Leading off today: Vernon-Verona-Sherrill rolled to a 68-32 victory over Camden in a Tri-Valley League boys basketball game last night, giving
Al Knapp the 521st victory of his coaching career to break the Section 3 record.
Knapp is a combined 521-182 in 32 seasons at Brookfield and V-V-S. Knapp, who turns 59 tomorrow, moved past the late Dave Powers of Oswego as Evan Croll had 18 points and 6-foot-10 center Adam Kemp added 14.
Also in Section 3, Jamesville-DeWitt routed Chittenango, 107-55, to give Bob McKenney his 400th career win. McKenney was 145-99 at Milton, Vt., and is now 255-50 at J-D. Brandon Triche scored 30 points as the Red Rams won their 37th straight game.
McKenney used 5-foot-7, 110-pound senior manager Nathan Scholl-Hess for short stints in the second and fourth periods. Scholl-Hess, who has worked for J-D at every practice and game for six years, responded by making two three-point baskets.
Finally, Fayetteville-Manlius edged Auburn, 66-59, to give Tom Blackford the 399th victory of his career at two schools. Blackford (399-205 at Hamilton and F-M) goes for No. 400 Tuesday vs. Henninger.
Mount Vernon gets revenge: Mount Vernon rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat New Rochelle, 81-66, and avenge last week's loss to its Section 1 archrival.
Sherrod Wright scored 24 of his 31 points in the second half. The senior scored 12 points apiece in the final two quarters, and Mount Vernon held New Rochelle to 30 second-half points.
"There was no X's and O's at halftime, that's for sure," Knights coach Bob Cimmino told The Journal News. "We just challenged their determination. We weren't playing well. But we also didn't think we were putting forth a very good effort. We really challenged the front line."
Sacred Heart girls rolling: Sacred Heart completed a regular-season sweep of defending Monsignor Martin Association champion Buffalo Nichols, 66-57, to improve to 18-0. Sacred Heart is ranked No. 1 and Nichols No. 16 in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association.
Senior Devon Hornung scored a career-high 28 points, and point guard Natalie Cappola collected nine rebounds to go with 11 assists.
In hot pursuit: Jason Wartinger's school record for career wrestling wins, set in 1992, isn't going to last much longer. Not with two seniors pursuing it.
Wartinger was 168-15 at Cheektowaga. But Clay Reeb (160 pounds) is 166-39 and Jared Messina (130 pounds) is 164-22 entering today's eight-team tournament at Cheektowaga.
Messina is also one shy of 100 career pins. "Most people can’t get 100 wins — he’s going for his 100th pin," coach Matt Haberl told The Buffalo News.
Pluta retires at Norwich: John Pluta has told his players he is leaving after 20 seasons as head football coach and 23 overall at Norwich, The Evening Sun reported.
Pluta will become an assistant coach for Terry Dow at Morrisville State.
A two-horse race: It's becoming pretty apparent that the Class AA race at the west end of the state is going to come down to Niagara Falls vs. Rush-Henrietta for the right to go to Glens Falls.
They faced off two months ago in the Cataract Classic, and Niagara Falls prevailed by a 76-66 margin as Kelvin Agee scored 28 points, including four three-pointers, in a dual against Rutgers-bound friend Dane Miller (21 points).
