Falcons state quarterfinals preview and fan information

  • Posted March 8, 2023
Albany High fans cheering at the Section 2 championship game March 3.

Here is some important information to help you get ready for the Albany High School girls' basketball team's matchup with Syracuse-area champion Liverpool in the state quarterfinals Saturday morning at Onondaga Community College. 

Game information

  • Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the college's SRC Arena.
  • Tickets are $10 at the door and $9 in advance (you can buy them online here through Friday).
  • Albany High will have a fan bus to the game for students. The first 30 students to return this permission form will get free admission to the game, thanks to the Albany Booster Club.
    • The bus will leave Albany High at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and return to school by 4:30 p.m.
  • If you can’t get to Syracuse to cheer on the Falcons in-person, you can watch a livestream of the game (a subscription may be required).

About the matchup

  • Albany High is ranked No. 11 in this week’s state rankings, and Liverpool is No. 7. 
  • This will be the teams’ second meeting this season. The Falcons (20-3) beat Liverpool (20-3) 79-63 in a holiday tournament in December behind 29 points from Shonyae Edmonds.
  • This is the Falcons' third trip to the state quarterfinals under coach Decky Lawson. Albany High dropped close games to Cicero-North Syracuse in 2013 and last season.
  • The Section 2 Class AA champion has not beaten the Section III champion since 2017 (the state tournament wasn't played in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19).
  • With a win Saturday, the Falcons would advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 1997, when they went on to win the state championship. That semifinal game would be Friday, March 17 at Hudson Valley Community College. 
  • The Falcons advanced to states with their 57-49 victory over Bethlehem last Friday night in the Section 2 Class AA championship game at Hudson Valley.
    • The Falcons held the Eagles without a basket in the first quarter and 19% shooting in the first half.
    • Albany High led 15-5 after the first quarter, and never let the Eagles closer than five the rest of the way. The Falcons forced Bethlehem into 20 turnovers on the night.
    • Edmonds, the tournament MVP, led the Falcons with 22 points and nine rebounds. Azera Gates contributed 10 points and six assists, and also was named to the All-Tournament Team – check out this Times Union article to read more about her important role for the team.
    • You can visit our Facebook page to check out photos from the championship game.