TROY — Seeing your role altered as a starter can be a tricky dynamic to deal with. Having it changed for the sake of giving younger players more prominent status in the offense could be disastrous if the older players don’t accept the change. In the case of senior guard Nick Riley and senior forward Connor Gemmill, accepting new roles for the Catholic Central boys’ basketball team has been crucial to the Crusaders’ success.
Riley, who led the team in scoring as a sophomore, is a four-year varsity player. Gemmill has played three varsity seasons. Each has taken a reduced scoring role in stride as the team has been led by the freshman trio of Darien Moore, Sei’Mir Roberson and Qwameik Smith. CCHS, ranked No. 2 in the state, captured the program’s first sectional title in 42 years and meets Section X champion Potsdam (12-12) on Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in the Class B state quarterfinals. Game time is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
Last season, the Crusaders reached the Section II Class B final and dropped a heartbreaking 51-50 decision to sixth-seeded Ichabod Crane. The Riders went on to capture the state title. CCHS hopes this season is its time to shine.
“We weren’t winning too much, so when they came, all I cared about was the wins,” said Riley, who averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore and averages nine points this season. “We definitely knew we could make a run. I don’t know if everyone thought we could do it last year being so young and coming off losing seasons. After midseason (last season), I think we all knew we could do something special.”
“The first open gym with them, we clicked right away,” Gemmill said. “We are really proud of what Payday (Moore) and Sei’Mir are doing, and everyone else.”
The Crusaders lead Section II in 3-pointers with 197. Riley has knocked down 45 3-pointers and Gemmill, who stands 6-foot-5, has drained 23. The…
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