Saturday, March 28, 2015: Cut player's father allegedly attacks coach

   Leading off today: A Mahopac father has been arrested after he allegedly punched and spat on a lacrosse coach who cut his junior daughter from the varsity team, The Journal News reported Friday.

   Alfonso DiFusco, 46, was charged Tuesday with second-degree harassment, a violation, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, the paper reported. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Carmel Town Court and was ordered to stay away from coach Jim Lieto. Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari said additional charges could be filed.

   Lieto alleges that DiFusco attacked him outside the school March 13 after Lieto announced roster cuts. Superintendent Brian Monahan said surveillance video from the school's camera was given to Carmel police.

   AD John Augusta told the paper Lieto was not badly injured. DiFusco allegedly stopped Lieto's vehicle and yelled at the coach before reaching inside and punching, then spitting on him. He also reportedly tried to take Lieto's cellphone before a student pulled him away, the paper reported.

   "My impression is it was not a discussion of any length," said Monahan, who has barred DiFusco from school property.

   Scotia's streak snapped: Canisius scored seven points in the final 57 seconds and beat Scotia-Glenville 68-63 in overtime Friday at SUNY Albany, snapping the Tartans' 53-game winning streak in boys basketball.

   The Crusaders advanced to the Federation Class A final, where they will play Albany Academy, a 61-50 winner over Springfield Gardens.

   Scotia is a two-time NYSPHSAA champion and was the defending Federation Class A titlist. The Tartans hadn't lost since March 9, 2013, when they fell to Bishop Ludden in the NYSPHSAA regionals.

   Scotia star Joe Cremo made two free throws with three-tenths of a second left in regulation. In OT, Stafford Trueheart's three-point play gave Canisius the lead for good, and seniors Josh Huffman and LaTerrance Reed each went 2-for-2 from the line in the closing seconds.

   "We worked hard all year in order to play for this title," Reed, who scored 19 points despite three first-quarter fouls, told The Buffalo News. "That's a great team we played. Anybody could've won that. That game came down to toughness and we were the tougher team."

   Trueheart eclipsed 1,000 career points, finishing with 19.

   Christ the King sweeps: Christ the King surrendered the game's first 15 points before rallying to a 50-44 win over Long Island Lutheran in the boys Federation Class AA semifinals. The Royals will vie for a third straight championship when they face Wings Academy on Saturday.

   Christ the King took its first lead at 28-27 on two free throws by Jose Alvarado with 2:49 left in the third quarter. LuHi answered with an 8-0 run, but Tyrone Cohen (19 points, seven rebounds) ended the third quarter with a three-point play to pull the Royals within 35-31.

   "I'm just happy I have a bunch of tough kids in there who expect to win," Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello told MSG Varsity. "They don't get rattled. I think it's a real tribute to the Christ the King tradition."

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   Junior forward David Cole broke a 44-44 tie with a basket inside with 1:14 remaining and grabbed a defensive rebound in the final 10 seconds to snuff out the last LuHi threat.

   The win was the Royals' fifth straight over the Crusaders over three seasons, including three straight Federation tournaments.

   The Christ the King girls were also in rally mode, coming back late from 10 down to defeat South Shore 71-67. Dominique Toussaint scored 14 of her team–high 28 points in the fourth quarter of the semifinal.

   Christ the King torched the Lady Vikings for 30 points in the fourth quarter and secure a spot in the final opposite Long Island Lutheran. Sydney Zambrotta scored 22 of her 26 points in the second half and Kaela Kinder added 12 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.

   And the Lady Royals needed all that offense and more to overcome McDonald's All-American Brianna Fraser, who set a Federation record with 46 points. Colonie's Michelle Blot set the old mark of 43 in 2001.

   Christ the King led 16-14 early in the second quarter, but the Maryland-bound Fraser keyed a rally with seven straight points and the team to push South Shore ahead by nine late in the half. By midway through the third quarter, Fraser was on a run of 18 straight Lady Vikings points before Zambrotta struck for 12 straight for Christ the King.

   Kinder forced a steal at half court and assisted Zambrotta with the go-ahead basket at 63-62 with 1:22 to play. South Shore tied, but Toussaint made three of four free-throw attempts and Zambrotta sealed the game with two more free throws.

   In the other Class AA semi, Michigan-bound guard Boogie Brozoski finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds in Long Island Lutheran's 67-55 win over Ossining.

   "Honestly, I just hate losing and that's what it comes down to," said Brozoski, already named Miss New York Basketball and Gatorade's state player of the year. "Obviously the brighter the lights, the bigger the game, but it just comes down to losing. I hate losing and I won't accept losing."