COLONIE - His team had just surrendered the lead Friday evening, but given the chance to answer, Albany senior guard Sincere Allah never hesitated in hoisting up his response. Allah's 3-pointer with one minute and 15 seconds left put the Falcons ahead to stay against Colonie, although the Wolf Pack still made things interesting.
Colonie had one shot blocked in the final 10 seconds and later missed on a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer as Albany registered a 49-46 Suburban Council boys' basketball victory.
"It is great win," said Allah, who finished with 17 points. "We had to have to have it after the (72-71 loss to Guilderland on) Tuesday. This will help us for sectional seeding."
Albany (9-11 overall, 5-8 Suburban Council) earned its third Class AAA league victory to go along with decisions over Saratoga Springs (79-65) and Schenectady (70-53).
The Falcons prevailed despite shooting just 32% from the field. Colonie actually fared worse, shooting only 28.8% from the floor.
"Really good defense. We held them to 46. That's really big for us," Allah said. "We need to keep taking pride in our defense and get better on offense."
"For 19 games, we have been harping on defense, defense, defense. We showed a little bit of toughness today," Albany coach Sean Brown said. "I am extremely proud of them. ... They were resilient. They stayed together. They stayed to the game plan and we rebounded the ball, which was huge."
Albany led throughout the first half and was up 24-18 in the third quarter following an offensive rebound and conversion by senior forward Rasahn Johnson. The Wolf Pack (8-11, 6-7) answered back with 3-pointers from Ethan Peck, Jaden Haas and Chase Brown to take their first lead at 27-24.
In the fourth quarter, Brown nailed a 3-pointer to provide Colonie a 44-43 advantage. Allah, who delivered 17 points, drilled a 3-pointer on Albany's next possession. Allah, Johnson and Wright would later add one free throw each.
"This team is capable of more than people think," Allah said.
Key moment
A turnover on an inbounds pass provided Colonie a chance to tie the game in the final 10 seconds, but Richard Wright blocked a shot attempt by Peck.
Colonie ended up making just 5 of 15 shot attempts over the final eight minutes.
Star of the game
Johnson paced the Falcons with 21 points, scoring 11 in the first half and 10 in the second half, to go along with 14 rebounds and two blocked shots.
"That's what he has been doing all year: he rebounds and protects the rim," Brown said of Johnson. "He rebounds the ball well. I am extremely grateful for that and we want him to keep doing it."
Numbers to know
33: Attempts taken by Colonie from 3-point range. The Wolf Pack converted on nine 3-pointers, including five during the third quarter.
4:
3:
What's next
Albany: The Falcons await their Class AAA sectional seeding Feb. 20.
Colonie: The Wolf Pack take on Middletown Wednesday to conclude their regular season slate.
This article originally published at Sincere Allah's 3-pointer, late free throws lift Albany past Colonie in boys' basketball.