Leading off today: Four 500-win high school coaches lead the list of nine men selected for induction into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame in March at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

   The selections were made by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York. Those being honored are:

Fred Ahart, boys coach at Roscoe with 541 victories in 39 seasons.

Dick Bihr, men's coach at Buffalo State, winner of 439 games and 11 SUNYAC championships.

Rich Castellano, girls coach at Northport, winner of 491 games and nine sectional championships in 28 seasons.

Tim Leary, whose St. Francis Prep boys teams won 541 games in 39 seasons.

Bill Merna, boys coach at Ogdensburg Free Academy for 35 years, winning 540 games and 15 sectional crowns.

Dean Schott Sr., boys coach at Lyons with 417 victories, nine sectional titles, four trips to Glens Falls and a Federation title.

Ken Strube, whose Shenendehowa girls have captured 512 wins, nine sectional and four state championships in 29 seasons.

Bob Zeh, who won 458 games with Oneonta's boys and girls teams in 36 years.

Cecil Watkins, honoroed as a contributor for his work with the National Pro Am Cities League and numerous other organizations.

   Felony charge dismissed: A judge has once again dismissed a felony assault charge against a former Wallkill soccer player accused of punching a Cornwall opponent during postgame handshakes in 2006.

   In a decision filed today, Orange County Court Judge Robert Freehill ruled that part of the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act is unconstitutional because it more harshly penalizes a visiting student than a student on home turf, the way Ashley Thorpe was in October 2006 on Cornwall's playing field.

   Wallkill's Jasmin Crespi was accused of punching Thorpe and charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Freehill threw out the felony assault charge last year but a state appeals court reinstated the assault charge on the grounds that Freehill should have notified the state Attorney General's office before he made his decision because it questioned the constitutionality of the law.

   The AG's office subsequently decided it wouldn't join the case. Crespi, who still faces the misdemeanor assault charge, is due back in court on Dec. 4.

   Mamaroneck continues to roll: Charlotte Gardiner scored her 19th goal of the season for Mamaroneck in a 1-0 win against Putnam Valley yesterday, extending the Tigers' field hockey streak to 17 straight shutout victories.

   Putnam Valley entered the contest on a 14-game winning streak.

   Mamaroneck closes out its regular season today vs. Ossining.

   Brawl fallout: Long Island City and Jamaica, who already both received a forfeit loss for their Oct. 11 game, in which a late third-quarter fracas led to the ejection of six players, received harsh additional penalties.

   Each squad was also ordered to forfeit games last weekend, a blow to their postseason hopes. LIC is 4-3 and Jamaica is 3-4. Prior to the brawl, Jamaica was battling for a berth in the Bowl playoffs and LIC was looking to sneak into the City Championship bracket.

   A break for New Dorp: The New Dorp boys soccer team is headed to the playoffs after the PSAL decided not to hit the Cougars with a forfeit following an altercation in the final minutes of Monday's game at Petrides.

   Needing only a tie to clinch a .500 record and automatic playoff berth, New Dorp was leading 3-0 with about four minutes remaining when an altercation occurred between New Dorp's Ardian Musovic and the Panthers' Eddie Rosario. Another New Dorp player, Patrick Zima, came off the bench and was also involved.

   After receiving reports from both coaches and the referee, the PSAL handed out two-game suspensions but decided not to award a forfeit.

   Stephenson follow-up: Abraham Lincoln basketball star Lance Stephenson could face disciplinary action from the school for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl earlier this month, The Daily News reported. Stephenson, a first-team all-state pick the past two seasons, is denying the charge, a Class B misdemeanor.

   "Disciplinary action from the school is pending, depending on the findings of the investigation," Department of Education spokeswoman Margie Feinberg told the paper. "The school is working with police on this case. The (alleged) victim is receiving counseling."

   No Corning merger: Corning-Painted Post's superintendent says discussions have ceased after a proposal by some district coaches opened the door to a possible merger of more teams at Corning East and West high schools.

   Superintendent Mike Ginalski said pursuing more consolidations would distract from other issues and wouldn't save significant money.

   "I have been. . . thinking what is the magic number it would take to allow the community to support a merger like this. Really, we weren't coming anywhere near an amount that was significant enough to merge the teams," he said.

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