NYSSWA blog: Greece Athena/Odyssey, New Hartford win hockey championships

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Leading off today: Greece Athena/Odyssey overcame an early 2-0 deficit yesterday in Utica to defeat Mamaroneck for the NYSPHSAA Division I hockey championship, 3-2.

Sophomore winger J.T. Stenglein's eighth goal in six postseason games, coming with 4:12 remaining, proved to be the winner as the Thunder (27-0) became the first team to go unbeaten and untied en route to a championship since Albany Academy in the 1990-91 season.

Athena/Odyssey fell behind 2-0 in the first five minutes but a first-period goal by sophomore winger Riley Bourbonnais cut Mamaroneck's lead to 2-1, then Bourbonnais set up senior winger Greg Ryan for the tying goal 9:45 into the second period.

"Everyone knew it was basically an overtime game from there," coach Dan Webb told the Democrat and Chronicle.

In the Division II final, Tommy Fiorentino and Andrew Kelleher scored 12 seconds apart late in the first period to start New Hartford on its way to a 6-1 victory against Pelham.

Six different New Hartford players scored goals to secure the team's first championship since 1997. The Spartans dropped the 1998 final to Aquinas in overtime, 3-2.

Rice boys triumph: Miami-bound senior guard Durand Scott scored six of his game-high 27 points down the stretch to break open a one-point game as Rice earned a 67-58 win against Christ The King in the CHSAA's Class AA Intersectional championship game.

Rice coach Maurice Hicks became the first CHSAA coach to win six city titles.

Jermaine Sanders added 11 points for Rice, which will play next weekend's PSAL Class AA champion in the Federation semifinals in Glens Falls on March 28.

In the PSAL semifinals, Bronx JFK scored a 61-58 win over Thomas Jefferson in OT as Naquan Pierce's jumper with 12 seconds to go broke a tie. Top-seeded Abraham Lincoln eliminated Boys & Girls, 76-64, to keep alive its hopes for a fourth straight title. Lance Stephenson led the way with 33 points.

St. Michael's gets it done: St. Michael's Academy defeated St. Peter's, 66-43, and claimed the CHSAA Class AA state championship. The Eagles bridged halftime with a 24-0 run and held the Eagles without a field goal for the entire third quarter. Jennifer O'Niell led St. Michael's with 22 points.

Mount Mercy wins: Buffalo's Mount Mercy won its first state CHSAA title in 14 years by capturing Class B against Bronx Aquinas, 44-35, at Christ The King. Senior Melissa Graham had a game-high 23 points and four assists for Mount Mercy, which returns to the Federation tournament for the first time since 1995.

Keeping track of track: Lancaster junior Melissa Kurzdorfer won the weight throw yesterday with an effort of 54-11½ in the National Scholastic Indoor Championships at

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NYSPHSAA boys basketball

NYSPHSAA girls basketball

NYSPHSAA boys ice hockey

the Armory Track and Field Center. Kurzdorfer, the state record-holder in the shot, placed second in the event to North Babylon's Vanessa Stewart (47-5.25). Erin Miller of Lockport placed third in the shot.

On the track, Catherine McAuley junior Phyllis Francis clocked 2:07.69 to edge Hempstead's Charlene Lipsey (2:07.77) in the 800 meters as they posted the nation's top two times of the season.

Keep an eye this spring on St. John Villa following its 3,200 relay title at the Armory. Juniors Samantha Lauro and Alexis Bivona and freshman twins Mariah and Dominque Claudio set a Staten Island record with a very crisp 9:04.80. Dominique Claudio anchored in 2:10.8 to bring home the victory over Bronxville.

In the boys 800, Colonie senior Tyler Stewart ran a Section 2-record 1:52.15 to place second in the 800 but it paled in comparison to the national record — 1:49.21 — posted by Robby Andrews of Englishtown, N.J.

Shenendehowa's girls set sectional records over the weekend en route to second place in the distance medley relay and fifth in the 3,200 relay.

At the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston, Roslyn junior Emily Lipari took the girls mile in 4:47.44.

Hockey stars announced: Mamaroneck senior defenseman Sean Hagan became the first Section 1 player selected player of the year in honors announced yesterday by the New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association.

Joining Hagen on the Division I first team all-stars are forwards Matt Willows of Clarkstown North, Riley Bourbonnais of Greece Athena/Odyssey, Nathan Pichette of Massena and Erich Haney of West Genesee; defenseman Eric Gunderson of Athena/Odyssey; and goalie Luke Glaser of Mamaroneck.

New Hartford junior forward Michael Zalewski was selected the player of the year in Division II.

The other all-stars are forwards Marc Flory of Pelham, Thomas Fiorentino of New Hartford and Kevin Corbett of Queensbury; defenders Joe Amico of Webster Thomas and Jake Silberlight of New Hartford; and goalie Dylan Smith of New Hartford.

By the way, Zaleski appears to have his mind set on leaving to play Junior A or prep-school hockey next winter. Zalewski, the last of three brothers to play for New Hartford, had a goal and an assist yesterday to raise his season totals to 44 goals and 87 points.

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11/5/24: Newburgh forfeits sectional football opener

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10/7/24: More eight-man teams left stranded in Week 5

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9/30/24: M-E edges Waverly in battle of No. 1 teams

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9/21/24: South Park's Nunes shatters N.Y. rushing record

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9/19/24: Longtime SWR coach Paul Koretzki, 84, dies

9/17/24: Western N.Y. teams embracing Guardian Caps

9/15/24: N.J. shows us N.Y. football has a ways to go

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9/13/24: Ohio wrestles with aftermath of shootings

9/11/24: Mass. school forfeits over male opponent

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