The Hadley-Luzerne hex is officially history. And if home is where the heart is, then the Queensbury Unified basketball team certainly felt loved.
In Queensbury High School's second annual Unified Basketball assembly game on Tuesday, May 13, Cole Zarczynski's layup with 1:08 remaining lifted the Spartans to a 30-28 decision over Hadley-Luzerne. After falling four consecutive times to the Eagles, including its only loss of the 2024 campaign, Queensbury tasted victory over Hadley-Luzerne for the first time in program history.
Evan Bordeaux sank all six of his points in the opening eight minutes and Christina Hahn (10 points on the day) routinely silenced the fever-pitched audience with several successful shots to help Hadley-Luzerne gain a 20-12 halftime advantage.
Zarczynski and Wyatt McClure were key contributors during the third period as the hosts rallied with a 10-2 run and the scoreboard displayed 22 for each squad heading into the dramatic final stanza.
For the second successive year, Spartan passers were frequently baited and intercepted by the Eagles' Aaron Hayes. In addition to his disruptive defense, Hayes delivered a game-high 12 points, including a clutch bank shot to knot the score at 26 in the fourth quarter.
An inspired Blue Gym crowd roared its approval throughout the afternoon, especially when Queensbury's Nate Greer and Zarczynski stepped up during crunch time.
Greer supplied a pair of buckets in a 30-second span to give the home team a 28-26 lead with 2:15 left in the contest. Hahn answered for the Eagles, but Zarczynski forced a turnover at midcourt via steely ball pressure to set up his decisive score.
Zarczynski and Greer racked up eight points apiece, and McClure added six for the Spartans (4-1), who won for the fifth time in their last six home hardwood assignments. Samuel Shettlewood powered home two points, Olivia Affinito drained a sweet jumper with textbook form, and both Declan Nason and Ethan Winchell smooched a layup off the glass.
During intermission, Jon Condon and Chloe Harris each drilled a pair of shots in exhibition action.
Ebullient entertainment was furnished by multiple QHS groups. The Madrigal Singers performed the National Anthem, the Pep Band offered outstanding interpretations of arena anthems, and the cheer squad sustained the necessary energy for the event's duration.
On Thursday, Queensbury entertains Granville in the regular-season finale. Seniors will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at 4:15 p.m. in the QHS Blue Gym. In addition, proceeds from the bake sale will go to the Art Department and Special Olympics New York.
Click here to see all the photos of the Unified Basketball game.