Leading off today: Legendary Bellport football coach Joe Cipp Jr. said Thursday that he will step down from the position in order to concentrate on his responsibilities as superintendent of South Country School District.
Cipp made the announcement in an e-mail.
"There is no way I can be the Superintendent and Head Coach," he said in the message. "Not enough hours in the day and to be honest with you, too much of a drain on this 'old body'. I will not be head coach in 2011."
Cipp launched the Bellport program in 1976 and helped the school to its sixth Long Island championship last fall. He also passed Tom Cassese of Comsewogue during the 2010 season as the winningest head coach in Suffolk County history, going 9-3 to finish with 211 victories.
Cipp's e-mail said he intends to pass the program on to his sons Jeff and Joe III, who has been his offensive coordinator.
A secret no more: Albany CBA had been doing a superb job of maintaining a low profile this basketball season, running the table in the follow-up to the Brothers' 2010 NYSPHSAA Class AA championship.
There's no hiding this team's continued prowess anymore. CBA (15-0), ranked third this week by the NYSSWA, routed Schenectady (10-4) 70-41 at Times Union Center.
Twenty of CBA's 28 baskets were assisted and five others were on offensive rebounds in the rematch of a 50-44 victory six weeks ago at Schenectady.
“Nobody on this team is selfish. They are all unselfish,” CBA coach Dave Doemel told The Times Union. “They are confident in what they can do.”
Girls basketball: Shelby Fogarty had 12 points and 11 rebounds to help Pittsford Mendon, ranked second in the state in Class A, defeat No. 15 Rochester East 48-39 in non-league action.
Paige Hill added 12 points for the Vikings.
New award: Marlboro softball standout Carmen Congelli has been named the first recipient of the Spirit of Sport Award by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
The award is for a coach, athletic administrator, trainer or student-athlete who "exemplifies the ideals of the positive spirit of sport, representing the core mission of education-based athletics" the NYSPHSAA announced.
Congelli is battling Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that results in a fast-growing malignant tumor. She hit .430 last spring and was named her league's player of the year. She will now be eligible for a national award from the National Federation of State High School Associations in July.
"Carmen exemplifies the passion for life that is fostered in part by her participation in high school athletics. That same passion contributes to her success as an outstanding high school athlete," said Nina Van Erk, executive director of the NYSPHSAA. "She serves as an inspiration to her teammates, school community and all involved in high-school athletics statewide."
