The 2016-17 New York high schools year in review, Page 6

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   The protest drew the school board president to the field for a talk with the Toths and then the coach. At least one player was benched for the game and AD Jeff Alger addressed the team later to announce that the team would forfeit its next game if no one stepped forward to take responsibility for the incidents described by the Toths.

   With multiple people getting involved over the next 48 hours, the Toth family confirmed its concerns were properly addressed, teammates expressed support and a player admitted his role in at least one of the misdeeds.

Still unresolved

   Seven months after the New York State Sportswriters Association first reported the dispute, University Prep in Rochester was still awaiting a ruling on its appeal to the New York State Education Department regarding the way Section 5 classifies charter schools for postseason tournaments.

   The matter went through Section 5 and NYSPHSAA appeals early in the basketball season after UPrep was pushed up to Class AA despite its contention that charters should be classified based upon enrollment, which is the case with other public schools.

   UPrep founder and President Joe Munno sent off his appeal to the NYSED on Jan. 6, hoping for a decision in time for the 2017 sectionals. With the new school year about to commence, UPrep has again been assigned to Class AA while awaiting the ruling.

Playing for the win

   Trailing by a point in the second OT against Maple Grove, Cambridge coach Doug Luke played for the win on probably the best weekend of NYSPHSAA football finals ever. And Shawn Lemieux delivered it, catching the conversion pass from junior Zack Rowland to earn a 22-21 win in the Class D championship game at the Carrier Dome.

   Said Rowland: "It may have been seconds, but in my mind it felt like forever. Once the ball left my hand, it just fell into his hands. Then we were state champs. It is amazing."

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   Maple Grove's Nick Fabrizio scored on a 2-yard run to open the second OT and the Red Dragons kicked the extra point.

   On fourth-and-10 from the 20, Rowland threw under pressure to Holcomb over the middle for 12 yards and a fresh set of downs. On the next play, senior Maurice Seymore scored on a sweep to set up the decisive conversion.

    • The conclusion of the CHSAA final was as good, with Canisius rallying in the final 1:36 for a 50-44 win over Cardinal Hayes.

   Zeke Margaritis' 17-yard TD reception with :12 to play followed by his catch of the conversion pass capped a wild

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day of scoring. The winning drive started after Cole Burniston jumped a route and made an interception near the goal line to give the Crusaders the ball at their own 7.

   Jayce Johnson (18-for-21, 287 yards, five TDs) completed six passes for 85 yards on the winning drive.

More wild and spine-tingling action

   Two Section 11 teams took a run at the longest baseball game in state history, with Mattituck outlasting Southampton 5-4 on May 12 in the completion of a suspended game that spanned 19 innings.

   Tuckers sophomore Bryce Grathwohl pitched all six innings (three hits allowed, eight strikeouts and no walks) after play resumed and belted his first career home run, a deep blow to left field, in the 19th inning.

   Said Southampton coach Scott Johnson: "It was incredible baseball. It wasn't just one team playing well. Both teams played terrific baseball. The pitchers were outstanding, and it boils down to one pitch."

   The contest lasted 4 hours, 40 minutes. Mattituck out-hit Southampton 17-10 and the teams combined for 567 pitches by seven hurlers. The presumed state record is a 24-inning CHSAA contest between Holy Trinity and St. Anthony's in 1988.

    • Solvay's 60-59 win over Marcellus in boys basketball featured a crazy final 1.1 seconds of overtime.

   Trying to miss a free throw to in effect run out the clock, Nate Kellar of Marcellus somehow rattled a brick through the hoop to make it a 59-57 lead. Solvay's Josh Posnick then inbounded to Jake Dippold not far beyond the top of the key. Dippold took one dribble and heaved a left-handed shot toward the basket nearly three-quarters of the court away. Naturally, he swished it for the win as time expired to complete a 37-point performance.

   Dippold also scored a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force the OT. He accounted for 10 points in the final :40 of overtime.

    • Argyle beat Hadley-Luzerne 93-79 in a boys basketball contest featuring a great duel. Argyle senior guard Kobe Lufkin tied his brother Joey's school record with 54 points on the strength of 7-for-15 shooting on 3-pointers and 17-for-20 marksmanship at the line. Hadley-Luzerne junior Connor Backus went off for a career-high 39 points by making 10 3-pointers, which also tied a school record.

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