Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017: Hilton freshman girl rolls recond-setting series

   Leading off today: Hilton freshman Elena Carr is believed to have broken the national record for a high school girl by bowling an 831 series at Terrace Garden Lanes on Monday.

   Carr rolled games of 265, 300 and 266, stringing together 19 consecutive strikes beginning with her perfect game.

   "I did know the score I needed to get an 800, but I didn't know about the national record part," said Carr, who is in her third season on the varsity.

   It wasn't until the last shot of her third game that someone broke the news to her.

   "It was at the very end of her third game and one of my girls sneaked up behind me and said, 'She only needs two strikes and three pins to tie the record,'" Hilton coach Jordan Roethel said. "It's not something we really think about, national records, because they are incredibly high, and after her 300 game none of us really remembered what her first game was."

   The National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations does not maintain records in the sport. The United States Bowling Congress breaks its records into adult and youth categories, and none of the five series of 845 or better it lists for youths appear to have been accomplished in scholastic competition.

   The U.S. High School Bowling Foundation had listed an 826 series in 2007 by Kristina Frahm of Oswego, Ill., as its recognized record.

   Derailed by injury: Woodlands junior Teisha Hyman suffered a left knee injury late in the first quarter of a 62-36 loss to Valhalla, leaving her three points shy of scoring 2,000 career points.

   "I didn't try to walk on (the leg) until halftime, and then I knew I wasn't going to come back," Hyman said. "When I try to walk or put pressure on it, it feels weak."

   Hyman's mother said the plan for Monday night would be to rest the leg and ice it, and then re-evaluate the situation Tuesday.

   First-year Woodlands coach Warren Bunkley said he thought Hyman would return to the game but she left the bench on crutches at halftime. Bunkley carried her to the bench in his arms before the third quarter.

   All-state cross country: Pittsford Mendon senior Nathan Lawler was named the state's boys cross country runner of the year Tuesday by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

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   Lawler was a two-time NYSPHSAA state Class B champion. He signed a letter of intent with Syracuse University last month.

   The full all-state team is available in our reference section.

   Basketball rankings: The first set of boys basketball rankings was released by the NYSSWA on Tuesday, with Archbishop Molloy of the CHSAA holding down the top spot just ahead of Cardinal Hayes in Class AA.

   The other season-opening No. 1 teams are Brooklyn Lax & Tech (Class A), LaSalle Academy (B), Northstar Christian (C) and Moriah (D).

   The statewide ratings can be found each week on our rankings home page, which also highlights the regional ratings for New York City and Long Island.

   Mike Libert has joined are panel of regional helpers this winter, taking over for Elio Velez. Mike's New York City updates each week will include a brief update on each of the ranked teams in Classes AA, A and B.

   Georgia controversy: The Ruckus over Section 1's move from the Westchester County Center for its basketball finals is nothing compared to the storm that's hit Georgia after weather postponed six state-championship football games last weekend.

   The contests had been scheduled for Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but they'll now be played Friday on the home fields of the highest remaining seeds, the Georgia High School Association announced. Two home fields had to be decided by coin flips.

   That weather problems led to the first significant postponements in 70 years of GHSA football playoffs.

   "We've played every No. 1 seed on the road this year. We've lost every coin toss. At some point, the kids are going to think everybody's against us," said Hapeville Charter coach Winston Gordon, whose team is traveling 120 miles to its game instead of less than 10 miles to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "You'd just think that greater minds will get together and see if these kids can play at Georgia Tech or Georgia State. It's supposed to be a neutral site."

   Colquitt County will travel 225 miles to its game at North Gwinnett.

   "They've got to have a better contingency plan," said Colquitt County coach Rush Propst. "This is a premier sport that needs to be protected in our state, and we must do what we can to promote it. This does not promote it."