GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland boys’ basketball team fought until the end, they just didn’t have the big horse that the Shaker High School team had.

The Blue Bison used a 22-point fourth quarter — led mostly by 6 foot, 11 inch center Brad Sheehan — to blow past the Dutchmen, 63-54, on Tuesday night.
"We didn’t quit until the end," said Guilderland Coach Ron Osinski. "We played more flawlessly over there. This time, we made mistakes on the execution of things. We’re the kind of team that can’t make mistakes on offense and defense. That hurts us. But these are high-school kids and they do."

Shaker held a 43-42 lead at the end of the third quarter, but outscored Guilderland 22-12 in the final stanza to pull away with the win.

The Dutch ran out of gas in the last quarter and Shaker took advantage.

The teams traded baskets in the early going, but then Sheehan went on a 8-0 run to give his team a big lead.

Sheehan, who is headed to Georgia Tech University on a scholarship, made a jump shot with 5:29 left in the frame. Then he threw down back-to-back dunks — a one-handed slam from the right side and then a two-handed dunk on a fast break. Sheehan added an inside basket and Shaker had a nine-point lead, 53-44, with 2:44 left in the contest.
"It’s hard to stop that," Osinski said. Referring to Shaker’s Griffen McLoughlin, he went on, "and 31 was built like an aircraft carrier."

Two foul shots by Guilderland’s Jimmy Googas ended the run but the damage had been done.

The Dutchmen kept the difference in single digits until they were forced to foul and Shaker capitalized on the free throws.
"We had to play a full-court game," Osinski said. "And not everyone can do that so getting the guys rest was difficult. But that was the only way we could’ve played them. We couldn’t play in the halfcourt, and, when they did, they killed us. That was our game plan and, if it didn’t work, we would’ve gotten out of there."

Sheehan led all scorers with 26 points. John Hans scored 14 including four three-point baskets. McLoughlin added seven for the Blue Bison.

Googas led the Dutchmen with 19 points and Matt Doherty scored 11. Brett Marfurt chipped in with 10 points for the Dutchmen.
"Athletic"
"We played as good as we can," Osinski said. "We were athletic. Doherty had 11 points but Jimmy Googas had 19 points. It’s tough all five starters need to score."

Guilderland’s other two starters — Mark Domaracki and Luke Pagano — scored eight and six points each.

The game was close throughout the first three quarters. Shaker led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter, but Guilderland used a 17-15 second quarter to keep the margin to just two points.

Googas tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to keep the margin at two.

Pagano did the same thing at the end of the first quarter.

Guilderland also outscored Shaker in the third quarter, 15-14, and trailed by just one point heading into the final stanza when the Dutch tired.
"It’s the 13th game of the season," Osinski said. "I’m sure our legs are tired. We’ve done it all year," he said of the team’s pressure defense.

The loss drops the Dutchmen to 2-7 in the Suburban Council and 5-8 overall. They have lost three in a row and currently sit in the basement of the Blue Division.

But Osinski has found joy in coaching this group of players.
"This team is fun," the coach said. "They make mistakes that’ll drive you crazy. We’ll keep playing and maybe we can upset someone at sectional time."

But before the Dutchmen reach sectionals, they have five more regular-season games. They play Ballston Spa at home on Friday and then finish with three road games — at Columbia on Jan. 27; Saratoga on Jan 31; and Shenendehowa on Feb. 3. The Dutchmen wrap up the regular season with a home make-up game against Saratoga.