Shaker High School sophomores Lauren Woods (left) and MacKenzie Rowland (right) have been hard to defend in the paint this season. The Blue Bison have won seven games in a row since dropping their season opener to Shenendehowa. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Shaker's pair of 6-foot-tall youngsters makes for a tough mismatch in the paint, but it also allows for the Blue Bison perimeter shooters chances at open shots. Five players have led the team in scoring through eight games, as Erica Houle, Adrianne Devine and Mallory Dickson have also filled out the stat sheet.

Friday night, Shaker (5-1, 7-1) faces crosstown rival South Colonie (5-1, 7-1) for bragging rights and much more. Averill Park is undefeated in league play at 6-0, but Colonie, Shaker and Shenendehowa are all stuck in a logjam for second place at 5-1.

Colonie was ranked No. 5 in the latest New York State Class AA poll, while Shen was No. 4. Averill Park in the No. 1 team in Class A.

Shaker is nowhere to be found on that list, but the Bison know they can earn a little bit of respect with a good showing Friday night.

"We know we have potential and we’d like people to know about us, but if we don’t get that, we just build on knowing we’re better than the attention we get," said Houle, a senior two-year captain and shooting guard.

For more on how the Bison have turned the corner after a 6-15 campaign in 2008-09, check out Friday's edition of The Record, which will include standings and our weekly boys basketball polls.