MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[jdex]

SUNYIT beaten 79-62 by UW-Stout in Las Vegas tourney final. IT by 6 at intermission. Stout 7-3 and edged Buena Vista 57-56 in opener

[jdex]

New Paltz tonight at Bethany, CA.  And Sunday tackles Chaminade in HI

[jdex]

New Paltz hits 15x28fg in second half to wipe out 42-41 halftime deficit in 81-71 west coast victory at Bethany, CA expense. A. Foluke-Henderson huge game with 30 pts(15x18fg), 7 rebs, 4 assts, 7 stls in 35'. T. Cannon 16 pts(6x17fg), 13 rebs, 6 assts; J. Hauser 10 pts(4x11fg), 7 rebs. NP 33x68fg, 10x20ft, 5x15 3s. Beths 30x76fg, 6x19ft, 47-41 reb edge. On to Hawaii

[unbearable]

Please forgive the length of the post.  I thought this was worth reading.

One Falcon's quest
Albany High coach Turner values books over basketball 
 
By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Sunday, December 24, 2006

Albany n the first day of basketball tryouts this fall at Albany High School, first-year varsity coach Troy Turner stood before potential players in an empty cafeteria, holding a book in one hand and a basketball in the other.
He set the ball on a table, raised the book and said, "This is 10 times more valuable."

The players responded by giving Turner what he described as a "what-are-you-talking-about look." He continued his lecture anyway, discussing survival, success, how sports can go at any time and including his favorite saying, that education equals money.

Turner spent the rest of the evening wondering how his message had been received, if at all. He found out the next day, when a student who struggled academically approached Turner and said he wasn't going to try out.

"Why?" Turner asked.

"It was something you said," the student responded. "That our education is our money. I have to value that and focus on my schoolwork before I play basketball."

Turner sees the student almost every day. The speech inspired change.

"He's on his way," Turner said. "He caught the essence of what I was saying."

That is the kind of man Albany hired when it brought Turner on as varsity coach over the summer: a guy who as a teenager asked a coach not about shooting or passing but about getting kids to listen; who earned a degree in economics but abandoned his dreams of becoming a stockbroker to work with kids; who calls basketball the "carrot" for getting players to care about their education.

Though Albany has started the season just 2-5, his players are taking the carrot. There are eight seniors on the team. All are expected to attend college next fall. Mandatory study halls and required grade averages ensure the Albany basketball program's future is bright, whether in the classroom or on the court.

As Turner's friend and advisor Mark Bobb-Semple said: "The kids aren't just hearing the words. They're listening."

Turner, 43, was born in Albany in 1963 and lived in Arbor Hill until 1977, when his family moved to the Green Street Projects in the South End. This is where he began playing basketball, mostly in Washington Park and at the Albany Boys & Girls Club, under the watchful eyes of some of the city's finest players and coaches: guys like Fred Daniels, Herb Crossman, Robert Bowman, Nate Bland, Ticky Burden, Jim "Booie" Traynham and Joe Roberts.

But more than just basketball, Turner studied those who had tasted success, analyzing how and why they got to the top. Roberts was one of the most influential. He ran the Human Resource Basketball Program in Albany when Turner was a teenager. The program provided students with jobs during the summer and allowed one week off to attend Roberts' basketball clinic.

A photo was taken during the clinic, showing Turner, 13 or 14 at the time, zoning in on Roberts as he spoke. The other children in the photo weren't paying attention. Years later Turner asked Roberts what he remembered about him as a child.

"You used to listen," Roberts said.

Turner went on to become a star at Albany High, an unselfish guard who could shoot, defend and had sound fundamentals. He graduated in 1981 and played under Bill Kirsch and his assistant, John Griffin, at Siena before transferring to Potsdam and winning the Division III national championship in 1986.

After graduation Turner became a substitute teacher at Albany High and "caught the bug." He gave up on becoming a stockbroker and turned his focus toward helping children, first with the Albany Youth Program and most recently as the home school coordinator at Albany High. He also started an AAU team, Davies Athletic Club, in 1997. The program is funded by Davies Office Refurbishing owner Bill Davies, who trusts Turner so much he funds the program and gets out of Turner's way, no questions asked.

The AAU program provides more than just a basketball education, offering SAT prep, a study hall and life skills training.

"Education and AAU are like oil and water," Turner said. "But basketball is the carrot. We use that carrot to get kids into college."

More than 80 percent of the Davies AAU players have gone to college. All have been from the inner city. Turner seeks similar success at Albany High.

The gym was empty at 3:30 p.m. on a recent Wednesday. High school basketball teams nationwide were practicing at this time, shooting, passing and developing as teams and players. But not at Albany High.

Practice came later. First, the action occurred in room 125.

Three dozen young men, members of the freshman, JV and varsity basketball teams, were seated in the small room. Turner stood in the front, 72 eyes on him.

"What are life skills?" he asked.

More than half the boys raised their hands. Turner pointed to El-Shahiem Coles, a senior.

"Necessities for life," Coles said.

Players come to this study hall every Wednesday and Thursday to finish their work and listen to inspirational speakers. Turner has brought in Albany YMCA executive director Orville Abrahams, Albany Patroons assistant coach Derrick Rowland and former Albany High football player Jeremy Horn, now playing on scholarship at Syracuse. By the season's end, Turner hopes to bring in Albany County District Attorney David Soares, former NBA player Chris Mullin and a host of other success stories.

The players are buying into his system. Turner requires they have a 70 average to compete. That number will increase to 75 next year, then 80, capping at 85 the following year.

"At first we thought it was whack," sophomore William Chapple said. "We thought it was a joke. But now we see it's to make things easier in the future. Like (Turner) says, we're called student-athletes because we're students first and athletes second."

"Demanding we have a certain grade is smart," senior Luke LeReau added. "They're trying to get us into college. High school isn't the end. It's just the beginning."

Turner sees room for growth despite recent success. When Horn visited last week, players on the basketball team asked him how fast he could run, who his favorite player was, and if he wanted to play in the NFL, rather than asking about the adversity he has overcome, having lived on his own since age 15.

Turner intervened because the line of questioning wasn't satisfactory.

"Ask about his pain," Turner said. "A lot of people fold when they feel that pain. Think about when you're running. You feel the pain and ask what is the value of pain? Is it better for you? What can it do for you? Will you be better off in the end because of it?"

Later, Turner laughed about his frustration.

"It's a work in progress," he said. "You can't win unless you're in the race. Our guys are in the race."

Turner said what he and his staff have accomplished is a testament to the kids in the program. Their lives aren't always easy, living in a densely populated area where temptation lurks around every corner.

Albany booster club member Bernie Mulligan has worked with most of the kids at some point. As he said: "None of these guys live in Loudonville. They're good kids, but don't come from areas that often breed success."

Enith Perry, a senior, lives on Judson Street in the West Hill section of Albany. One side is made up of solid one- and two-family homes; the other side is littered with abandoned buildings, 10 in all. The street is a microcosm of life in the inner city. The good and the bad.

Perry is the good. He helps the woman up the street with her day-care service. He's an usher at the Star of Bethlehem Church on Clinton Avenue. He plays with the neighborhood kids in the summer and fixes their bicycles.

Perry could have been swallowed up by the street. Some of his friends were. They respect him for staying strong. "You're doing it, man. Keep it up," they tell him after he drops 20 points in a game or gets called a role model by his teachers.

The lanky forward with a grade average in the high 80s wants to play basketball and major in English or physical education. Probably at Brockport or Cortland. He could start college next month if he wanted to. He has enough credits to graduate but is taking extra classes because he enjoys learning and wants to walk across the stage with his classmates.

Perry is not the exception; he's just one example of a basketball player at Albany High striving for success. There are others.

Chapple is part of the Sponsored Scholar Program, which takes honor students on college visits and job shadows. LeReau has an 89 average and will likely study business at New Paltz. Senior forward Malcolm Bland has an average in the high 80s and scored better than 1,100 on his SAT. Corey Aviza, whose average is above 90, just got accepted at Cortland. And Isaiah Duke, a junior, gets college credit for taking advanced placement classes.

This kind of student can be found throughout the athletic program and the general student body. But as much as school officials would like the public perception of Albany High as a dangerous school to change, they understand where it comes from. Fights. Stabbings. Emergency school board meetings. All have occurred within the past year. The negative publicity has had such an effect that a public relations official was on hand during most of the interviews for this story, which is nearly unheard of in high school athletics.

What Turner, his players, new athletic director Kathleen Ryan, members of the student body and almost everyone else associated with Albany High says is that while a problem with violence does exist, it represents an extremely small portion of the 2,326-member student body, and that the actions of a few overshadow the good occurring in the classrooms.

"A lot of parents won't send their kids to Albany High," Chapple said. "But there is a great opportunity to learn here. They see the way kids dress on the street and say, 'OK, I see how it is,' but those same kids are honor students."

Ryan has made a difference during her short time on the job. Under a policy she instituted at the beginning of the year, students failing three classes cannot compete, though they must continue to practice and attend games.

"We want them under the supervision of a coach," Ryan said. "The coaches may have more influence than anyone in their lives. The coaches have leverage."

Of the nine fall teams for boys and girls, seven were named New York State Scholar Athlete teams. The success has carried over to the winter, led by Turner, who Ryan said, "runs the model program. He's taken what he does one step further and almost wiped academic problems off the board."

[BBM]

Very nice article regarding Troy Turner. You did a nice job Unbearable. Do have to laugh at previous postings as one of the guys mentioned that Jerry Welsh brought in a group of hoodlums to win the 2 National Championships. Troy played the game really hard and really well while at Potsdam.  Since he played so hard, was he not a nice person? Looking at the rosters of the 2 championship teams, I see where many (actually almost all) of the guys are doing very well in life. Who are all these hoodlums?

[Pat Coleman]

Rather than violate the newspaper's copyright, however, you should link to the story.

[jdex]

Friday tournament action takes Oswego to Virginia for the Christopher Newport Captain's Shootout. Lakers at 5-1 open in an hour vs. 7-1 Greensboro. C. Newport at 5-4 plays 2-8 Fisk of Nashville --- interesting in that Fisk eight days ago beat CN by a point. On Saturday it's Oswego vs. CN, and Fisk vs. Greensboro in rematch of 12/20 when Fisk was 4 pt winner

Cortland at 3-5 plays 4-1 SJ Fisher in 8 p.m. nightcap of York, PA tourney. York at 5-3 vs. 6-2 Susquehanna, PA at 6. Winners, losers Saturday

[pride1fan]

"Greensboro in rematch of 12/20 when Fisk was 4 pt winner"



Fisk was a 4 point loser.

[jdex]

Greensboro Pridesman knows of what he speaks .....69-64 over Fisk a short time ago

Meanwhile, Oswego this evening shaded 85-82 by Gmen. T. Franze 26 pts for Lakers, M. Burridge 18 pts, 11 rebs; E. Robertson 16 pts. OSt 18 turnovers to winning Pride's 6

[jdex]

Cortland scrappy effort turned back by SJ Fisher 82-76 in opening round of York, PA tourney. Fisher by 39-33 at break but CSt 53-47 with about 13' left. SJF 10-0 run regains balance. Cortland ties at 57 on C. Niehoff ft and eventually holds 68-65 edge on D. Maggiacomo 3pter. Another 10-0 Fisher tear. D. Mueller trey gets reversal at 3:14. Cortland within 78-76 on Maggiacomo `3'. Mueller nets 2 ft.
D. Jutton 27 pts(5x10fg, 4x8 3s), 13x13fts, 5 rebs; Maggiacomo 17 pts(5x10fg, 4x7 3s); Niehoff 16 pts(7x15fg, 6 rebs; P. Oliver 5 rebs, 4 pts. CSt 9x223 to SJF's 11x21. Mueller 19 pts(5x9fg, 5x8 3s); J. Beigel 16 pts((7x11fg), 5 rebs, 4 assts; D. McSweeney 16 pts(6x6fg, 4x4ft), 5 rebs.
Cortland vs. Susquehanna at 1 Sat. York 84-69 opener

Florida-bound Saturday. Posting hereafter for us a ??. But sure will keep an eye on SUNYAC

[bports]

Brockport looks very good after a long layoff with a 112-63 win vs Dyouville. Brockport lead 100-50 with 9 minutes remaining. Brockport newcomers looked very good as sherod harris the brother of shawn is lightning quick and a good finisher. The frontcourt also got some help in 6'8" cantrel parrish from buffalo grover cleveland high hit for double digits. This kid is long and very athletic and will remind you of brandon mills. He is only listed as a frosh in program so he will make some frosh mistakes. This is just what williams needed in the paint to take some pressure off of him. Time will tell but this team looks pretty darn with all those guards. It looks like the rotation is 13 deep, hopefully everyone can stay happy?

[pg04]

Nice win to end the year!  And if Parrish can be compared in anyway this early on to Mills, this means some good things to come

However the January schedule looks like a killer --- St. Lawrence, Hamilton and the Chase Tourney!!  Should be some good competition to measure the team against...

[sjfcards]

Cortland scrappy effort turned back by SJ Fisher 82-76 in opening round of York, PA tourney. Fisher by 39-33 at break but CSt 53-47 with about 13' left. SJF 10-0 run regains balance. Cortland ties at 57 on C. Niehoff ft and eventually holds 68-65 edge on D. Maggiacomo 3pter. Another 10-0 Fisher tear. D. Mueller trey gets reversal at 3:14. Cortland within 78-76 on Maggiacomo `3'. Mueller nets 2 ft.
D. Jutton 27 pts(5x10fg, 4x8 3s), 13x13fts, 5 rebs; Maggiacomo 17 pts(5x10fg, 4x7 3s); Niehoff 16 pts(7x15fg, 6 rebs; P. Oliver 5 rebs, 4 pts. CSt 9x223 to SJF's 11x21. Mueller 19 pts(5x9fg, 5x8 3s); J. Beigel 16 pts((7x11fg), 5 rebs, 4 assts; D. McSweeney 16 pts(6x6fg, 4x4ft), 5 rebs.
Cortland vs. Susquehanna at 1 Sat. York 84-69 opener

Florida-bound Saturday. Posting hereafter for us a ??. But sure will keep an eye on SUNYAC

Being a Fisher fan, I was pretty impressed with Cortland. It seems like they are having a rough year this far, but I thiink they could be very good in the future. I thought they found a way to lose rather than getting run out of the gym. I know they were good last year but who did they lose that made them drop off the way they have so far this season.
Was it all Raneiri? or were there other players that made up the nucleus of that team?

[jdex]

Greetings from Clearwater

Yes, sjfcards, finishing huge concern for Corts. And, yes, Ranieri was key leader along with departed S. Taggart and S. Skrelja. Jutton 27 vs. Fisher was big surprise, particularly 13x13ft. He's basically outside performer because of size, but has been going to hoop a bit more. Hope this team doesn't get discouraged. They could still be SUNYAC factor.

Congrats on winning tourney. Really turned it on vs. York.

Here's hoping we can get back to posting. But Florida does call with sun et al!

[sjfcards]

Greetings from Clearwater

Yes, sjfcards, finishing huge concern for Corts. And, yes, Ranieri was key leader along with departed S. Taggart and S. Skrelja. Jutton 27 vs. Fisher was big surprise, particularly 13x13ft. He's basically outside performer because of size, but has been going to hoop a bit more. Hope this team doesn't get discouraged. They could still be SUNYAC factor.

Congrats on winning tourney. Really turned it on vs. York.

Here's hoping we can get back to posting. But Florida does call with sun et al!

Agreed C-state could be a team that no one would want to play come SUNY tourny time...