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Niskayuna's players celebrate a 20-9 win against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Niskayuna's players celebrate a 20-9 win against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Photo: Hans Pennink
Niskayuna's players celebrate a 20-9 win against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Niskayuna's players celebrate a 20-9 win against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Photo: Hans Pennink
Shenendehowa players react to a 20-9 loss to Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Shenendehowa players react to a 20-9 loss to Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
Photo: Hans Pennink
Niskayuna's Eoghan Sweeney (8) and Shenendehowa's Hunter Rainville (3) battle for a face off during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna's Eoghan Sweeney (8) and Shenendehowa's Hunter Rainville (3) battle for a face off during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game
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Niskayuna's Walter Ross (1) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna's Walter Ross (1) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special
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Niskayuna's Eric Makhatadze (7) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna's Eric Makhatadze (7) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink /
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Niskayuna's Dan Brownell (10) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna's Dan Brownell (10) moves the ball against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink /
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Shenendehowa's Billy Beach (22) moves the ball against Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessShenendehowa's Billy Beach (22) moves the ball against Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink /
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Niskayuna Goalie Max Ronesi (31) defends against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna Goalie Max Ronesi (31) defends against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special
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Niskayuna Goalie Brady Olsen (23) defends against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna Goalie Brady Olsen (23) defends against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special
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Niskayuna head coach Mike Vorgang instructs his players against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna head coach Mike Vorgang instructs his players against Shenendehowa during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans
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Shenendehowa head coach Jason Gifford instructs his players against Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessShenendehowa head coach Jason Gifford instructs his players against Niskayuna during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans
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Shenendehowa's Drew Liguori (11) moves the ball against Niskayuna's during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessShenendehowa's Drew Liguori (11) moves the ball against Niskayuna's during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink /
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Niskayuna's Nick Fraterigo (41) defends against Shenendehowa's Eric Makhatadze (7) during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
lessNiskayuna's Nick Fraterigo (41) defends against Shenendehowa's Eric Makhatadze (7) during a Section II Class A Boys' lacrosse final Friday, May 25, 2018, in East Greenbush N.Y. Niskayuna won the game 20-9.
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East Greenbush
Ask the Shenendehowa boys' lacrosse coach. Or even ask Griffin King's own coach at Niskayuna. The junior makes darn near every good decision available to him.
It just seemed on this particular Friday night, in a Class A sectional title game, that King could really do no wrong. He contributed on more than half of the Silver Warrior's scores in a 20-9 win.
Nine goals and two assists.
"We were in rhythm," said King, whose previous career-high was seven goals. "We just couldn't stop scoring at one point. Everything was going good."
Niskayuna turned a 5-2 lead after the first quarter into a 14-6 halftime cushion, and never looked back at Columbia High.
Though King probably could have found a way to score from that direction, too. He tossed in a lefty backhand shot after darting around the net. The left-hander also sank a right-handed shot after zooming down the alley.
"Those are both tough shots that are hard for me to make," King said. "But they were going in tonight."
This was sectional title No. 16 for the program, built even after losing all but two offensive starters from last year's ultra-talented team.
King, of course, gets a fair amount of credit from all around for Niskayuna keeping pace with its own lofty history.
Shen coach Jason Gifford praises his patience and dexterity.
Niskayuna coach Mike Vorgang says King is such an unselfish player that he always makes the smart decisions (hence why he's committed to Brown, he notes).
Added Vorgang: "Shen didn't slide to him very much, so that gave some opportunities. But if it comes down to him feeding the ball, he'll do that. That's why he's a great player."
Finn McCollough added three goals for Niskayuna, while Gabe Nash added five.
With Eoghan Sweeney winning virtually every faceoff, Shen (which lost the regular-season meeting, 15-10) produced hardly more shots on goal (15) than King had points (11).
Niskayuna goalie Max Ronesi was game all the way until the final horn, making a couple of spectacular saves and hustle plays.
An opponent's offensive challenge appears even more daunting when it has to face King.
"This time of year is about 'What do you have when your strength is taken away,' " Gifford said. "Griffin played everything well. He did pick-and-roll game, and he could dodge down the alley."
King, meanwhile, credited his teammates for "not taking anything for granted" regarding the program's annual success.
"We had a bunch of guys getting starting minutes for the first time," King said.
Vorgang said "every day was a new adventure" for the Warriors, especially early in the season.
It's a fun journey when there's a leader who is capable of tying the school record for most goals in a sectional title game, which Vorgang says King pulled off in this one.
jfranchuk@timesunion.com
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Sweet-16-for-Niskayuna-12945614.php
