VOORHEESVILLE — The Voorheesville boys’ basketball team just might have gotten over the hump.

The Blackbirds defeated the only Section II team that beat them last year; it appears they could make a run at the top of the Colonial Council.

Voorheesville beat Albany Academy, 45-36, in front of a capacity crowd at the new gym at Voorheesville’s high school on Friday night.
"We got one of the monkeys off our back," said Voorheesville Coach Don Catellier. "Every game is going to be like this. There are no easy wins in this league."

Voorheesville beat Lansingburgh, 83-51, on Tuesday night.

It took a great second-half effort in Friday’s game by the Blackbirds after a poor first half to overcome a deficit and finally pull away from the Cadets in the fourth quarter.

The game was tied, 28-28, going into the fourth quarter. Voorheesville took the lead for good on a close-range jump shot by Mike Hopper with 6:04 left in the contest.

Andy Catellier added to the lead with a drive to the basket, with 5:28 left, to make the score 36-32.

Academy’s John Scott made a free throw to cut the lead to three points. Then a basket off an offensive rebound by Josh Shoemaker made it a one-point game.

But Voorheesville got some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to seal the win.

Justin Arico made both ends of a one-and-one at the foul line to put Voorheesville’s lead back to three points.

Hopper made one foul shot and Nick Duncan scored inside with 56 seconds left to make the score 41-35.

Greg Klopfer made two of four foul-shot attempts on two consecutive trips to the line and Hopper made two to round out the scoring.

The Blackbirds also used a tough, stingy defense in the final minutes of the game.

Albany Academy made just one free throw in the last three minutes of the game.
"Nerves took over"
"I challenged the seniors at halftime," Catellier said. "They stepped up in the second half. Mike Hopper played well and Nick Duncan finished with 11 rebounds. Hopper had seven and Andy had six assists. We didn’t play really well in the first half. We let them control it."

Voorheesville trailed 17-13 at halftime as the players appeared tight in the opening minutes of the contest and couldn’t get into any flow on offense.

Coach Catellier thinks that the large crowd at the first home game could have caused some jitters.
He said of the student cheering section, "The Birdcage was loud and it was the first home game. I think nerves took over."

The Birds came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Academy 15-11 in the stanza.

Andy Catellier was a one-man show early in the third period. He made a steal on a pass and then scored on a fast-break lay-up. Catellier was fouled and made the free throw to cut the lead to one point.

Catellier added a foul shot to tie the game, 17-17, with 6:26 left in the third quarter.
"I told the seniors and especially our three captains," Catellier said, "that none of them played well in the first half. I told them that last year is over and that you have to take on the leadership role.
"They played well in the second half," Catellier added. "Duncan had seven of his 11 rebounds and Andy had six of his seven assists and Klopfer had seven of his 13 points. The three captains stepped up and I’m pleased."

The teams battled back-and-forth and ended the quarter tied, 28-28.

Klopfer led the Blackbirds with 13 points. Duncan scored 11 points and Hopper added 10. Andy Catellier scored seven and Evan Christner and Arico each had two points.
"We got some balanced scoring," Coach Catellier said. "A win is a win is a win. It’s always better than a defeat. It’s hard to play the champs the first time out."

Scott led the Cadets with 16 points and eighth-grader Jamel Fields added 11.
"Anytime you can beat the defending league champions, it’s great," Catellier said. "They are still the champs until somebody beats them."

The Blackbirds travel to Mechanicville on Friday night. They host Ravena on Tuesday and Schalmont the following Friday. The Birds then play at Cohoes before getting two weeks off for Christmas break.