Whitehall boys’ hot streak continues

It’s unlikely that any of the Whitehall boys basketball players are Bee Gees fans. They likely have never even heard of them. Even so, “Staying Alive” could easily become the Railroaders’ theme song.

Whitehall kept its hopes for a spot in the Adirondack League playoffs alive with a thrilling 60-57 overtime win over Hadley-Luzerne last Wednesday night.

The victory avenges a loss to the Eagles earlier in this season that makes it even sweeter for the Railroaders. Whitehall started the season 0-4, mainly due to not being healthy, but has won 11 of 13 since.

“If we could take the first four games back that we weren’t healthy in, we’d be a different team,” said Whitehall coach Keith Redmond. “But right now we’re the best team. I think we’re the best team in the league.”

The Eagles won the first meeting 58-39, and it looked early on like they might roll again. Hadley-Luzerne raced out to an 18-7 first-quarter advantage behind the hot shooting of Caden Wilson, who scored 11 points in the frame, nine from beyond the arc.

Whitehall struggled to score the basketball in the first quarter but started to put things together in the second. Trailing 20-7, the Railroaders ripped off a 10-0 run to close the gap to 20-17. Hadley-Luzerne held on to lead 24-23 at the half, despite being outscored 16-6 in the stanza.

“It’s a matter of time,” Redmond said. “You can’t dig too big of a hole in the first quarter. I think we got down 13 but we battled right back. I think we were down one at halftime so the halftime speech was simple: You just outscored them by 12 points, now let’s go out and do the same thing in the next two quarters.”

Whitehall opened the third quarter with a bucket by Cash Burgey to take its first lead of the contest at 25-24. The lead exchanged hands several times during the quarter with the Railroaders leading 42-39 heading to the fourth.

A 5-0 run early in the fourth extended Whitehall’s lead to eight, and the Railroaders led 55-51 in the closing seconds. However, baskets from Josh Ellis and Matt Harder brought the Eagles even and forced overtime.

In the extra session the foul line was the difference. Hadley-Luzerne did not score a field goal, and Whitehall managed only one. Burgey went 3 for 4 from the line down the stretch to clinch the victory for the Railroaders. The Eagles had several looks on their final possession but could not connect.

“We made some mistakes at the end,” Redmond said. “We’ve got to clean those up, but we haven’t really been in that situation. An overtime game and how important this one was tonight. I’m sure there were some nerves as well, but they were able to adjust and finish for us.”

Burgey led Whitehall with 24 points. Latrell Evans added 11 for the Railroaders.

Wilson paced the Eagles with 16. Conroy and Alex Mattison each added 14 points.

Whitehall is 9-5, 11-6. Hadley-Luzerne is 9-4, 10-7.

On Friday night, Burgey and Evans had huge games as Whitehall rolled over Salem, 84-26, in league play.

It was Senior Night for the Railroaders and their soon-to-be graduates went out in fine fashion.

Evans, a sophomore, led Whitehall with 34 points. Burgey, a senior, added 32.

Altwon Webster had 13 points for Salem.

Whitehall was 8-5, 10-6 after the win. Salem dropped to 0-13, 1-16.

Whitehall girls (11-1, 13-3) playoffs-bound

The Whitehall girls clinched the Adirondack League Division 2 basketball title and punched their ticket to the league playoffs as they edged Hadley-Luzerne, 41-34.

Madison Gould led a balanced Railroaders’ attack with 14 points.

Samantha Howland and Blake Bird each added 11 points for Whitehall.

Gabby Graham and Jordanna Kenny scored 14 points apiece for the Eagles. Kenny finished with a double-double with 14 boards. It was the 15th double-double of the season for Kenny.

Freshman Mackenzie Maslonka filled the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, three steals and four blocked shots.

Whitehall is now 11-1, 13-3.

On Friday night, Whitehall went on the road to finish the regular season against Argyle-Fort Edward in league actions.

The game was suspended after one of the officials, a 64-year-old man, appeared to go into cardiac arrest.

Whitehall coach Boyd Hunt was actually the closest person to the official and tried to help him as he fell to the floor. Hunt applied a compress to his head, which had been cut in the fall.

Hunt and several others including a nurse and an EMT administered CPR to the official before an AED unit was placed on him.

The game was suspended after the incident. No date to complete the game has been announced.

The official was alert and talking after the incident and gave a thumbs-up on his way to the ambulance.

Railroaders excel in wrestling sectionals

The Whitehall wrestling team tasted success at the Section II Class D wrestling championships held at Warrensburg Central School Saturday.

Whitehall finished fourth as a team. Three Railroaders won titles.

Kyle Lavin (145), Chad Monty (172) and Troy Austin (189) all finished first in their weight classes.

Lavin was the sixth seed and upset three higher seeds on his way to the title. Lavin pinned Brayton Cary of Salem-Cambridge in 5:31 in the finals.

In his championship match, Monty won by a 10-8 decision over Logan Krouse of Duanesburg-Schoharie.

Austin pinned Nicholas Roy of Maple Hill in 1:40 to claim his crown.

Sawyer Ostrander placed second at 152 pounds for the Railroaders. Ostrander advanced to the championship match before falling to Dante Corriveau of Warrensburg-Lake George in the final.

Allen Beaulieu was third for Whitehall at 132. Matt Ingerson at 126 pounds and Ayden Smith at 138 pounds both placed fourth for Whitehall.

The top four place-finishers advance to next Saturday’s Section II state qualifier meet at Glens Falls’ Cool Insuring Arena.

On Wednesday night The Whitehall tuned up for the sectionals by edging Mechanicville-Stillwater, 42-36, in a non-league match.

Whitehall used five match wins by pin to get the job done.

The Railroaders got pins from Ingerson (126 pounds), Beaulieu (132), Smith (138), Lavin (145) and Austin (215).

Monty picked up a win by injury default at 189.

Sawyer Ostrander earned a forfeit win at 152 for Whitehall.

Whitehall won its second match in as many nights, slipping past Corinth-Hadley-Luzerne, 42-36, on Thursday.

Ingerson (126), Beaulieu (132), Smith (138), Lavin (145), Ostrander (152) and Austin (215) all recorded pins for the Railroaders.

Chad Monty picked up a win by forfeit for Whitehall.

Paul Granger (160), Jacob Lafaver (172) and Tazzrine Bovee (285) had pins for the Mountaineers.