ALBANY — As the Albany Patroons prepared Wednesday for a Canadian opponent, a problem that drifted down from Canada made their practice a little more challenging.
With New York’s air quality at its worst since 2002 because of Quebec wildfires, some Patroons players were concerned about practicing in the hazy conditions inside cavernous Washington Avenue Armory.
Game 1: 5:30 p.m. Friday, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Game 2: 7 p.m. Monday, Washington Avenue Armory
Game 3 (if nec.): 7 p.m. Tuesday, Washington Avenue Armory
Guard Shadell Millinghaus, a former Schenectady and Troy star, wandered into coach Derrick Rowland’s upstairs Armory office.
“Can’t practice in that,” Millinghaus said. “Fog, it’s crazy. You can feel that in your throat.”
The team gathered for about a 45-minute film session to study the Newfoundland Rogues, their opponent in The Basketball League’s best-of-3 East Conference final, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday with Game 1 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Monday at the Armory. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, also at the Armory.
After their film study, the Patroons did come down to practice. Six players — about half the team — were wearing masks as a precaution: Millinghaus, Trevis Wyche, Jamil Hood, Arsenio Arrington, Philip Flory and Derrick Rowland Jr.
“We’ve got to practice,” Derrick Rowland said. “Because then we can’t practice tomorrow because it’s travel day and Friday we’ve got (the game). So we’ll practice as usual.”
The masked Millinghaus came down last while fake-coughing and laughing.
Patroons guard Ed Dyson III declined to wear a mask.
“Nah, I’m not doing it,” he said. “I’m not used to these.”
The Patroons will…
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