Leading off today: McDonald's All-American Brianna Fraser is among five finalists for the 2015 Miss New York Basketball Award, the Basketball Coaches Association of New York announced.
Fraser, a South Shore senior, has committed to the University of Maryland.
The four other finalists for the award are:
- Amanda Schiefen, Horseheads.
- Lauren "Boogie" Brozoski, Long Island Lutheran.
- Jalay Knowles, Ossining.
- McKenna Maycock, Randolph.
Schiefen has signed with Canisius, Brozoski is heading to Michigan, Knowles has committed to Hartford and Maycock will continue here career at St. Bonaventure. Mariah Ruff of Oneonta was the 2014 recipient of the award.
The BCANY also announced a field of four finalists for Mr. New York Basketball. They are:
- Jessie Govan, Wings Academy.
- Kinnon LaRose, Ogdensburg Free Academy.
- Jordan Roland, Westhill.
- Matt Ryan, Iona Prep.
Govan is heading to Georgetown in the fall, LaRose committed to Siena, Roland will attend George Washington and Ryan signed with Notre Dame. Isaiah Whitehead (Abraham Lincoln) was the 2014 recipient of the award.
The 2015 winners will be announced the weekend of March 20-22 during the NYSPHSAA final fours.
Milestone: Ossining's Dan Ricci picked up his 400th coaching win in girls basketball Thursday with an 82-62 victory over North Rockland in the Section 1 Class AA semifinals.
Pride senior captain Jalay Knowles finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Teammate Shadeen Samuels added 24 points and five rebounds.
"This means a lot to me; this is a program 400, not a Dan Ricci thing," Ricci told MSG Varsity. "This is because of all of the kids that played for me. This is a special group right here and it's a great thing. It's a great day for Ossining."
Said Samuels: "He's a tough coach, but he always intends the best. All we ever want to do is win for him. He's a great person, he knows what you're capable of and pushes you to it."
Senior breaks 50 barrier: Greenwich senior guard Alexis Case scored 54 points Tuesday in an 86-33 win against Galway to equal the second-highest outburst in Section 2 girls basketball history.
Case was 20-for-40 from the field in the Section 2 Class C first-round game and finished with seven rebounds. She scored all 14 first-quarter points for the Witches and had 47 points entering the fourth quarter.
Getting some on-air love: NBC's "Today" show weekend edition sent a crew to Fayetteville-Manlius High School this week to tape a segment on the cross country program. Syracuse.com reported the segment is scheduled to air Sunday morning unless it gets bumped to a later date by breaking news.
The piece will feature members of boys and girls teams that captured Nike Cross Nationals in December in Portland, Ore., and coach Bill Aris.
