Leading off today: Ken Baker, known as a football coach who made a difference in win-loss records at two Section 2 schools and in the lives of his players, died yesterday in Aiken, S.C., The Times Union reported.

   Baker was stricken while playing basketball near his winter home. He had retired from coaching in 1996 at the age of 55.

   Baker started his coaching career at Hoosick Falls in 1972, compiling an 87-33-5 mark — including 55-11-2 in the last seven seasons — and playing in four sectional championship games. He then moved over to nearby Cambridge and posted a 64-28-1 record — including 37-5-1 in his last four years — with three sectional championships.

   As NYSSWA Section 2 observer Steve Grandin notes, Hoosick Falls fell to a 5-19 record in the three seasons immediately after Baker's departure and experienced only three winning seasons in the next 16 years. Cambridge was 7-33-1 in the five seasons before his arrival.

   He finished with a career record of 151-61-6.

   "I am stunned. I know he kept himself in such great

shape. This just shows that it can happen to anybody," current Cambridge coach Doug Luke, a former Baker assistant, told the Albany paper. "The only people who had a bigger impact on my life were my father and uncle. That is how much he meant. It is tough to talk about."

   Arkansas player dies: An Arkansas high school basketball player died yesterday after he collapsed during a game.

   Anthony Hobbs, 16, a junior at Little Rock's Parkview High School, collapsed during the first quarter as he was heading to the bench during a game against Lake Hamilton.

   Two nurses at the game performed CPR and Hobbs was taken to a hospital, where where he was pronounced dead.

   Extra points: No. 6 Coleman Catholic (7-0) won the battle of the Class D unbeatens with ease, routing No. 14 Livingston Manor yesterday in a non-league girls basketball contest, 53-24. Taylor Leonard had 14 points, five assists and five steals. Kiersten Albrecht added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

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