Modest Scotia guard is tough on her opponents
By JAMES ALLEN, Staff writer
Published 11:35 p.m., Saturday, December 3, 2011

SCOTIA — Asking Cassie Broadhead to talk about her basketball exploits is not an easy proposition, but covering the Scotia junior guard may be the more daunting task.

Broadhead, who is beginning her fourth varsity season with the Tartans, has already provided Brigham Young University coach Jeff Judkins her oral commitment to compete for the Cougars in the 2013-14 season. BYU went 25-9 in 2010-11.

"I'm very relieved. It was so stressful. It is nice to know your future is already set," Broadhead said. "My sisters are out there in Utah and so are so many family members. It is a very nice campus."

Just a junior, Broadhead opened her season Friday night with a game-high 22 points in a 54-31 nonleague victory at Stillwater. That pushed Broadhead's career total to 1,001 points. She is on pace to become one of the top 20 scorers in Section II girls' basketball history. Read More...

Tags: Cassie Broadhead Lashana Tolliver Alyssia Marsal Sydney Rosales

The Sparks are extremely happy to announce that Sydnie Rosales will be playing her college basketball at Siena.  Sydnie has verbally accepted a full scholarship to play basketball for the Siena Saints. The 5'-9" shooting guard from Colonie will bring her considerable skills to help Coach Castelli's Saints starting in 2013.

She has been a varsity player since the 7th grade. Her basketball accomplishments include being a first team Suburban Council All-Star and MVP of the Gym Rats Tournament.

Rosales has had an outstanding career with the Sparks. She's played on two National top ten teams. She was elected a team captain and finished first on the team in scoring and three point shots. She was also a leader in rebounds, assists and steals. Her desire, competitiveness and leadership were noticed by numerous D-1 coaches throughout the country. At least 40 D-1 coaches contacted the Sparks regarding Sydnie.

Although basketball is a priority for Sydnie, she has more than that going for her. Her goal is to study law and become an attorney and with a 94% GPA she is well on her way to achieving that goal.  Besides basketball Sydnie enjoys spending time with her family and friends. This interest in family and friends is one reason she decided to stay local for college basketball.

With her sharp leadership skills and analytical mind, after basketball is done, she will make a fine lawyer.

Tags: Sydney Rosales Siena College

The Saratoga Sparks 15 Orange team once again competed at the National AAU Championships and like last year finished in the top 10. The Sparks compiled a 5-2 record while coming first in their pool and 9th in the tournament. In spite of losing their first game by a point to the Cardinal Elite, the Sparks went on to beat both the Georgia and Kentucky State Champions to win their pool. The Sparks then went on to the Championship Round and unfortunately lost the opening game to the Alabama State Champions before reeling off three victories against the Bay State Jaguars, Love Elite the Maryland Champs and the Cardinal Elite.

The Sparks did this while averaging over 61 points a game.  The Sparks were led in scoring by Colonie's Sydnie Rosales with 88 points and Scotia's Cassie Broadhead with 83. The Sparks were led in rebounds by Watervliet's Lashana Tolliver and Mikayla Deguire. Cassie also lead the team in assists with Bethlehem's Bridget Murphy a close second.

Because this was a live Division 1 viewing period Coach Mingione has received many calls from D-1 coaches about many players on the team.  The coaches reported being very impressed not only with individual players but also with the team oriented approach of the players.

The team will continue its schedule with two Fall Tournaments during D-1 viewing period in October.

Tags: Sydney Rosales Cassie Broadhead Lashana Tolliver Mikayla Dequire Bridget Murphy

The Troy Record All Area Girls Basketball Team was announced on Monday May 2nd and three Saratoga Sparks received honors.

Third Teams Selections, All-Area, Sophomore Sydnie Rosales from Colonie High School, Junior Amanda Batzold from Columbia High School and Junior Christina Spicer from the Academy of the Holy Names.

The Sparks organization is proud of their achievements and wishing our young athletes continued success on and off the basketball court.

Tags: Sydney Rosales Amanda Batzold Christina Spicer

The 2010-11 Suburban Council Girls Basketball All-star team was announced this past week and four Sparks received honors. The Organization is proud of their achievements this past season and would like to congratulate each of the players and their families on their selections.

First team selection sophomore Sydnie Rosales of Colonie High School. Second team selections were junior Amanda Batzold of Columbia High School and sophomore Bridget Murphy of Bethlehem High School.

Once again, congratulation to each of the players selected, we are all looking forward to a hearing more about these young ladies during the upcoming AAU season as Saratoga Sparks.

Tags: Sydney Rosales Bridget Murphy Amanda Batzold

Sophomore center is emerging as a top player for Watervliet
By JAMES ALLEN Staff Writer
Published: 03:17 a.m., Thursday, January 6, 2011

WATERVLIET -- Lashana Tolliver has been a vital part of two Section II girls' basketball championship basketball teams at Watervliet, yet the talented 6-foot-1 sophomore center was never as committed to the team as she is this season.

"My first two years, I was immature and I wasn't really focused on basketball. I wanted to hang out with my friends and I didn't want to be in practice," Tolliver said. "Now every day, I'm ready to be in practice. I'm doing all my work in school just thinking about practice."

"It is just maturity. That is all it is," Watervliet coach Gordie Johnson said. "She is still only a sophomore playing on the varsity basketball team. She was a big part of what we did the last two years, but she didn't always understand she needed to work every single minute. Now she does. When she comes in here, she works every single minute."

Hard work first paid off over the summer for Tolliver, who played along with Watervliet sophomore guard Ailayia Demand on the Saratoga Sparks' squad that finished sixth in the country in July at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla.

Read More...

Tags: Lashana Tolliver Sydney Rosales Jackie Welch Cassie Broadhead Kelsey Cowell

Colonie star returns from surgery and playing well
By James Allen Staff Writer
Published: 12:00 a.m., Saturday, December 25, 2010

COLONIE -- Sydnie Rosales never envisioned basketball not being No. 1 for her, but the Colonie High standout also never dreamed she could ever be in so much pain. As an eighth-grade starter for the Garnet Raiders, Rosales went on a run during the second half of the season when double-doubles in points, rebounds or assists were the norm. Rosales was beginning to dominate in the area's best league, and doing so against state-ranked opponents filled with senior and junior stars. She was already special. But everything suddenly changed for Rosales. Read More...

Tags: Sydney Rosales

The Saratoga Sparks 14U basketball team took sixth place in the 2010 AAU Girls Basketball National Championship Tournament held July 6-10 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. The team is comprised of Section II freshmen players who finished their regular AAU season undefeated with 30 wins. At the National Tournament, the Sparks were 5 and 3 against a field of 40 of the best teams in the United States. The Sparks are the first local team in recent memory to finish this high in the AAU National Championship Tournament. The Sparks advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round.

Read More...

Tags: Nationals Ailaiya Demand Cassie Broadhead Sydney Rosales AAU Girls Basketball National Championship

Gym Ray Challenge Website: The Saratoga Sparks 14-under division team came to Sunday's games at the GymRat Challenge tournament without its head coach as Tony Mingione missed the event for a family function, and without one of its better players, whose opts not to play in Sunday games due to religious reasons.

But those seeming handicaps did nothing to derail the championship run of the Saratoga Sparks, who used strong overall team play and a well-designed strategy to advance to Sunday night's championship contest of the 6th annual GymRat CHALLENGE for girls where it earned a 56-40 victory over the New York Gauchos. Read More...

Tags: GymRats Alyx Gleason Sydney Rosales Cassie Broadhead Jackie Welch