Leading off today: Western New York phenom Madison Francis has completed the career grand slam of all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association by earning first-team recognition for the fourth consecutive girls basketball season, this time adding the player of the year award in Class AAA.
The Lancaster senior averaged 32.6 points a game this season.
Also capturing player of the year honors as the NYSSWA released its large-school all-state selections were Baldwin's Payton Dulin in Class AA and Class A co-recipients Iva Corluka of Ardsley and Izzy Wesley of The Dalton School.
Dalton's Wesley is a two-time first-teamer.
Julia Scott, the Class AA player of the year as a sophomore, repeated first-team honors this season as Albertus Magnus moved up a class, while Zoe Mesuch of Walkill -- a Class A first-teamer in 2023 -- and Section 5's Mallory Heise (Hilton) and Bria Watkins (Webster Schroeder) made the top 'AA' list for the second year in a row.
Utica Notre Dame junior Ella Trinkus, the Class B player of the year in 2024, earned a spot on the 2025 Class A first team.
Girls NYSSWA All-State Team (Classes AAA, AA, A)
Girls NYSSWA All-State Team (Classes B, C, D)
Boys NYSSWA All-State Team (Classes AAA, AA, A)
Boys NYSSWA All-State Team (Classes B, C, D)
Three-Region Concept on hold
After an 18-4 vote in February to speed up work on the Three-Region Concept in order to implement it this fall, the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee reversed course on Wednesday and tabled final consideration until the Central Committee meeting in July. The vote was 14-8.
The decision came about when questions about logistics and the mechanics of the plan -- some not previously raised -- emerged during discussion at the quarterly meeting in Saratoga Springs.
In a development for another significant initiative, the Executive Committee, consisting of two representatives from each of the 11 sections, directed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to explore alternatives to its proposal to add voting members to NYSPHSAA committees.
I'll write more extensively tomorrow about developments at the meeting, but there was a bit of good news for athletes and coaches: In acknowledgement of spring weather that's been cooler and wetter than usual for much of the state, the Executive Committee approved a waiver for the seven-day rule. That permits teams to play seven consecutive days to accommodate previous postponements and the remainder of the schedule if necessary.
That's a long night
This has to be a record, right?
Saratoga Springs edged host Shenendehowa, 8-7, last Thursday in a girls lacrosse game that went to six overtimes.
Holy Cross recruit Janie Baringer ended the marathon with the game-winning goal.
"I have only ever been in two overtimes before, so it was interesting," Saratoga Springs third-year coach Jennifer Furze tole The Times Union.
She's not alone in that respect. I'm sure two- and three-overtime games happen a few times each season, but I cannot recall hearing a girls lacrosse game extending as far as four or more OTs.
The contest began at 7:30 p.m., and Furze was scheduled to appear on a 5:30 a.m. newscast the following day to promote the Blue Streaks' Lacrosse Out Cancer activities prior to Saturday's game against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
"By the fourth one, I said to the girls, 'I really need to go home to bed, so I need you to end it,'" Furze said.
A complete effort
Addison Makowski of Deposit/Hancock pitched a 15-strikeout perfect game against Bainbridge-Guilford on Wednesday, slugging a grand slam and driving in five runs for good measure.
