LOUDONVILLE - Evan Hymes was removed from the starting lineup after the first game of this season.

Since then, the Siena junior has actually been more productive, as a spark off the bench.

In two games as a reserve, Hymes has averaged 9.5 points per game.

“Evan Hymes is handling coming off the bench well and he continues to take the right steps," Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said on Monday.

In April, Hymes made a decision to leave the Siena program to be closer to his mother, who was having some health issues. He changed his mind later that month and decided to return for his junior year. Now, he says he's fully on board with whatever his coach wants him to do. 

“I’m ready to do whatever Coach Patsos wants me to do," he said.

Hymes and Patsos had discussed starting or potentially coming off the bench and playing more minutes.

“I just want to be on the court," Hymes said. "No matter if it’s starting or if it’s at the end of the game. I just want to be on the court to help my team.”

Following just a 3-point effort against the University at Albany, Patsos has decided to start freshman Maurice White at the two guard position. That meant that four freshmen were in the starting lineup for the first time in the program's history.

Hymes scored eight points against Vermont and followed that up with a 11-point game versus La Salle. More importantly, he's committed just four turnovers in 46 minutes of action since the opener, while dishing out five assists.

“Evan Hymes and Brett Bisping probably made the two biggest strides against La Salle," said Patsos. 

It was a jumper by Hymes, with a La Salle player right in his face and just 7:02 remaining, that looked like it might give the Saints enough for their first win, as it put them up by eight, 66-58.

“Right there, I thought we were going to win this game," said junior Rob Poole, who finished with a game-high 21 points.

Hymes was dealing with an injured wrist in the preseason, which occurred on the team's trip to Montreal.  He's only been back practicing for a few weeks and knows there's still a lot that needs to be done. 

“I just have to keep going, keep improving and keep working," he said. 

While Patsos likes what he sees, he also wants to see more from Hymes, who is one of the few veterans on this team.

“We’re 0-3 and I want to see him continue to take the next steps," said Patsos.

J.S. Carras/The Record

Another tragic story regarding a former football standout from this area.

Below, you can see that former La Salle and Union player Kevin Flike was injured, but is expected to live, while serving his country overseas.

Unfortunately, that's not the case for former Shenendehowa and RPI football player Patrick Casey.

Casey was caught up in an altercation that he tried to step in the middle of, outside a Washington, D.C., eatery. He was punched by a stranger, fell and hit his head violently.

The George Washington grad student passed away Tuesday, at George Washington University Hospital. Casey was only 33.

Casey had served in the Army, as a sergeant in Afghanistan.

RPI will have a moment of silence in Casey's memory, before their Liberty League home game against Rochester, on Saturday.

Former La Salle Institute football player Kevin Flike was injured overseas after the solider suffered a gunshot wound.

The 27-year-old, who also played football at Union College, is a member of U.S. Special Forces unit, who was injured in Afghanistan on Saturday evening.

Flike has undergone multiple operations and the reports say it could take up to a year to fully recover.

La Salle will host a fundraiser in Flike's name at their home football game vs. Shaker, on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Flike graduated from La Salle in 2002.

Here's more in a link from WXXA Fox-23.

Former La Salle football player Scott Sicko made a terrific debut with the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game, catching five passes for 44 yards.

Now word comes that the former University of New Hampshire star suffered a concussion during that game and now will likely miss some time.

This isn't great news for the Stillwater native, but he has impressed the Cowboys and should get back to doing so when he returns from the injury.

While Stillwater native Scott Sicko won't be hauling in footballs anytime soon, his decision to step away from the game of football has caught the 6-foot-4 tight end a lot of national publicity.

Today, he was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column, which you can find here.

Sicko's name has also popped up on Yahoo! and other nationally recognized football web sites for his decision to go back to school rather than try his hand at hooking on with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

Some people, like this blogger for the Sporting News, don't seem to agree with Sicko's decision.

After talking with him on Sunday evening, I feel confident Sicko is making the best choice for himself.

Could he have made it in the NFL?

His nine touchdowns during the 2009 season and large size (6'4" - 251) suggest he may have been able to stick with a club.

But that's not the point.

Just as we wouldn't criticize someone's choice to pursue a football career had they not been drafted, why would we scrutinize Sicko's decision to continue his education and begin preparing for his career and his life.