Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016: Shenendehowa snaps Burnt Hills' volleyball streak

   Leading off today: No one knew it then, but the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake girls volleyball team was starting something big on Oct. 5, 1990 with a straight-sets victory vs. Colonie.

   That contest began a streak of 390 straight league wins for the Spartans -- a remarkable run that ended Wednesday night with a 25-20, 25-9, 25-17 setback to host Shenendehowa in Suburban Council action. Supported by a huge crowd, the Plainsmen trailed only once in the first two sets and pulled away from a back-and-forth third to complete the sweep.

   "I hoped it would be three sets, but I never imagined it would be three sets," Shenendehowa senior Julia Paliwodzinski told The Daily Gazette after racking up 33 assists and four service aces. "I figured it would be a five-set battle."

   Shenendehowa was the last league team to beat Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in 1990. A year ago, the Spartans beat Shen in five sets and went on to their sixth NYSPHSAA championship since 2002.

   "Since the moment we lost in five sets, we've been waiting for this moment," Shenendehowa coach Lori Kessler said. "This has always been a goal we've strived for."

   Boys soccer: Three weeks ago, Williamsville North was sitting at No. 2 in the New York State Sportswriters Association Class AA rankings and looking like a contender for more than just a Western New York championship.

   Those ambitions came crashing down Wednesday when the defending Section 6 champions lost their third consecutive game.

   Alex Fusani scored twice as Kenmore West (6-9) ousted Williamsville North (12-3-2) 3-1 in the sectional quarterfinals. Scott Hanesworth also scored in the win.

   The 11th-ranked Spartans were unde- feated until they lost their last three games.

   Record-setting effort: Gabbi Gare of Williamsville South set a Section 6 record with a 38.05 score in the all-around during a triangular meet with Clarence and Williams- ville East.

   Gare's score topped the mark of 37.95 by Amy Cucinnota of Amherst in 2003. Williamsville South's Miranda Roberson matched Cucinotta's mark with her 37.95 score.

   College decision: Here's hoping that Jordan Nwora knows what he's getting himself into. Nwora, second- team all-state at Park School in Buffalo last season, said on Twitter that he has verbally committed to Louisville and coach Rick Pitino.

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   Nwora, currently attending a prep school at Vermont Academy, had been expected to wait until next spring before picking a college.

   The 6-foot-8 Nwora recently made his official visit to Louisville and stopped by Park on Sunday to talk with coach Mike Battaglia. Nwora's other suitors included Cal, Marquette, North Carolina State, South Florida and Oklahoma State, The Buffalo News reported.

   On Thursday, the University of Louisville released the NCAA's notice of allegations in the aftermath of a year-long investigation into the basketball program. The NCAA charged the Cardinals with four Level I violations -- the highest level -- and cites Pitino with failure to monitor.

   The school came under scrutiny last year following disclosures in self-described escort Katina Powell's book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," in which Powell claimed former basketball staffer Andre McGee paid her and other women in exchange for having sex with players and recruits.

   In a joint statement released by the university, interim President Neville Pinto and AD Tom Jurich said the notice of allegations aligned with the findings in the school's internal investigation.

   Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban last February. Two months later, the school announced additional self-sanctions that including cutting two scholarships over the next three years, limiting coaches' travel and reducing the number of official visits.

   Pitino has said recently that he is confident Louisville will not receive any further punishment from the NCAA. Because the school did not pursue a summary disposition, the process is likely to play out through next spring's NCAA tournament.