The New York State high school boys’ basketball championships are officially heading back to Glens Falls, with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Executive Committee voting this past Wednesday to approve Harding Mazzotti Arena as the host for the state semifinals and finals from 2028 to 2030. This isn’t just a move; it’s a homecoming for the tournament’s long-time stomping grounds.
Back to the Hardwood: Glens Falls’ Enduring Legacy
For decades, Glens Falls was the undisputed home of the state tournament, hosting it for a whopping 35 years under its previous names, the Glens Falls Civic Center and Cool Insuring Arena. That’s some serious history right there. Things got a little wild, though, with the tournament moving to Binghamton’s Visions Veterans Memorial Arena from 2017 to 2019. Then, the whole thing took a two-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it came back, Glens Falls got another three-year run starting in 2022, only for Binghamton to snag it again for a three-year stint that kicked off in 2025 and wraps up “this coming season.” So, yeah, this return to Glens Falls in 2028 is a big deal, bringing some much-needed stability and tradition back to the event.
A United Front: Championships Within Reach
But wait, there’s more to this story than just the boys’ tournament! The committee also approved Hudson Valley Community College as the girls’ basketball championship site for 2028 to 2030, keeping that tournament at its long-time home in Troy for another three years. This is huge because, starting in 2028, the boys’ and girls’ basketball championships will be contested at sites less than an hour’s drive from each other. Think about that: Troy and Binghamton are nearly 2 ½ hours apart! This new proximity is going to make it so much easier for fans and, frankly, it just feels right. You know, this past March, three schools , North Tonawanda (Class AA), Tappan Zee (Class A), and Marcellus (Class B) , had both their boys’ and girls’ teams reach the state final four. Imagine what they could do with this kind of unified championship experience! On top of that, other championships for 2028-2030 were awarded across the state: boys’ hockey to LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, softball to Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton, girls’ golf to Wild Wood Country Club in Rush, and girls’ lacrosse to SUNY Cortland. The committee also just approved new team state championships in girls’ wrestling and both boys’ and girls’ swimming, all kicking off in the 2027-28 school year. The girls’ wrestling dual meet championship will run on the same weekend as the boys’, and the swimming and diving team championships will join the existing individual events. It’s all about making the championship experience better, right?
NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas nailed it in a news release, saying, “The approval of these additional championships is another exciting step forward for our Association. These decisions demonstrate our ongoing efforts to strengthen interscholastic athletic programs and provide the best possible championship experiences for student-athletes, coaches and communities across the state.” This is about setting up our student-athletes for the best possible experience, and it’s something to genuinely look forward to starting in 2028. Get ready for some epic championship action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply