Leading off today: Section 2 administrators have until March 16 to decide whether they want to mount a challenge to the decision by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association last month to shorten regular-season schedules in all sports.
According to The Post-Star, a motion was passed at the recent Section II Athletic Council meeting giving every member of the 97-school section a chance to vote on whether to try to overturn the state's measure.
Section 2 Executive Director Doug Kenyon told the paper the motion reflects the belief by some that the decision, one of several cost-cutting measures adopted at the most recent NYSPHSAA Executive Committee meeting, should be made at the sectional level.
Kenyon said he received an inquiry from another section that was interested in going through the same process.
Kearney wins No. 1 vs. No. 1 showdown: James Taylor scored 16 points and Blair Roberts overcame two early fouls to chip in with 15 last night as Bishop Kearney won a rare matchup of two top-ranked boys basketball teams over host Avon, 55-43.
The Kings (15-2) are ranked No. 1 in Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Avon, which had opened the season with 16 straight victories, is No. 1 in Class C.
Kearney had an 18-9 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter, holding Avon without a field goal for the first 7:13 of the period.
John Housel led the Braves with 11 points.
Coaching milestones: Brian Zapisek scored 22 points as Fayetteville-Manlius rolled past Fabius-Pompey, 75-39, in a non-league boys basketball game to hand Tom Blackford the 400th win of his 27-year coaching career.
Matt Perry hit for 24 points as Massena boys coach Tom Miller won his 300th game with the Red Raiders' 71-57 win vs. Malone on Tuesday. Miller has coached six years at Edwards-Knox, seven at Indian River and 10 with Massena.
Creighton's place: Greenport senior Ryan Creighton became Long Island's all-time scoring king with 25 points in an 85-35 rout of Shelter Island. His floating one-hander midway through the third quarter moved Creighton past former East Hampton great Kenny Wood (2,613 points), and he ended the night at 2,622 -- one point ahead of Kenny Anderson for the second spot on the state's career list.
Creighton, who has 514 points in Greenport's 17-2 start, could play eight more games if Greenport reaches the state Class D final. No. 1 on the scoring list is Sebastian Telfair of Abraham Lincoln, with 2,785 points.
Fans booted from hockey game: The final 93 seconds of Friday night's hockey game between Niskayuna/Schenectady and Saratoga Springs were played in an empty arena after officials ejected the crowd, The Times Union reported.
It began with Niskayuna/Schenectady senior forward Chris Farah being ejected. Tony Farah, the player's father
