Leading off today: The highest of highs nearly became the lowest of lows for coach Maurice Hicks and his Rice boys basketball team.
A day after burying the PSAL's Abraham Lincoln for New York City bragging rights, the Raiders had to return to Glens Falls Civic Center and barely survived the Federation Class AA final. Rice ended up dispatching Newburgh Free Academy yesterday, 70-68, but it took an overtime. Miami-bound Durand Scott, the tourney MVP, led all scorers with 23 points, and teammate James Stukes added 18.
"I've seen a lot of things happen," Hicks told The Daily News. "The biggest fear for us was that we beat Lincoln by 27 and had to come back here and play another game."
Scott pump-faked and hit a three-pointer with 15.4 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 63 and force overtime. With Rice up 67-66, Jermaine Sanders hit a three-pointer with about a minute left and blocked a shot at the other end to seal the victory.
Two-time champs dethroned: St. Michael's Academy completed its injury-plagued breakthrough season with a 62-58 victory over Murry Bergtraum in the girls Class AA final in Glens Falls.
The Eagles knocked off the two-time defending champions -- who have 11 straight PSAL titles -- to win their first Federation crown.
"I knew I would (get over the hump) because I’m not good at Xs and Os, but I’m great at having a plan and a vision," eighth-year coach Apache Paschall told The Post-Star. "From club ball to high school ball, the knock on us has always been is we can’t win the big game, we will never get there. And for eight years we haven’t. So for us to finally do that and get the monkey off our back. ... What are they going to say now? There’s nothing they can say."
Jelleah Sidney made two free throws with :15.5 left to break a 58-58 tie.
St. Michael's surrendered the game's first seven points bur rallied behind Jennifer O’Neill (13 points, six rebounds) to a 14-12 lead. Bergtraum moved back out to leads of 33-22 and then 39-29 after back-to-back three-pointers by CeCe Dixon (20 points) and Shanee Williams (17).
