Leading off today: Stars from three NYSPHSAA tournament champions have been selected players of the year in boys basketball, the New York State Sportswriters Association announced today.
Earning the top honors are:
• Marcellus (Class B) senior Tucker Burnett, who averaged 20.3 points a game.
• Cooperstown (C) senior Miles Nelen, who averaged 26.3 points.
• Bolton (D) junior Jaxon Egloff, who averaged 17.0 points.
Burnett is a repeat first-team selection in Class B, as is Nelen in Class C. J.J. Johnson of Lyons, another first-team pick in Class C, earned a spot on the Class B first team a season ago.
Shane Kirker of Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Landon Washburn of Honeoye made the Class C first team for the second consecutive season.
The complete all-state selections in Classes B, C, and D can be viewed here.
The NYSSWA will reveal its all-state teams in Classes AAA, AA, and A on April 29.
Milestone
Kady Duffy scored career goal No. 250 for Queensbury during a 19-3 girls lacrosse victory over South Glens Falls on Monday.
Charges filed against Batavia Notre Dame AD
Mike Rapone, one of the winningest boys basketball coaches in state history and the longtime athletic director at Batavia Notre Dame, has been charged in connection with an alleged incident at a business where he worked part-time.
The Daily News reported Rapone, 72, was charged with forcible touching and second-degree harassment following an investigation by Genesee County sheriff's deputies. He is to appear May 5 in Town Court.
Investigators were alerted March 20 about a complaint stemming from a March 2 incident at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, where Rapone worked as a floor attendant.
Notre Dame administrators placed Rapone on administrative leave March 17.
The 1971 Notre Dame graduate has had a 44-year career there as a coach, AD, assistant principal, and interim principal. He holds the Section 5 record with 728 boys basketball victories and was inducted into the BCANY Hall of Fame in 2024.
