CNS Bethlehem matchup will be interesting. Bethlehem Class B school. They ran zone pretty exclusively last year.
So i think somewhat unshockingly, CNS routed Bethlehem. CNS seems like a program on the rise, while Bethlehem appears to be stagnating some (though they have some good young players including two kids getting a lot of run with Sweetlax 2029s). Shenendehowa should give them a tougher game later this spring.
I live in Section 2. While I value what
PhatOrange has to offer about the smaller schools (the larger too). among the larger, I think the pecking order is something like:
In Class A
1/1a - Shenendehowa/Shaker. Shen has some low level D-1 players and a really stout defense. Goalie is a Sweetlax kid for that strong 2027 group committed to UAlbany.
I don't think Shaker has the high level players Shen has other than their '27 pole committed to Loyola (another Sweetlax player), but they are pretty strong across the board. Both schools utiilze almost all upperclassmen.
3/3a/3b - Guilderland/CBA/Saratoga. Guilderland's youth program had a ton of success with the kids who are now juniors and sophomores. They're probably a year away from really being able to compete with Shen and Shaker who are just bigger and more athletic. They have Two D-1 committed juniors including one with a Syracuse offer who has been discussed here (St. Joe's commit). It's hard to tell where CBA will end up. They have some nice players, including a really good attackman, but they were pretty senior laden last year. Saratoga struggled last year but they had a young defensive core and their JV team was the best in the Section.
In Class B
1. I believe Niskayuna just barely qualifies (they are less than 100 kids small than Guilderland) and are the premier team in the Section. If I am wrong and they are Class A, they'll win Class A. The senior and junior classes are very strong with multiple D-1 and high level D-3 kids (the 2026's in particular are strong). They play together all the time, all year long, and were the primary players on Albany Power's High School Elite Box team this winter. Last I heard, they may be starting a freshman in goal. He's fine, but is a significant step below Shen and Shaker's goalies, and probably Saratoga and Bethlehem's.
2. Ballston Spa. Has some strong upperclassmen including a two low D-1 attackmen and a defender who may be the best player of all of them, committed to Rollins. I think they lose quite a bit next year and will take a step back.
3/4/5. South Glens Falls/Queensbury/Bethlehem. All three schools have some talented players and good athletes. I think they lack the depth and overall skill level of Nisky and BSpa though.
highschoolsports.syracuse.com
