Thursday, June 6, 2019: Fairport advances to final with overtime win

   Leading off today: Colin Peers scored the game-winning goal 47 seconds into overtime as Fairport edged Baldwinsville 8-7 in the NYSPHSAA boys Class A lacrosse semifinals Wednesday at St. John Fisher College.

   Trailing 7-6 with inside two minutes to go in regulation, the Red Raiders double-teamed the ball to force a turnover. Following a timeout, Kole Herren converted a feed from Klay Stuver and beat Baldwinsville goalie Daniel Stehle with :17.2 left to force overtime.

   Jake Knapp won the overtime faceoff and Fairport called another timeout to set up what turned out to be the final possession. Peers gathered up a loose ball, got position on the right wing and fired home the winner.

   "We ran something and it didn't work, but Peers picked it up and did what he's done in three overtimes this year," coach Mike Torrelli said. "Somehow he figures out how to score. From now on we're not going to call a play, we're just going to give it to (Peers) and do what he does."

   Fairport will return to Fisher on Saturday to play for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship against Massapequa, a 14-9 winner over Mamaroneck.

   Colin Gleason scored five of his six goals in the second half as the Chiefs overcame a three-goal, first-half deficit.

   "It's a swagger and a confidence that we like to play with," said Thomas Greenblatt, who scored three consecutive goals spanning the second and third quarters to erase a 5-2 deficit. "We like to think that when we play confidently, we play at our best."

   Gleason scored behind the back for a 7-6 lead, then jumped in stride to catching a long pass from Owen Vail and score in one motion while in midair for an 8-6 advantage.

   "It's just a huge momentum boost when you can do stuff like that," Gleason said. "I wasn't trying to be flashy. I was just making the easiest play and the best play to help us score."

   Victor, again: Victor gave up two early goals, then scored nine straight to overpower Vestal 12-6 in the Class B lacrosse semifinals and advance to the NYSPHSAA finals for the fifth straight season.

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   Victor's Regan Endres won 18 of 19 faceoffs and Jack LaRue scored four goals. Joey Pezzimenti added two goals and three assists to the triumph.

   John Jay Cross River edged Manhasset 11-10 in the other Class B semifinal as Luke Mercer bagged four goals and an assist.

   Bryce Ford contributed three goals and two assists, and

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Jack Browne finished with a dozen saves to advance JJCR to its first final since 2007.

   More lacrosse: Eighth-grader Alec Gregorek had four goals and two assists for Shoreham-Wading River in a 13-6 victory over Rye in the Class C semifinals. In the other semi, Jamesville-DeWitt swamped East Aurora 18-4 as Matt Kemmis scored six goals and William Davis connected four times to go with three assists.

    • Dylan Lyons racked up five goals and two assists as LaFayette/Onondaga defeated Penn Yan 13-6 in Class D. Penn Yan closed to within 7-5 at the half, but Zach Delaney and Lyons scored to double the margin. In the other semi, Briarcliff topped Mattituck/Southold 10-3 behind a seven-goal run in the second quarter.

   On the move: Former Saugerties basketball star Dior Johnson, displaced when Findlay Prep in Nevada shut down its program before he had the opportunity to suit up, is transferring to Hillcrest Prep n Phoenix, Ariz.

   He will be joined there by his brother, freshman Shyquan Royal.

   Recent deaths: Binghamton Central basketball great Billy Gabor, who went on to a stellar career at Syracuse University in the 1940s, and played for the NBA's Syracuse Nationals, has died. He was 97.

   Gabor, who lived in Jupiter, Fla., was believed to be the oldest living former NBA player.

   Gabor led SU in scoring in all four seasons in a career interrupted by military service during World War II. He was the school's career scoring leader until Dave Bing surpassed his mark.

    • Former Belmont wrestling coach William Mosgrove died last week at the age of 80 in Tucson, Ariz. He was 80.

   Mosgrove was a swimming and diving official for 57 years and was also a longtime soccer official.