GUILDERLAND — It was a bittersweet week for the Guilderland basketball team.

The players’ optimism of remaining undefeated with another win last Friday was leveled by the realism of Coach Mike Parks, who was worried about the next game at Shenendehowa on Tuesday. Just like the Dutchmen, the Plainsmen were unbeaten, and one of these Suburban Council powerhouses had to lose.

And it was Guilderland that suffered its first defeat on Tuesday, 56 to 43. The Dutch had a target on its back; Shen was the slug that shot it down.

Confusing, maybe, considering that Guilderland had disposed of its 10 previous opponents by no less than 12 points apiece. A team that seemed untouchable is now vulnerable.

The Dutchmen were being led by a junior sharpshooter, Andrew Platek, who was nothing but on fire. Averaging 27.3 points per game, Platek dropped 37 points on Saratoga in last Friday’s win; not one of the seven three-pointers he made touched the rim.

After the 74-to-60 win over Saratoga, Ralph Simeone told The Enterprise that he had never seen Platek have a bad night. “The kid doesn’t miss shots, and he’s playing unbelievable right now,” Simeone said of his teammate.

On Tuesday, Shenendehowa held Platek to just five points as Guilderland shot 22.8 percent from the floor. Platek’s per-game scoring average dropped two full points.

Of course, no basketball team reaches 10-0 with one offensive dimension, but Platek’s production was most certainly a huge help to the process. Simeone knew Platek and he must score if Guilderland were going to win.

^{_{Game face? The Guilderland basketball team went to 10-0 after a 14-point victory over Saratoga at home last Friday. Here, Andrew Sischo makes a move on Saratoga’s Jordan Buchas in the second half. Ralph Simeone scored 10 points for the Dutch. Guilderland lost at Shenendehowa on Tuesday. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}

Parks said last Friday night that no coach ever thinks his team will be undefeated. “You’re always worried about being beat, that’s the nature of coaching,” he said. “If I wasn’t worried about Shen, then there’s probably something wrong with me. They’re good.”

Win or lose against the Plainsmen, said Parks, it would be one more game on the way to getting better as Guilderland is in the middle of a tough stretch that includes Bethlehem and Christian Brothers Academy up next. “We had a good start,” he added. “Long ways to go yet.”

Platek said that the Dutchmen had some confidence and some swagger after beating Saratoga, but that Guilderland took every possession seriously whether being up by 20 points or by two. “We’re playing at an extremely high level,” he said. “We’re riding the wave.”

Unlike his coach, Simeone was more excited than nervous to play at Shenendehowa. “We want to prove ourselves,” he said. “It should be fun.”

Guilderland’s excitement might have turned into embarrassment after Tuesday’s 13-point defeat.

Parks was satisfied with the energy, shooting, and unselfishness that the Dutch had been playing with in the first half of every game. However, he was a little concerned with how the second halves were going.

“The ideal game is a perfect game, so I always have something to complain about because playing a perfect game is almost impossible,” said Parks on Friday. “Someone can be like, ‘Hey, that was such an awesome game,’ and I won’t necessarily agree. If you’re into what you’re doing, you always want to try and be the best you can be. You should never be satisfied.”

If a player is shooting 500 jump shots per day, Parks wondered, then why not 550? Why not 600? “You should always strive for more,” he said. “That’s the philosophy.”

Parks hoped that the Dutch players had bought in to his values on a night when the previous coach, Ron Osinski, was honored. With memories of “Coach O” resurfacing in his head, Simeone said that they bought into Park’s values from day one. 

^{_{Listen up! Guilderland Head Coach Mike Parks talks to his players before the start of the second half against Saratoga last Friday. The Dutchmen won, 74 to 60, to remain undefeated heading into Tuesday’s important game at Shenendehowa; Guilderland lost, 56 to 43. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}