Saturday, March 5, 2016: Msgr. Farrell one win from Federation berth

   Leading off today: Monsignor Farrell captured its first CHSAA league title with a 59-46 upset of Kennedy Catholic, the state's second-ranked team, in the Class A city championship game Friday.

   Senior Nick Corbett led the way with six 3-pointers and 25 points. Farrell also received 20 points and five rebounds to move on to the CHSAA state Class A championship game next weekend against winner of Saturday's contest between St. Anthony's and Canisius.

   Corbett had scored 45 points in a game three weeks ago as Farrell bear Curtis in overtime for the Staten Island championship. Against Kennedy, he scored 15 first-half points to build a 26-19 advantage.

   "There is no secret. If I'm open I am going to shoot the ball. If they don't have a hand up I'm definitely going to shoot it," Corbett told MSG Varsity. "I think every player does (have confidence shooting). I feed off big plays. Not just for me but from my team actually."

    • In Class B, Salesian broke away with an 18-0 run in the third quarter of its 67-43 win over Sacred Heart for its first championship since 2011.

   Xavier Tellez scored a team-high 16 points, and Anthony Mitchell and Alex Romans added 12 apiece.

   The Eagles (14-12) will play Buffalo's Nichols School (10-17) next weekend for the CHSAA berth in the Federation tournament in Albany.

   On to Glens Falls: Clark Academy's first NYSPHSAA boys basketball tournament victory was a big one, ousting defending Class D champion Bridgehampton from the quarterfinals 67-56 to advance to Glens Falls next weekend.

   Andre Carthorn scored 23 points and the Knights forced 20 turnovers, converting many of the opportunities into transition shots.

   "We're a fast lineup, and we go small ball for a reason," Carthorn told The Journal News. "We can force turnovers and our coaching staff had a specific game plan."

   Trailing 20-19 through the opening eight minutes, Clark limited Bridgehampton to three points in the second quarter to take a 12-point advantage into halftime.

   Ossining girls advance: Life is good when you can win a state quarterfinal by 15 points and nevertheless fret about the performance.

   "Thank god we got through this, but we didn't play up to our ability, Ossining coach Dan Ricci said after a 59-44 win over Monroe-Woodbury.

   Ossining, which averaged more than 84 points a game this season, was held under 60 against a New York opponent for the first time since the 2015 Federation Class AA semifinals.

   Seton Hall-bound senior Shadeen Samuels scored 19 of her 23 points in the first half while battling a stomach bug.

   "We've got to get out of this funk, and we're going to have to play better to win a state championship," Ricci said. "The plan was: 'Play really well today, get the weekend off.' That ain't happening. We're practicing tomorrow."

   West Islip diver wins squeaker: Patrick Carter of West Islip became the first Long Island diver since 2003 to capture the NYSPHSAA championship, scoring 528.40 points for 11 attempts at Erie Community College.

   "It's so hard to put into words but it just feels so great," Carter told Newsday. "The best thing in the world. With everything I've worked for, this tops everything."

2016 NYSPHSAA boys basketball brackets 2016 NYSPHSAA girls basketball brackets 2016 NYSPHSAA boys hockey brackets 2016 N.Y. complete wrestling brackets (PDF)

   Carter, a junior who place eighth last year, barely fought off Corey Neas of Brighton (526.65), Noah Galluzzo of Mexico (526.15) and Sean Riley of Pittsford (521.25).

   Ex-Lourdes star remembered: Former Our Lady of Lourdes football star Sean Gordon, a standout quarterback for the Warriors who once threw for seven touchdowns in a 1986 game, died last week, Hudson Valley Sports Report passed along Thursday.

   Rich Thomaselli wrote a touching remembrance of his childhood friend.

   Va. governor says no: For the second straight year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation that would have let Virginia's home-schooled students compete in public-school sports.

   McAuliffe's veto Monday came less than a week after a group of home-schooling families came to the capitol to urge the governor to sign the so-called "Tim Tebow bill," named after former home-schooler and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

   McAuliffe reaffirmed his stance that allowing home-schooled students to participate would create inequality because public-school athletes have to abide by academic standards set by the Virginia High School League. Home-schoolers can't meet a rule requiring athletes to be enrolled in at least five classes, due to "the unique nature of their educational situation," McAuliffe said.

   Advocates argue that home-schooled students shouldn't be barred from sports when some public schools already allow them to participate in some classes and clubs. The bills would have given local school boards the option of allowing sports participation.

   Extra points: Hamburg AD Pat Cauley is relinquishing his position as football coach after compiling a 14-13 record in three seasons. Cauley previously spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator.

   "I need someone to really make this their baby because we have wonderful kids, we have a supportive community, we have a beautiful facility," Cauley said. "So we have a lot of things in place. We just need somebody to really work this thing 12 months a year and get us prepared for a very tough division in Section 6. I think we're getting closer but we have to continue this journey."