Albany girls' basketball advances past Saratoga in Section 2 playoffs

Akarri Gaddy's 28 points lead the Falcons to a 71-48 victory over the Blue Streaks

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The fourth-seeded Albany girls' basketball team defeated the fifth-seeded Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks 71-48 in the Section 2 Class AAA quarterfinals. Albany senior Akarri Gaddy led all scorers with 28 points, and the Falcons' defense stifled the young Saratoga squad throughout the game. Albany will now face top-seeded Shaker, the state's 6th-ranked team, in the semifinals on Monday at Hudson Valley Community College.

Why it matters

Albany's victory over Saratoga marks the Falcons' ninth win in their last 10 games, showcasing the team's improvement throughout the season. The win also sets up a highly anticipated semifinal matchup between Albany and powerhouse Shaker, providing the Falcons an opportunity to test themselves against one of the top teams in the state.

The details

Albany jumped out to a fast start and never looked back, leading wire-to-wire against Saratoga. Gaddy, a senior with extensive playoff experience, dominated in the paint, utilizing her size and skill to punish the Blue Streaks. Albany's depth also played a key role, as coach Decky Lawson substituted freely and received solid contributions from several underclassmen, including sophomore Al-Lexis Johnson, junior Azamarie McKnight, junior Nyree Blacknall, and freshman Aaliyah Douglas.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
  • Albany will face Shaker in the semifinals on Monday at Hudson Valley Community College.

The players

Akarri Gaddy

A senior for Albany who led all scorers with 28 points and used her playoff experience to guide the Falcons to victory.

Decky Lawson

The head coach of the Albany girls' basketball team, who effectively managed his team's rotation and received contributions from several underclassmen.

Shaker

The top-seeded team in the Section 2 Class AAA playoffs, ranked 6th in the state, who will face Albany in the semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“We have developed a lot since the beginning of the year. We've had some ups and downs, and had some talks, but we've got to our goal. We're here now.”

— Akarri Gaddy, Albany senior (Times Union)

“We definitely came out ready to play today. We had a fast start, which is what we always want to have. We finally had one tonight and I was very satisfied with it.”

— Decky Lawson, Albany head coach (Times Union)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game showcases Albany's continued improvement throughout the season and sets up an intriguing semifinal matchup against powerhouse Shaker. The Falcons' depth and Gaddy's leadership will be key as they look to pull off the upset and advance to the Section 2 championship game.