The ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are ready to start the playoffs next week after completing terrific regular seasons.
The boys’ team heads into the Section 2 Class AA postseason celebrating its first Suburban Council Gray Division championship since ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High joined the league in the 2015-16 school year.
The Falcons (14-6 overall, 11-3 Suburban) are led by dynamic senior guard Isaiah Austin (pictured), who is averaging 24 points a game – third-best in the entire Capital Region – and closing in on 1,000 career points. He would be the first member of the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High boys’ team to reach that mark in 19 years.
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High is seeded fifth in Class AA and opens the playoffs with a first-round home game against No. 12 Guilderland (9-9) on Tuesday. Game time at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High is 6 p.m. The Falcons won at Guilderland during the regular season, 83-61 on Jan. 18.
If the Falcons advance, they face the Shenendehowa (No. 4)/Schenectady (No. 13) winner on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College.
The girls’ team finished second behind Averill Park in the Suburban Gray Division during the regular season with a 14-6 overall record, 9-4 in the league. Ranked No. 26 in the state, the Falcons are led by a pari of juniors, Me'Challe Cancer (16 points per game) and Shonyae Edmonds (14 ppg).
Cancer is 40 points away from joining the 1,000-point club. She would be the first member of the girls' team to achieve that milestone in nine years.
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High is seeded third in the section and opens the playoffs with a quarterfinal game against No. 6 Bethlehem on Thursday, Feb. 24 at Shaker High School. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High won at Bethlehem during the regular season, 53-38 on Jan. 11. Bethlehem was ranked No. 13 in the state at the time. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High closed the regular season with eight wins in nine games, including a 53-45 win over Colonie, which was ranked No. 10 in the state at the time.
If ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High advances, the Shaker (No. 2 seed)/Saratoga (No. 7 seed) winner awaits in the semifinals on Thursday, March 3 at Hudson Valley. Game time will be 6 p.m. Shaker, ranked No. 23 in the state, is the only team to beat ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High since the first week of January.
Good luck to all of our student-athletes!
