Ballston Blizzards: My Site News
Tuesday, February 24Cullen Overholt Named C.H.V.L. Co-MVP
Congratulations to Cullen Overholt for being named Co-MVP of the C.H.V.L. for 2009. Playing for Loudonville Christian School he was in the top ten leading scorers of Section II averaging 20.5 points per game. Cullen began playing for the Blizzards in 2004 and has been an integral part of the team since. We look forward to having him back in 2009.
Sunday, March 26
March Blizzard III
Congratulations to the Wilton Hornets for winning the 2006 March Blizzard III.
First Place - Wilton Hornets
Second Place - Ballston Blizzards
Third Place - Capital District Slam
Sunday, April 30
Blizzards take the Blitzarama by Storm
The Ballston Blizzards got their first tournament win of the season this weekend by winning four staight at the Bennington Blitzarama.
Game one was the start of the tournament with a tough match against the always agressive Glove City Bullets. A solid first half from Dominick DeNofio, R.J. Vandy and Guy Waltman kept the Blizzards within striking distance, but is was a buzzer beating three by Ryan Dalbey that turned the tide at the end of the first half. From that point on the storm rained down with "threes" from Pallozzi and a ten point second-half by DeNofio. Glove City's Mathias, Lefever and Stahler kept the game in check but it was not enough to get a "W" for the Bullets. The final score of game one Blizzards 64, Bullets 50.
The Mill River Magic was the second game for the Blizzards with every player putting up numbers. "Threes" by Cowper, Dalbey and Pallozzi and a stellar twelve point first half by Waltman gave early control of the game to the Blizzards. In the second-half, Vandy and Cowper added inches to the snow storm to give the Blizzards their second win of the day. The final score of game two Blizzards 71, Magic 46.
The Marble Valley Knights were the third team of the day to attempt to weather the storm. Every player put up numbers again. Guy Waltman began the first shot blocking clinic of the weekend not allowing the Knights to get a good look at the hoop through the blizzard. Starters Tod Cowper, Dom DeNofio, Alex NcNeice, Kyle Pallozzi and Guy Waltman earned some bench time by putting the Blizzards up 40 to 24 at the half. From that point on it was a white out in Bennington, with Ryan Dalbey, Nick Gallo, Nick Gratto and Jake Karker laying down the final blanket of snow for the day. The final score was Blizzards 77, Knights 49.
After sweeping their pool on day one, the Blizzards were poised to play the championship against the Windham Vipers. At the half the Blizzards were down by four with forward Boyle of Windham heating up the gym, but it was getting cloudy again in Bennington. Early in the second half, Nick Stasolla gave the Blizzards their first lead of the day with a three. Cold off the bench, Dalbey came alive with consecutive "threes". Another "three" by Stasolla and an NBA drive to the hoop by Dalbey and the Vipers were forced to warm up the snow plows for a snowy trip home. Final score Blizzards 58, Vipers 47.
Tuesday, April 17
Second Blizzard of April hits at BACC!
Just when we thought we had seen the last snow of the season, the Blizzards hit the Celtics with one more storm. After a tight start with just a few flurries by the Celtics, the Blizzards made adjustments and began the accumulation to beat the Adirondack Spring League defending champs by a resounding 25 points. A late run in the first half brought the Celtics within 5, but the Blizzards hit like a noreaster in the second half outscoring the Celtics by 20 points to win the first league game of the season by a score of 66 to 41.
Thursday, April 19
Crush Gets Frozen by Blizzards
I hope they didn't put the sta-bil in the snow blowers in Schuylerville, because they have a lot of digging out to do tonight. The Blizzards put up a staggering 84 points to crush the Orange Crush with a 84 to 42 victory. All of the flakes on the Blizzards roster put points on the board led by forwards Dominick DeNofio (14 points) and Seth Hidde (13 points).
Friday, April 20
Rainbows at Night?
The laws of physics don't allow for rainbows after dusk, but Tod Cowper's criminal actions broke those laws and found a pot of gold with one second left in the first game of the Capital Classic tournament tonight. Down by two with less than a minute to play, the Dominator put it in the hoop to tie the game and then got the assist to Tod Cowper to complete two of the biggest plays of the evening. Blizzards win game one 42-39.
CLICK THE ICON BELOW TO SEE THE LAST SHOT!
Last ShotTuesday, May 1
Quick Highlight and Slideshow from Guilderland Game
Just a quick highlight clip!
Click on the icon and enjoy!
Guilderland HighlightsTuesday, May 1
Blizzards barely able to fill a snow cone with 5th league win over NY Elite
A win is a win is a win, but an emergency Appendectomy or a visit to the Root Canal guy would be more fun than watching the last five minutes of the Blizzards win over the NY Elite on Tuesday night. With a record of 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the Adirondack Spring League, the Blizzards are off to a great start, but they are going to have to elevate their level of play to create a storm worthy of getting them a tournament win any time soon.
Sunday, May 6
D-Squad not much of a challenge for the Blizzards
It turns out that the biggest challenge at the D-Squad Challenge in Utica this weekend was trying to figure out who was advancing to the finals from the 15U pools. All said and done it turned out to be a three-way tie with the (Rochester) East Coast Fusion, (Utica) D-Squad and the Ballston Blizzards. With the head-to-head tie breaker no longer valid, it came down to point differentials, and the Blizzards needed to win by at least eleven against the D-Squad to advance to the finals game. The (11 and 2) Blizzards came up short with an eight point bittersweet win over the D-Squad in their only game on Sunday finishing (2 and 1) for the weekend. Not bad considering the Blizzards have lost by a sum total of three points in their two losses of the season.
If there was an award for perseverance, they wouldnt be able to provide a big enough trophy to the Blizzards this weekend, and the player leading the Blizzards was one of our newest players. For almost five years the Blizzards players, particularly those from Ballston Spa have had to face Chris Hooks. More often than not, Ballston was able to produce a win over the Shaker teams, but Chris was always one of the players to inflict pain upon the Ballston players with his relentless and almost unconscious shooting ability. Every time he touched the ball in the past five years, the endless cries from the coaches, players and fans of Shooter echoed throughout the gym. To say the least, Chris was hard to like, but since joining the Blizzards this spring, all of the Blizzards players and families have found a new fondness for him. Now we cant help but like this quiet young man from Shaker High. As many of the players and family members that have been a part of the Blizzards family know, Once a Blizzard, always a Blizzard and Chris Hooks has now been added to this growing family.
Quote of the weekend:
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
26th president of US (1858 - 1919)
Wednesday, May 9
No Pun Intended!
Just when you thought all of the weather related puns have been used up, the Blizzards provide plenty of precipitation for this novice sports writer. Maybe there is something to this "Global Warming" after all. It seems like predicting the type of game the Blizzards will play on any given night is akin to predicting the weather. Coach Adams seems to be scratching his head like shiney domed Bob Kovachik. It is without question that the Blizzards are playing up or down to their competition and the Blizzards gave no respect to a hungry team from Scotia.
The Scotia Tartans provided plenty of resistance to the five-in, five-out substitution style of play the Blizzards have been going with for all of its Spring League games. The Tartans Shapiro was able to put up a respectable 20 point game and 10 points each from Rumney and Davenport were added for good measure. However in the end a 12 point second half by Reece Jackson and solid free throw shooting in the fourth quarter by the Blizzards wrapped up an 8 point win over the Tartans bringing the Blizzards to a 6-0(league) and 14-2(overall) season record.
Sunday, May 27
Clutch Shot Cowper robs the bank, AGAIN!
After an unbeleivable weekend of basketball, the Blizzards came out of one of the most competitive tourneys on the East Coast with a 2-1 record.
Game one was a bust with the Blizzards (44pts) unable to find the net against the suprisingly undersized NY Gauchos (66pts). Even though ten out of eleven of the Blizzards were able to put points on the board, none of them were in double figures. The Gauchos shooting was extarordinary and they played excellent on defense.
In game two the Blizzards were not going to be denied a win against the MYCW team from Boston. Chris Hooks (17pts) found his groove and the referees spent a good part of the game signaling touchdowns for him. Mark Seager (13pts) was also on pace with a stellar game, but the play of the night took place at the buzzer in a bizzare turn of events with the Blizzards down by one. Guy Waltman (4pts) put on his wings and got an offensive rebound to win the game at the buzzer (53-54) while Mark Seager writhed in pain under the hoop with a badly turned ankle.
In game three, Team CJEOTO from Central Jersey had an overwhelming advantage on Sunday with the Blizzards playing their fifth game in a row without Reece Jackson and down another post player Seth Hidde as well as their starting point-guard Mark Seager.
It was up to last year's post players Dominick DeNofio (12pts) and Guy Waltman (13pts) to make their presence known and they both came up big in the early morning hours with a good dose of help from Cullen Overholt (6pts) and Kyle Pallozzi (11pts). Pallozzi had the refs once agian reaching for the sky with triple threes, but the most resounding "stick-up" came at the buzzer with "Clutch Shot Cowper" (6pts) robbing the bank "AGAIN" with his second game-winning criminal act of the season.
Even though the Blizzards were tied with the Gauchos in pool play, the Gauchos advanced to the Championship round with the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Blizzards.
With the season winding down, the Blizzards (18-5) now have their sights on finishing league play undefeated this Tuesday against the Adirondack Knights.
See video of last second win in Game #2 of the tournament. Truely a bitter sweet win with our starting point guard, Mark Seager injured on the play.
A bitter sweet winMonday, May 28
Video of last shot by Todd to pull in another win!!!
A quick video highlight of Todds last second AMAZING shot!!!
Todd does it again!!Sunday, June 10
Blizzards Win!
In the culmination of a spectacular udefeated season in the Adirondack Spring League, the Blizzards chalked up two more wins in the league tournament to win it all. On Saturday afternoon the Blizzards beat the short handed Heldeberg Hoopers to advance to the finals on Sunday.
Arriving at St. Rose on Sunday everyone was wondering who would provide the Blizzards with their last challenge of the year in the league. A glimse through the front window revealed a NY Elite uniform. Game on!
In what turned out to be a defensive clinic by both teams, the score at the end of the first half was 17-17. No player was able to get the ball through the exceptionally tight rims at St. Rose and 16 minutes were all that was left for the blizzards to prove they were the best of the 12 teams competing in the 15U A-division.
In typical Blizzards fashion teamwork payed off big and all 11 players had a hand in the first League Championship for the Blizzards in 5 years. If there is any honorable mention to be handed out, it would have to go to three players. Nick Stasolla (6pts.) maintained control throught the game and came up big at the line when it counted. Alex McNeice (7pts.) found the narrow path to the basket a few times and payed the price catchng a shot to head late in the second half sidelining him for the rest of the game, but it was Guy Waltman (11pts) that kept the Blizzards alive by strapping on his wings one more time and leading the Blizzards to their first league championship.
Congratulations Blizzards 2007 league champs.
Saturday, June 16
Forwards don't shoot threes, or do they?
Hooks, Pallozzi, Hooks, Seager, Hooks, Pallozzi, "DeNofio?" The team's three point shooters got a little nervous this weekend, when a Forward started stealing their thunder. Thats right a Forward. With Guy Waltman dominating "in the paint", Dominick DeNofio took his game outside and while the other teams were yelling "shooter" every time Chris or Kyle caught the ball and spotted up, there was another threat looming in the shadows. Hey this guy is supposed to be rebounding. Well the Dominator did that too! In the end, Chris and Kyle re-established their "Money Shot" and the imminent threat was banished back to the paint. No team yet in the Pound the Rock tournament has had an answer for a team that is doing it all. One more boys, one more!
Saturday, June 16
The Difference!
What makes us different from other teams? I'll get back to that a little later. On March 10th, the team met for its first practice. Nearly four months later we are concluding our 5th season as a club with a record of 25 wins, 5 losses and one game left to play. We have experienced just about every emotion imaginable this season, and I hope we have learned something from the experience.
There is a word I hear used very frequently and sometimes I believe the people using it have not earned the right to let it pass through their lips. Paula Abdul blurts it out with reckless abandon during American Idol referring to people she doesnt even know. I believe I have earned the right to use it. The word is proud and I even think it is too weak of a word to describe how I feel about this team. You have overcome many obstacles and in the end you came out on top, regardless of the teams record or any individuals personal stats.
What I think is most impressive about the team is our star player, all of you. At one time or another during the season, every player has had his shining moment. Some even got two, Tod. The best part of it all was to see the support and elation of all of the players and parents when one of you stepped up your game. This is what it is all about. This game is for you. Dont let anyone tell you differently and dont ever let anyone take it away from you.
Now that summer is upon us you need to remember the friendships you made during the season. As far as I know, all of you have ten fingers and it only takes one to dial a phone. Stay close to these people that truly care about you. Dont wait for anyone to make the first move. Make it yourself, both on and off the court. When I started this letter I asked a question. What makes us different? The best answer I can give is probably is this. "If you have to ask, you will probably never understand."
Dave DeNofio
2007 Ballston Blizzards Dad
Sunday, June 17
The B.K. Broiler cooks up some Raptors
In their final game of the season, the Ballston Blizzards won the Pound the Rock championship game leaving no questions unanswered other than the eligibility of the the opposing team's roster.
The B.K. Broiler, a.k.a. Bennett Knowlton(24pts.)cooked up some Raptors in his final game as a Blizzard while the rest of the team wrapped them up and put them on ice. The Blizzards shooting as a whole was flawless with six players putting up threes and the excellent post play of the Raptors was not enough to beat a team that made all of the necessary adjustments needed to secure the game.
Bennett has played two of the last three seasons as a Blizzard and he will be sorely missed.
Good Luck Ben
Sunday, March 2
Blizzard players win Class B Section II Championship
Congratulations to Blizzard Players Alex McNeice and Kyle Pallozzi on their Section II Championship Win.
Tuesday, March 4
Playground Installation
The Ballston Blizzards players and parents will be assisting with the installation of a new playground at BACC on Saturday May 10th. If you know of anyone needing community service work for the National Honor Society, please have them email ballbliz@nycap.rr.com for more information.
Sunday, June 1
Blizzards go 4-0 at Maple Syrup Classic in Burlington
Victory seems like a large word. Winning has the same number of letters, but it’s not so big a word. Team has three less letters, but it makes the previous two words seem insignificant. A guy named Bonaparte said “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” I say it belongs to the team.
Coach D
6/1/08
Monday, June 9
A Blizzard hits the Capital District on the Hottest Weekend of the Year
In game 1 on Friday night against a tough team from Shaker High School, the Blizzards would face its first opponent of the weekend. With Shaker High's own Chris Hooks (17 pts) and Loudonville Christian's Cullen Overholt (14 pts) and Kyle Pallozzi (9 pts) setting the pace, the Blizzards combined for 30 points from behind the arc. Zach Zaloga's (7 pts) extraordinary effort in the second half would lead the Blizzards to a 64-51 win over the Shaker Storm.
In game two on Saturday morning the Blizzards would face the North Dutchess Dukes. Having the word "North" in their name was not enough to cool down Zach Zaloga (18 pts) and 33 points combined from behind the arc by Mark Seager (9 pts), Chris Hooks (10 pts), Alex McNeice (3 pts), Dom DeNofio (3 pts), Jordan Greene (10 pts), Cullen Overholt (3 pts), and Kyle Pallozzi (6 pts). Nate Uline (12 pts) balanced his attack with 6 points per half. With a 22 point lead at the half, the Blizzards would coast through the second half to win game two 76 to 39.
Game three on Saturday afternoon would prove to be the toughest game of the weekend against the lightning fast Westchester Cougars. The Cougars slashed through the defense like a hot knife through a snowball and led at the half by two. Chris Hooks (14 pts) and Nate Uline (8 pts) kept the Blizzards alive in the second half. In an eerie reminder of last year’s gut wrenching ankle turn by Mark Seager, Alex McNeince went down and was relinquished to the bench, putting the Blizzards defensive ability in question for the rest of the weekend. Tied at 48 points with less than 10 seconds on the clock, Nick Stasolla went to the charity line sinking his first of two shots. With a miss on the second shot and a "Monster Rebound" by Cullen Overholt (4 pts) and his own trip to the line, Cullen would sink both and lead the Blizzards to a win. The Blizzards squeaked out a flurry to win the game with a final score of 53 -51, taking them to the semi-finals as the number one seed in their pool.
Just when they thought the gyms couldn't get any hotter, the Blizzards were looking to face what seemed like a formidable opponent from the Poughkeepsie area, the Edge Athletics. Outsized at almost every position, the Blizzards needed a big game from their big man Nate Uline (14 pts) and his partner from up north, Jordan Greene (7 pts). The boys from South Glens Falls did the job along with outstanding play from the two point guards, Nick Stasolla (5 pts) and Mark Seager (5 pts). Chris Hooks (14 pts) would provide the icing on the ice cream cake to balance the accumulation and finish the 58 -36 rout.
With just 45 minutes to get to the finals game at The College of Saint Rose, only the Blizzards available energy and their opponent for the game were in question. When the Blizzards arrived at an air-conditioned gym, to see the Lake Champlain Lakers awaiting, they quietly cooled off like Mr. Freeze at a Polar Bear convention. To say the Lakers were big would be the understatement of the weekend. What the Lakers didn't know was that they were about to face a lake effect snowstorm like never before. Cullen Overholt (14 pts.) hit his first 14 points so hard and fast, that a fleet of snowplows could not have stopped him, and the Lakers were as big as a fleet of snow plows. After Cullen set the pace, The Weatherman, Kyle Pallozzi (14 pts) added precipitation 3 points at a time while Chris Hooks (9 pts) added to the second half storm. Nate Uline (12 pts) ran the floor like a point guard and Dominick DeNofio and Zach Zaloga staved off the abominable snowmen from Lake Champlain and distributed snowballs from every angle. The only Blizzards player not putting up points was on crutches. Again a perfectly orchestrated offense by point guards Nick Stasolla (3 pts.) and Mark Seager (8 pts.) was the peppering of the clouds that led the Blizzards to a 67-31 victory in their final game of the season and its second Pound the Rock Tournament win in two years.