Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016: No. 5 Suffern skates past No. 2 Mamaroneck

   Leading off today: Sean Gordon turned aside 19 shots in posting the shutout as fifth-ranked Suffern defeated No. 2 Mamaroneck 3-0 Friday in a matchup of two of the state's top Division 1 boys hockey teams.

   "Doing that in our home rink, in front of these fans, I'm sure it's something that will be talked about for a while," Mounties defenseman Troy Daniels told The Journal News. "When you're playing as the underdog, nothing's better than coming out with a win."

   Michael Ruthberg scored off a feed from Daniel midway through the first period, and that would be all Suffern needed as Gordon made the lead hold up. David Rozitis scored his first varsity goal 1:15 into the third period and Evan Cama sealed the win five minutes later.

   More hockey: In more Division I action, No. 3 St. Joe's rallied from a third-period deficit to edge Orchard Park 2-1 in overtime. Michael Greco scored the tying goal with two minutes left in regulation and Trevor Conschafter had the winner two minutes into OT.

   "The shots in the third period were 20-1 for us," St. Joe's coach Rich Crozier told The Buffalo News. "That was after we were outshot 20-16 in the first two periods. It really felt like two different games."

    • Kenmore East, ranked 11th in Division II, knocked off Pittsford, ninth in Division I, by a 3-2 score.

   Boys basketball: Jared Rivers scored 14 points and Yashawn Bright added 13 to lead Christ the King, ranked 12th in the state in Class AA, over host Archbishop Molloy 68-61 in front of a standing room-only crowd.

   Molloy held a 47-46 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Rivers and Tyson Walker hit 3-pointers that put CK out front, and the Royals extended their lead to 64-56 after Molloy's bench was whistled for a technical foul with 1:01 to go.

   Both teams are 7-2. Molloy has a tough turnaround with a Sunday game vs. St. Raymond.

   Girls basketball: Cooperstown remains the class of the projected Class C playoff field, protecting its No. 1 state ranking with a 74-50 rout of No. 3 Frankfort-Schuyler.

   The reigning state champs got 27 points, seven assists and three steals from Liz Millea. Maria Noto added 15 points.

   Danielle Migliore became the overall scoring leader at Frankfort-Schuyler as her 21 points pushed her past former boys star Brett Barnard.

   Following up: The firing we mentioned in yesterday's blog is now being characterized as a resignation, but the result is the same: Gerard Conyers no longer coaches the boys basketball team or teaches at Avoca, ranked 15th in the state in Class D.

   The first-year coach and sixth-grade teacher told the Hornell Tribune, "I have resigned from my positions at Avoca as a teacher and coach. That's all I'm saying."

   The paper received an initial statement from a school board member saying, "The decision was made to remove him from the school and his coaching position for the betterment of our school and the students." However, that statement was later retracted at the request of the board member.

   Superintendent Stephen Saxton confirmed Conyers' departure but did not elaborate.

   Avoca lost to Prattsburgh 74-59 on Friday with Mike Stowe serving as interim head coach.

   Milestone: Stony Brook School downed Port Jefferson 54-45 giving boys basketball coach Mike Hickey his 300th victory Thursday at the school where one son, Danny, is the athletic director and another, David, is the team's statistician. Both sons teach at the school where their father has coached for 28 years.

   "More than the wins, I've been blessed with great players who are also great kids," Hickey told Newsday. "As John Wooden once said, you can't be a great coach without great players. It's been a lot of fun."