Nazareth Lasers Competing Against Time

By Paul Gotham

Many a coach has implored his or her team to “leave it all on the floor.” Figuratively, the mantra urges players to use every ounce of energy they possess for the common good.

You will have to forgive the Nazareth Lasers and their fans if they are taking that coaching maxim literally. The Lasers and their faithful are playing and cheering for eternity.

Friday night, the Nazareth student body packed the seats behind the bench at Gates-Chili High School for the New York State Far West Regional.  Alums and fans joined in the revelry. The fact that Nazareth has made six trips to the New York State final four in the last eight years did not dampen any spirits.  Others might allow success to breed complacency, but not Nazareth.

Throughout the contest, cheers rained from the bleachers to pump that Laser spirit up. When the game was over, and the Lasers victorious, the  smiles, applause, hugs, and handshakes of congratulations held the same enthusiasm as those shared some eight years ago.

For the second consecutive game, Nazareth faced a team led by a division one recruit. Nazareth held those players to a combined 17 points. Other teams may find it intimidating to play against such talent – not Nazareth. Five players on the floor acting as one unit to stop the opposition – a trademark of Laser basketball. With the wins, the Blue and Gold earned a spot in this weekend’s state championships.

Eight years ago, Coach Chris Belmont and his Lasers made their first 240 mile trek across the Empire State to the NYSPHAA championships at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York.  They lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champion, Our Lady of Lourdes from Poughkeepsie. Unsure his team would ever reach that point again, Belmont stayed through the weekend with his squad to celebrate their accomplishment.

Little did he know that Nazareth advancing to the state semi-finals would become a rite of spring.

Nazareth returned the next year and fell to another eventual champion – New Hyde Park.  In 2004, the opponent was different, but the result the same as Naz lost to South Jefferson.  After a year hiatus, Nazareth won their first game in Troy before losing to South Jefferson again, this time in the finals. Nazareth returned to Hudson Valley in 2008, but came away empty-handed. Hoosic Valley upended the Lasers in the semi-finals.

Each trip served as another step in a process. Belmont and his squads grew and learned together. Facing the toughest competition in the state, Nazareth gained an accurate gauge of their capabilities. It is easy now to recognize the what was taking place over the course of those years.

The culmination occurred in 2009.  Nazareth downed Greene from Section IV before exacting revenge on Hoosic Valley to earn the title as State Champs. It was fitting. The team without a true star would be the one to bring home the title. By the end of the season, six different Lasers took turns as a game-high scorer. Another player tallied double figures in several games. The ’08-’09 Lasers lived the process. It never mattered who scored, just as long as Nazareth scored.

Throughout all the years, Nazareth’s enthusiasm and appreciation for their accomplishments has never ebbed.  The infectious attitude on the court has fostered a community off  it. But now that spirit faces a different foe: time

In a world where the bottom line takes precedence, Nazareth Academy has fallen by the wayside. Unwilling to give into the whims of an all-too-often materialistic society, the school found itself with mounting financial difficulties. This situation forced the Sisters of St. Joseph to form a partnership with Aquinas Institute to create a co-educational Catholic school system. The decision assures that Catholic education will continue at the Academy building, but it marks the end of an all girls secondary education at 1001 Lake Avenue.  The Academy opened in 1871 and has endured world wars, the Great Depression, and the many social transitions of the nation and world, but the recent economic downturn proved too much.

The Sisters of St. Joseph will continue their mission as a Pre-K through grade six school.  The Nazareth Lasers will become part of  history.

Friday morning, the clock operator at Hudson Valley Community College will routinely put eight minutes on the scoreboard. The seconds will tick away.  On the court, Naz will compete against Irvington from Section I for 32 minutes. The Lasers will also be competing against time as they take another step in the process.

If all goes well, the Blue and Gold will, one way or another, get more time. Some more time to leave everything on the floor. As if that hasn’t been what they have done all along.

Pump, pump, pump it up! Pump that Laser spirit up! Keep, keep, keep it up! Keep that Laser spirit up.

Nazareth Academy. Always and forever!