Green Tech, CBA boys' basketball secure quarterfinal wins to set up semifinal showdown

TROY - A slow start shooting the ball and less-than-normal defensive intensity combined to leave the Green Tech boys' basketball team on the short end of the scoreboard after one half Sunday in a Class AAA boys' basketball quarterfinal against Colonie at Hudson Valley Community College.

During the third quarter, the Eagles' defense got back in gear and began to take Colonie out of its offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, junior point guard Carter Clay helped spearhead a comeback that eventually led to a 67-54 Green Tech victory.

The Eagles, coached by former University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown, have won 18 of their last 19 contests. He has his new charges trapping and pressuring teams into oblivion. Even though Green Tech did less pressuring than normal Sunday, it still managed to force 29 turnovers – 16 in the second half – to help erase a 30-25 halftime deficit. 

"Coach (Brown) instilled that on us from Day 1," Clay said. "We are going to win games with defense and with playing harder than other people. In the first half, we were down four because I think they wanted it more than us. Coach gave us a great a speech at halftime and in the second half we turned up the intensity and started forcing turnovers."

"Obviously, the scoreboard showed Colonie was winning. I said to them, 'They won that half because they outplayed us.' I thought they were the tougher team. That was the difference," Brown said. "Most of my guys played JV basketball last year and were sitting in the stands watching the playoffs. They didn't have that playoff experience. Some of them got caught up in the moment and it took 16 minutes to settle down. I think you saw in the second half what we are all about, who we are as a team and what we have to do to survive."

Green Tech (18-2 overall), ranked No. 28 in the state, will continue the program's pursuit at reaching a fifth straight sectional final Thursday in a semifinal showdown against top-seeded Christian Brothers Academy (20-0). The Brothers breezed past Saratoga Springs, 75-47, in the day's final quarterfinal contest at HVCC.

The Eagles made just 6-of -9 shots in the first half from the field also missed six foul shots.

"It is a lot easier to press when you put the ball in the basket. We missed a lot of free throws in the first half, and I didn't like our energy," Brown said. "In the second half, our energy was better and we were one step ahead of them. We had them thinking on the fly and that is when we're disruptive."

Clay, who joined senior Qwameik Smith in leading Green Tech with 18 points apiece, culminated a 15-5 surge to conclude the third quarter with two baskets.

In the fourth quarter, Colonie committed nine turnovers as the Eagles drew away. The Wolf Pack committed at least six turnovers in all four quarters.

"We ramped up our intensity. They didn't like our pressure and you could see they didn't like it. We took the game from there," said Clay, who also added nine rebounds and five steals.

Green Tech opened the season with a disjointed loss to Catskill. It served as a blueprint of what not to do, and the Eagles' defensive acumen has steadily sharpened each week since.

"We had the talent to do it from the start, but we were a new group of guys and returned zero members of the varsity team. We didn't know how to play together," said Clay, who previously competed at Redemption Christian Academy. "Over the season with a lot of reps and practice together, we have become a great team."

CBA, ranked No. 4 in the state, amassed a 19-7 advantage after one quarter against Saratoga as sophomore guard Austin Osinski drained back-to-back 3-pointers to close out the opening eight minutes with 14 points.

During one seven-possession stretch in the third quarter, Saratoga Springs committed six turnovers and missed one shot as CBA extended its lead to 53-30.

Austin Osinski paced the Brothers with 25 points and JJ Osinski added 18 points. Gavin LaFrance led the Blue Streaks with 17 points.

This article originally published at Green Tech, CBA boys' basketball secure quarterfinal wins to set up semifinal showdown.