Troy High junior point guard Elijah Jenkins, known as LJ by his teammates, looks to make a pass during Thursday's practice at the school. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

The mood was extremely optimistic at Troy High this afternoon as head coach Jeff Sitterly and junior point guard Elijah Jenkins told me about their outlook for the 2009-10 boys basketball season. Things are looking up for the Flying Horses, but they are well aware that they still have a long way to go.

Check out The Record Friday morning for a story on how Jenkins is the leader on the court for a team that will likely start three sophomores most nights. Jenkins is also seeing an increased role now that Dan Danahy, who blew out his knee in football this fall, is out for the season.

Jenkins, according to Sitterly, is one of those players that innately understands how the game is played, which makes him a great point guard in an up-tempo scheme.

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Sitterly said a year ago that he was keeping a number of talented kids together on the JV and freshman teams so that they could gain valuable experience at the lower levels and fully prepare themselves for the varsity stage. During preseason scrimmages and practices, he can see that the talent is there, he can see the athleticism, but knows the players still have a varsity acclimation to earn before they can think too big.

Sitterly recounted his 2000 team, which was also young and untested, but filled with talented players. They lost their first six games, but rallied late in the year. In 2001, the Flying Horses went 21-3 and won the Section II large school title.

"They have to go through growing pains to have success and I’m trying to get that through to these guys," Sitterly said. "We open up with CBA. If you think you’re going to go over there…well, you’ve got another thing coming. But if we stick to the plan and we hang with them and we do what we think we can do, you can take a lot away from the experience of playing a really good team. It’s hard to teach young guys that. They want to step on the floor and have success right away. That’s the key. If we can stay the course through the season...our goal is to contend late in the season and be a good team next year."

The Horses travel to CBA Friday night to take on the preseason favorites in the Brothers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

It will be interesting to see how this Troy High team responds this year, because spirits certainly are high as the team nears the 2009 opening tip. What happens if this team starts 0-6? Will they be able to rebound late in the year? Can they break last year's three-way Collar City tie for sixth place in the Big 10 with La Salle and Catholic Central?

Friday, December 4

BOYS BASKETBALL
Big 10
Albany at La Salle, 7:30 p.m.
Amsterdam at Catholic Central, 7:30 p.m.
Troy at CBA, 7:30 p.m.
Bishop Gibbons at Bishop Maginn, 7:30 p.m.
Suburban Council
Columbia vs. Bethlehem, 7 p.m.
Colonial Council
Ravena at Cohoes, 7:30 p.m.
Cobleskill at Voorheesville, 7:30 p.m.
Mechanicville at Watervliet, 7:30 p.m.
Wasaren League
Schuylerville at Cambridge, 7:30 p.m.
Hoosick Falls at Hoosic Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Stillwater at Tamarac, 7:30 p.m.
Patroon Conference
Rensselaer at Cairo-Durham, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Shenendehowa at Albany Academy, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Big 10
Catholic Central at Amsterdam, 7:30 p.m.
Colonial Council
Albany Academy at Lansingburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Cohoes at Ravena, 7:30 p.m.
Voorheesville at Cobleskill, 7:30 p.m.
Schalmont at Holy Names, 7:30 p.m.
Watervliet at Mechanicville, 7:30 p.m.
Wasaren League
Hoosic Valley at Hoosick Falls, 7:30 p.m.
Cambridge at Schuylerville, 7:30 p.m.
Patroon Conference
Chatham at Taconic Hills, 7 p.m.
Cairo-Durham at Rensselaer, 7 p.m.
Catskill at Greenville, 7 p.m.
Coxsackie-Athens at Ichabod Crane, 7 p.m.
Maple Hill at Hudson, 8 p.m.
CHVL
Heatly at Germantown, 6 p.m.
New Lebanon at Loudonville Christian, 6 p.m.
Hawthorne Valley at Berlin, 6 p.m.
Non-league
Scotia-Glenville Tournament
Troy vs. Columbia, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS BOWLING
Non-league
Albany High Tournament, 4 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING
Amsterdam at Albany Academy, 4:30 p.m.

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In Scholar Athlete news, Maple Hill and Catholic Central were among the local teams to earn awards from the NYSPHSAA lately.

Maple Hill's boys cross country, girls cross country, girls soccer, girls tennis, and girls volleyball teams all qualified with individual grade point averages above 90%.

The girls cross country team at Catholic Central High School has received the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar/Athlete Team Award. Each student must achieve a grade point average of at least 90% to qualify. Those receiving the award are: Paige Borden, Gabrielle Clemente, Margaret Doyle, Leah Hyldelund, Abigail McCarthy, Shannon McCormick, Keri O'Mara, Audrey Hughes, and Hannah Duncan.