark, Troy boys’ basketball: Delivered 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a 53-50 semifinal triumph over Hudson Falls and generated 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks (the second coming in the waning seconds of double overtime to protect a two-point lead) in a 72-68 championship win against Amsterdam.
Ceasar Thompson, Amsterdam boys’ basketball: Topped all scorers with 28 points in a 75-63 victory over Lansingburgh and garnered all-tournament status after dropping in 17 points in a 72-68 double overtime loss in the Class A title game against Troy.
Jhai Vellon, Amsterdam boys’ basketball: The senior guard landed a Class A all-tournament selection as he scored 20 points in a 75-63 semifinal win against Lansingburgh and produced 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 72-68 title game loss to Troy.
Peyton Smith, Hudson Falls boys’ basketball: Tallied 25 points and 15 rebounds, landing an alltournament selection, in a 53-50 Class A semifinal setback against Troy.
Darien Moore, CCHS boys’ basketball: The freshman collected the Class B MVP award after coming through with 27 points and 13 rebounds in the final as the Crusaders collected the program’s first sectional title in 42 years with a 73-59 Class B win against Glens Falls.
Sei’mir Roberson, CCHS boys’ basketball: Earned a spot on the Class B alltournament team after scoring 21 points in a 73-59 championship verdict over Glens Falls.
Kellen Driscoll, Glens Falls boys’ basketball: The sophomore standout tallied 26 points in a 69-67 win against Tamarac and finished with 22 points in a 73-59 Class B title loss against CCHS.
Joey Poulin, Tamarac boys’ basketball: The senior point guard saw his scholastic basketball career come to a close in a 69-67 loss against Glens Falls when he led all scorers with 32 points and added nine rebounds.
Matt Thorsen, Chatham boys’ basketball: Named as the Section II Class AA tourney MVP, Thorsen produced 66 points over three games that included a 32point outburst in a 77-57 semifinal decision over Voorheesville.
Jaxon Mueller, Stillwater boys’ basketball: The junior center pumped in 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 61-50 victory against Greenwich and added 14 points and 15 rebounds in a 58-56 loss to Chatham in the Class CC final.
Michael Leak, Duanesburg boys’ basketball: Earned the Class C tournament’s MVP award after scoring 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting in a 57-49 championship win against Hoosic Valley.
Semaj Cuyler, North Warren boys’ basketball: The seventh grader came through 21 points and four steals to secure Class D MVP honors and lead the Cougars past Northville 46-33 in the championship game.
Rory Cairns, Bethlehem hockey: The senior goalie, named Tuesday as the Section II Player of the Year, registered 29 saves the same night in leading the Eagles past the CD Jets 4-1 for the Division I sectional championship.
Team of the week
Saratoga Springs girls’ indoor track (3,200 relay): The team of Mckinley Wheeler, Sheridan Wheeler, Emily Bush and Alycia Hart won the state title, and established a new record time of 9:06.63, at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.