Saturday, March 31, 2001
An awards show 'we' don't want you to miss
Drab weather got you down? Bummin' about the bear market? Still stupefied that "Gladiator" won Best Picture? Cheer up. It's time for the 2001 winter Benchmark Awards, presented to the best, worst and most dubious of the sports season. This isn't to be confused with The Daily Star's annual honors. Those are like the Emmys. These are more like the TV Guide awards.
Daily Star All-Stars are real winners
ONEONTA — One aspect that binds The Daily Star's high school basketball 2000-2001 honor roll is winning. From Michael Graham's magical senior season at Sidney to the impressive turnaround of the Delhi boys, the top performers helped their teams achieve top records.
Playing the name game produces uninspiring results
During the 2000 World Series, in which Benny Agbayani played left field for the Mets, I heard someone remark that Agbayani was kind of a weird name. I agree, though Agbayani is not the most exotic specimen of nomenclature I have ever seen.
Terry Labonte having tough time trying to finish first as nice guy
If Winston Cup drivers had a class yearbook, my guess would be that Terry Labonte would be voted most likely to get an ulcer. There are limits to being mild-mannered and controlling your emotions, but he has exceeded them. Just once, he needs to uncork that pent-up rage and let it flare like a biker whose Harley was toppled by a nerd. I think all drivers should be like Tony Stewart.
O-State men's, women's lax to play first SUNYAC games
Though the baseball and softball teams had games wiped out due to the poor weather, the Oneonta State men's and women's lacrosse teams are still set to play this weekend.
Friday, March 30, 2001
Christman is close to spot with Rockies
ONEONTA — It could be a memorable birthday for Oneonta High graduate Tim Christman on Saturday. Christman, who will turn 26, is close to securing a spot on the Colorado Rockies' major league roster, the Rocky Mountain News reported Thursday.
'Wick water polo headed to Princeton for ECAC championships
PRINCETON, N.J. — For the third time this season, the Hartwick College women's water polo team will head to Princeton University. The stakes are higher this time, though, with an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on the line.
Fishing tips to consider while waiting for the spring thaw
Opening day of trout season has always been a special day of the year. It falls just slightly behind the first day of bow season and gun season for deer. Opening day for turkeys ranks up there also.
Thursday, March 29, 2001
O-State tennis should be tough
ONEONTA — A 3-2 record after a tough opening schedule means things are looking up for the Oneonta State men's tennis team. "Last fall my players came to me and asked if I could find some top-notch squads to play on our spring trip," O-State coach Jim Baker said.
Hawks end water polo season with 12-3 victory
POUGKEEPSIE — Lauren Scott scored three goals in Hartwick's 12-3 women's water polo defeat of Marist on Wednesday. The Hawks finished the regular season at 13-7 and will play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships this weekend.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
SYRACUSE — Final New York State Sportswriters Association winter rankings for the 2000-01 season.
AREA SPORTS BRIEF
ONEONTA — The Oneonta Soccer Club will honor three of its members for their contributions to youth soccer.
Wednesday, March 28, 2001
Season slow to spring into action
ONEONTA — In recent years, spring sports cancellations have become as predictable as the sun rising in the East. That might not be such a good analogy.
Afton senior has lot riding on first practices at Michigan State
ONEONTA — Christina Kirkaldy will have plenty to play for when she joins the field hockey team at Michigan State this fall. The Afton senior, who was a co-captain on the Indians' Class D state championship team in 2000, is in contention with two others to be the Spartans' starting goaltender.
Area college roundup
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Edwin Rodriguez and Luis Burgos combined on a no-hitter to lead the Mount Mercy College baseball team to a 6-0 victory over Hartwick on Tuesday. Rodriguez pitched six innings and struck out 10. Burgos got the final three outs.
Tuesday, March 27, 2001
'Wick equestrian will send eight to regional finals
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight members of the Hartwick College women's equestrian team have qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Regional Championships at Skidmore College at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
AREA BOWLING RESULTS
CHAMPION ($1,000): Mark Rathbun, Oneonta, 249, 213, 193, 258, 268, 243 — 1,424.
Monday, March 26, 2001
Hawks beat Red Dragons in OT, 10-9
ONEONTA — Senior attacker Nick Luzzi scored the winning goal one minute and 24 seconds into sudden-death overtime on Sunday, giving Hartwick College a 10-9 men's lacrosse victory over Oneonta State. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but was moved to Sunday because of poor weather. Hartwick won its first game against O-State in four seasons.
Red Dragons drop three in softball
FT. MYERS, Fla. — Three losses Saturday dropped the Oneonta State softball team to 5-5 as the Red Dragons concluded their 10-game season-opening series in Florida. In the opener, O-State fell behind 6-1 after two innings and lost 6-3 to Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Nicole Best led the Pointers with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Three from Delhi Tech qualify for NJCAAs
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Delhi Tech's Gabe Fletcher had three NJCAA qualifying marks in the sixth annual Monmouth University Invitational in track and field on Saturday.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
COOPERSTOWN — The Leatherstocking Division of the Men's Senior Baseball League is looking for players ages 25 and older for its 2001 season.
Hawks clinch region crown in water polo
POUGHKEEPSIE — With four victories in four games, the Hartwick College women's water polo team brought home the Collegiate Water Polo Association New York Region title in the first year of the program.
Saturday, March 24, 2001
Don't bet the rent on this forecast
Unless World War III or Judgment Day take place, the 2001 Major League Baseball season will begin as scheduled on April 1. In the first game of the season, the Texas Rangers will play host to the Toronto Blue Jays in, of all places, Puerto Rico. This means it's time for my annual forecast, which has the usual disclaimer: Don't bet the rent.
Red Dragons softball splits on Florida trip
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — After absorbing a 7-1 loss to Wesleyan University (Conn.) on Friday morning, the Oneonta State softball team rebounded with an 8-0 defeat of St. Ambrose College (Iowa) during its spring trip.
O-State men's lacrosse at Hartwick on Saturday
ONEONTA — Identical records and top-20 rankings will clash at 7 p.m. on Saturday when Hartwick College plays host to Oneonta State in a men's lacrosse game at All-Weather Field. The two teams appear evenly matched for Saturday's game. The Hawks are ranked 19th in the latest Division III men's lacrosse poll while the Red Dragons are 20th. Both teams are 2-1.
New coach, new faces for Hartwick baseball
ONEONTA — Barry Shelton will have mostly new team to work with in his first season as Hartwick College's baseball coach. Shelton, a graduate of West Virginia State and a former minor league player in the Chicago White Sox organization, and the Hawks open the season at 1 p.m. Sunday against Colby College at Fort Myers, Fla. Hartwick will play eight games during the spring break trip.
Rookies starting to win like veterans
Remember when it was remarkable if a rookie even stayed on the lead lap with drivers such as Richard Petty, David Pearson and/or Cale Yarborough? In those days, it wasn't uncommon for drivers to lap the field and coast home. Ned Jarrett, for instance, won the 1965 Southern 500 by a record 14 laps in his championship season.
Friday, March 23, 2001
Another award for Hurley; women's lacrosse postponed
ONEONTA — Hartwick College's Tiffany Hurley earned another postseason honor in women's basketball on Thursday. Hurley, a 6-foot junior forward, was named to the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association first team. She was a second-team selection last season. Hurley also was one of five players named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association District 2 all-star squad.
Spring will provide plenty of hot spots for area anglers
Well, the first day of spring has come and gone, and yet a blanket of snow still covers the ground. I guess that's living in the northeast. The robins are back, as are the red-winged black birds, but there are still fishermen cutting holes through the ice on the lakes. A few woodchucks have come out of hibernation, the turkeys are starting to strut, and trout season opens in a little more than a week.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
ONEONTA — The Red Dragons Wrestling Club, run by members of the Oneonta State wrestling team, will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of April.
Thursday, March 22, 2001
Red Dragons take first loss in softball
FT. MYERS, Fla. — After scoring 34 runs in its first three games, the Oneonta State softball team was shut out in suffering its first loss on Wednesday. The Red Dragons, who won their first two games of the season Tuesday, opened play Wednesday with a 10-0 victory over Keene State.
Sidney's Smith off to fast start at Cortland; Zeh finishes season at St. Rose
ONEONTA — Sidney graduate Travis Smith, a senior at Cortland State, posted some big numbers during the Red Dragons' season-opening spring baseball trip. In 11 games, Smith had 13 hits, including three doubles, a triple, two home runs and a team-high 12 RBI.
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Defense should never rest
It has joined the two-handed set shot, the palming violation and canvas Chuck Taylors at the end of basketball's bench. Occasionally, it will make a brief appearance and some of us think, "Hey, I remember that being popular when 'Born in the USA' was on top of the charts."
O-State wins softball openers
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Stamford graduate Liz McGrail drove in the first two runs of the Oneonta State softball season and Roxbury graduate Kelly Winnie homered twice in a double-header on Tuesday.
O-State honors pitcher, attack
ONEONTA — Senior pitcher Scott Meyer and freshman women's lacrosse attack Melissa DiRaddo were named athletes of the week at Oneonta State.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
ONEONTA — The Del Anthony Basketball Classic is accepting entries for its "Y2K1 Summer League," which starts in June. Entry deadline for the event, which takes place in Oneonta, is May 11.
Tuesday, March 20, 2001
'Wick senior beats cancer with courage
ONEONTA — Strange as it might sound, Hartwick College senior Jon Putney was blessed to have been stricken with leukemia. The same disease that nearly took Putney's life as a 13-year-old and also robbed his childhood of 21/2 years has given him so much more.
Area Sports Briefs
ONEONTA — The Red Dragons Wrestling Club, run by members of the Oneonta State wrestling team, will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of April.
Hartwick honors women's lacrosse player, swimmer
ONEONTA — Senior women's lacrosse player Adrienne Spinozzi and junior men's swimmer Chris Maiello are the co-Hartwick College/McDonald's Athletes of the Week for the week ending March 18.
Bellinger sidelined with injury
Oneonta native and New York Yankees utility player Clay Bellinger has been sidelined with a knee cap injury sustained during spring training.
Oak Tree cruises behind 741 series
ONEONTA — Brian Davis threw a 288 game and finished with a 741 series in the Genny Light Classic on March 12, leading Oak Tree Homes to a 20-4 victory over RJ Anderson Roofing at Holiday Lanes.
Monday, March 19, 2001
High School Volleyball
WALTON — Adam Birdsall had seven kills and four assists to lead Gilbertsville-Mount Upton past Unatego on Saturday in the championship game of the annual Susquenango Association boys volleyball tournament. Gavin Backus had 12 service points and Weston Fellows had 10. Isaiah Fenger had six assists as the Raiders beat the Spartans, 25-15, 25-13 in the final.
Cedar Valley dominates in championship
DELHI — Cedar Valley College of Texas dominated the NJCAA Division III men's basketball tournament championship on Saturday for a 78-55 defeat of Sullivan County. Tournament MVP Reggie Griffin scored 28 points at Delhi Tech, helping Cedar Valley to its first NJCAA title. Cedar Valley opened on an 8-0 run en route to a 37-17 advantage at halftime. Sullivan failed to get closer than 17 points the rest of the game.
Hartwick women top Oneonta in lacrosse
ONEONTA — Sophomore Emily Dark scored five goals to lead the Hartwick College women's lacrosse team to a 13-7 victory over Oneonta State on Sunday at All-Weather Field.
SUS WRESTLING ALL-STARS
The 2000-2001 Susquenango Association wrestling all-stars. Wrestlers who won league titles earned First Team accolades while those placing the highest at the league tournament from each division were named to division all-star teams.
Saturday, March 17, 2001
Connolly: 'It's still a game to me'
ONEONTA — Ability got Oneonta High graduate Mike Connolly drafted in the 19th round of last year's Major League Baseball amateur draft. How Connolly, a left-handed pitcher, develops his talent will determine whether he makes it to baseball's biggest stage in the upcoming years.
Burton's Taurus no bull in the standings
If I'm one of the folks at Citgo responsible for pumping money into Jeff Burton's No. 99 Taurus race team this season, I'm steering clear of second-floor window ledges and not running with scissors. When you hitch your company name to a team that was third in points last season, it has got to be torture watching what's happening this year.
Cedar Valley upsets defending champs
DELHI — Cedar Valley opened on a 10-3 run and kept the lead for the remainder of the game as it knocked off defending NJCAA Division III men's basketball champion Roxbury Community College, 91-78, on Friday at Delhi Tech.
Black bear take up in New York
ALBANY — Hunters harvested a record 1,070 black bears in New York during the 2000 bear hunting season, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation black bear specialist Lou Berchielli said earlier this month. The 2000 season total is 385 more than last year's take, and breaks the previous state record of 880 set in 1989. The average take over the last 10 years is 681 bears annually.
Friday, March 16, 2001
Diary of a madman has a lot of heart
UNIONDALE - "No cheering in the press box." A good reporter is supposed to adhere to that mantra at all costs — or risk his professional reputation. Good thing mine is mud to begin with. I got into sports writing primarily because I'm a fan. I like the competition, the athleticism, the drama. I'm not yet jaded to the point where I see this occupation as just a job. But as a "journalist," I'm supposed to keep my mouth shut and my mind open.
Delhi Tech falls, 83-70
DELHI — Freshman Ken Hathorne scored 16 points, including four during a decisive stretch late in the second half to lead Vermilion Community College to an 83-70 victory Thursday over host Delhi Tech in an NJCAA Division III men's basketball quarterfinal.
Kentucky avoids upset by Holy Cross
UNIONDALE — Only three Division I men's basketball teams have won an NCAA tournament game as a No. 15 seed. Holy Cross would have been the fourth Thursday if not for one thing: Tayshaun Prince.
Iowa walks the walk to beat Creighton
UNIONDALE - Reggie Evans helped Iowa walk a fine line Thursday. The 6-foot-8 junior forward went 13-for-15 from the free-throw line as part of a 19-point effort to pace the seventh-seeded Hawkeyes to a 69-56 triumph over 10th-seeded Creighton in an NCAA tournament East region first-round game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Eagles get past So. Utah
UNIONDALE - In a word, it was madness. And in March, no less. Such was Boston College's 68-65 victory over Southern Utah on Thursday in an NCAA East region first-round game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Hunting Elk in Colorado is a Rocky Mountain high
As many of you already know, Pennsylvania is planning its first elk hunt this fall. The game commission is still working on the regulations, but according to its web page, non-resident hunters may have to buy their big game licenses before they can even apply for the elk drawing.
Defending NJCAA champion Roxbury CC wins in OT, 90-75
DELHI — Roxbury Community College went on a 25-10 run in overtime to roll past Rock Valley College in the first game of the 2001 NJCAA Division III National Championship.
O-State softball, tennis to open seasons
ONEONTA — Spring will finally be in the air next week for Oneonta State softball and men's tennis, which are scheduled to open play in the South.
Wick water polo at Princeton again
ONEONTA — For the second time this season, the Hartwick College women's water polo team will play at Princeton University. This time, however, the Hawks will actually play the Tigers.
Hawks' swimmer 20th at NCAAs
BUFFALO — Hartwick College junior Chris Maiello finished in 20th place in the 500 freestyle at the men's NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday.
Thursday, March 15, 2001
Delhi Tech men set for tournament
DELHI — A whistle blows, play stops and Delhi Tech men's basketball coach Mike Spisto begins instructing. "That can never, ever happen," he calmly says to a player who gave up a baseline drive as the back man on the team's 1-3-1 defense. Spisto then explains why. Two minutes later, he screams at a player who failed to set a screen on the offensive end.
Hartwick women win lacrosse opener
ONEONTA — Emily Dark scored with a minute and 26 seconds left in sudden-death overtime on Wednesday to lead the Hartwick College women's lacrosse team to a 12-11 season-opening victory over Oswego State at All-Weather Field. Dark, who had three goals on 20 shots, scored off a free position attempt.
NJCAA TEAM CAPSULES
DELHI — The following is a quick look at the eight schools competing in the NJCAA Division III men's basketball tournament at Delhi Tech:
Susquenango Association girls basketball all-stars
Unatego junior Rhonda Whitbeck was named the Susquenango Association girls basketball Most Valuable Player for divisions III and IV in a vote by the league's coaches. Whitbeck averaged 13.1 points per game for the Spartans.
Hurley earns ECAC First Team honor
ONEONTA — Junior forward Tiffany Hurley, an Oneonta High graduate, was named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Upstate First Team for women's basketball on Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 14, 2001
Smooth start for Rockies' Christman
ONEONTA — For Tim Christman, no pain is a big gain. The Oneonta High graduate, who's in the Colorado Rockies' spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz., said by phone Monday his pitching arm feels fine after four appearances against major league competition.
High school basketball
SIDNEY — Bethany Tennant of Bainbridge-Guilford scored 13 points in the Susquenango Association Senior Classic on Tuesday to lead the Division II-III girls basketball team to a 57-38 victory over Division I-IV. Oxford teammates Missy Nelson and Jesse Champlin scored seven points each for Division II-III. Greene's Danielle Savory also had seven points.
Cobleskill basketball
COBLESKILL — Kyle Jones, who was named the NJCAA Region III Division III men's basketball Player of the Year last week by the region's coaches, was named SUNY-Cobleskill Athlete of the Week.
Tuesday, March 13, 2001
Eagles will soar next season
ONEONTA — Its season had been over for barely five minutes Saturday before the question arose: Just how good will the Downsville boys basketball team be next year? OK, so I was the only one asking it, but I had good reason. Consider:
Unatego graduate breaks Ithaca record
OSHKOSH, Wisc. — Ithaca College freshman Amanda Laytham, a Unatego graduate, broke her school record in the 1,500-meter run en route to a third-place finish on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.
O-State baseball drops two; school honors athletes
COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Oneonta State dropped two games during its spring baseball trip on Monday, losing to Richard Stockton, 10-6, and to Washington College, 9-3.
Hartwick swimmer earns accolades
ONEONTA — Sophomore swimmer Julie Meirs was named the Hartwick College/McDonald's Athlete of the Week on Monday after being named an honorable mention All-American last weekend at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Buffalo.
Area Sports Briefs
ONEONTA — The Oneonta High Football Boosters will hold their regular monthly meeting on at 8 p.m. today in room 214 at the high school.
Monday, March 12, 2001
Execution ends Eagles' season
ONEONTA — The Hamilton boys basketball team should consider a name change. Known as the Emerald Knights, they played more like the Executioners on Saturday in defeating Downsville, 48-40, in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D quarterfinal at Oneonta State's Alumni Fieldhouse.
UMass drops in for 6-3 defeat of 'Wick
ONEONTA — Another game, another lesson learned by the young Hartwick women's water polo team. In Hartwick's only home game of the 2001 season, the University of Massachusetts taught the Hawks a little about defense on Saturday at Moyer Pool, shutting out Hartwick in the fourth quarter for a 6-3 victory.
Delhi Tech swimmers, divers set seven school records
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Delhi Tech men's and women's swimming and diving team earned All-American honorable mention status in nine events Saturday during the NJCAA Division III national championships at Palo Alto Community College.
Late goal lifts O-State men
SCRANTON, Pa. — Anthony Pisciotto tallied the winning goal with 1 minute and 32 seconds left Saturday to lift the Oneonta State men's lacrosse team to an 11-10 victory over Lycoming.
Hawks men win in rout
ONEONTA — The Hartwick College men's lacrosse team took 69 shots en route to an 18-11 victory over Western New England on Saturday at All-Weather Field.
Saturday, March 10, 2001
Veterans called it like they saw it
This year's roster of inductees for the National Baseball Hall of Fame is complete. The Veterans Committee met Tuesday and elected Pittsburgh second base legend Bill Mazeroski and Negro League pitcher Hilton Smith.
Hamilton coach says Downsville is no joke
ONEONTA — Hamilton coach Tom Blackford joked when asked how his team will defend Downsville junior Kevin Reed. "I don't know, bring back Adonal Foyle," Blackford said of the Golden State Warriors player who led the Emerald Knights to a Class D state title in 1994.
Hartwick duo fails to advance to NCAA D3 swim championships
BUFFALO — Gayle Gregory and Julie Meirs each just missed out on qualifying for consolation finals at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday at Erie Community College.
O-State baseball starts 2001 season Saturday
ONEONTA — Though it's still technically winter, spring will start this weekend for the Oneonta State baseball team. The Red Dragons will begin the 2001 season at 1 p.m. Saturday against Catholic University as part of an 11-game schedule in Florida.
Returning Dodges have produced mixed results so far
When Dodge stuck its nose back in Winston Cup racing this winter after a 16-year absence, you just know Ward Burton was thinking he had a chance to be the alpha dog for the manufacturer in 2001. Sure, former Winston Cup champion Bill Elliott was getting the biggest clump of preseason publicity for the 10 new Dodge teams, but that comes with the territory when you are driver 1A for owner Ray Evernham, the architect of 47 Jeff Gordon victories and three season titles.
Friday, March 9, 2001
Fear no factor for Downsville
ONEONTA — Downsville coach Jeff Baier was impressed, but not that impressed after watching Hamilton dispose of Otselic Valley, 70-54, in the Section Three Class D crossover game Wednesday night at LeMoyne College. Yes, Hamilton is the defending New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D boys basketball champion.
Graham, Vredenburgh get Sus MVP honors
ONEONTA — They were the class of the Susquenango Association this season in boys basketball, so it's no surprise that seniors Michael Graham of Sidney and Doug Vredenburgh of Delhi were named Most Valuable Players of their respective divisions in a recent vote of league coaches.
Red Dragons women will need young players to contribute
ONEONTA — A balanced mix of veterans and rookies make up this season's Oneonta State women's lacrosse team. The 2001 team opens play at 4 p.m. today against Hartwick at All-Weather Field.
Hawks set for first home water polo match
ONEONTA — After trips to California, New Jersey and New York City, the Hartwick College women's water polo team will stay home this weekend.
Thursday, March 8, 2001
Hamilton up next for Eagles
ONEONTA — After beating the top-seeded team in Section Four, the Downsville boys basketball team will have to knock off the top-ranked team in New York State if it wants to move on to the Class D final four.
Oneonta's McGraw wins district coaching award
ONEONTA — On the heels of leading the Oneonta State women's basketball team to its best season, head coach Dan McGraw was selected Wednesday as the Russell Athletic/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) District 2 Coach of the Year. He is one of eight finalists in Division III for national coach of the year honors.
Spisto earns three coaching awards
ONEONTA — Delhi Tech men's basketball coach Mike Spisto, who guided the Broncos to a 30-1 record this season and a spot in NJCAA Division III national tournament, has received plenty of honors recently.
Delhi's Barber leads Sus volleyball seniors
OTEGO — Delhi's Jeanine Barber had eight kills, four assists and two blocks to lead Divisions III and IV to a 3-0 volleyball victory over Divisions I and II Wednesday in the Susquenango Association Exceptional Seniors match.
Women's lax to open with O-State Friday
ONEONTA — With nine of the 19 members of the Hartwick College women's lacrosse team playing two sports, athleticism should be a strength for the Hawks, who open the season at 4 p.m. Friday with a home game against Oneonta State at All-Weather Field.
NYSSWA RANKINGS
SYRACUSE — The New York State Sportswriters Association winter rankings as of March 4.
Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Veterans turn two into Hall
He's never toured the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He used three gloves during a 17-year major league career as a second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's known more for one swing on Oct. 13, 1960, than for being an eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star. He's Bill Mazeroski. Make that, Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski.
Downsville boys play waiting game
ONEONTA — Tuesday's winter storm put Downsville on stand-by. With a Section Four title in hand, the Purple Eagles are still without an opponent for Saturday's Class D state regional in boys basketball.
Life at the gym is a workout
Everyone seems to be joining the gym. My reluctance to participate stems from a simple observation as I peer through the windows: Everyone appears to be in pain. Drop into any tavern and folks are sitting on their butts, drinking, laughing, and just having a ball.
'Wick swimmers at NCAAs on Thursday
BUFFALO — Sophomore Julie Meirs and freshman Gayle Gregory will compete at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, which run Thursday to Saturday at Erie Community College.
Tuesday, March 6, 2001
Mazeroski, Williams top candidates for Hall
TAMPA, Fla. - Bill Mazeroski and Dick Williams could find plenty of career highlights to put on a Hall of Fame plaque. Today, they'll find out the important part - whether they'll have a place to put them in the shrine.
Field set for NJCAA event
DELHI — Welcome to March Madness, NJCAA Division III style. The brackets are set for the 2000-2001 NJCAA Division III men's basketball tournament, which will run March 15-17 at Delhi Tech.
Saturday's High School Roundup
SAYVILLE — Oneonta High's Tammara Gage led the Section Four girls all-stars to the seventh-highest total among nine competing sections at Sayville Lanes on Saturday.
Water polo player honored at Hartwick
ONEONTA — Freshman water polo player Sheri Johnson earned Hartwick College/McDonald's Athlete of the Week accolades after leading the Hawks to four victories last weekend during New York Division games in New York City.
Monday, March 5, 2001
Raiders amazed by O-M in 66-33 title loss
BINGHAMTON — Stefanie Collins 33, Gilbertsville- Mount Upton 33. No overtime was necessary as Collins' teammates also scored 33 points, giving Odessa-Montour a 66-33 girls basketball victory over the Raiders on Saturday in the Section Four Class D title game at the Broome County Arena.
Big shot leads Delhi to title
COBLESKILL — Rodney Pete hit the shot heard around the region on Sunday afternoon. With 1.8 seconds to play in overtime of the NJCAA Division III Region III men's basketball championship, Pete swished a deep shot from the right corner that gave Delhi Tech a 62-61 victory over Hudson Valley Community College.
Eagles go long to win boys crown
BINGHAMTON — Spotting up from areas that even the best shooters wouldn't visit in a game of HORSE, Downsville dialed long distance with uncanny success on Saturday. Meanwhile, Milford's shooters might have had trouble dropping a coin in a mall fountain.
O-State women lose to Cortland
ONEONTA — Like a Tolstoy novel, the season for the Oneonta State women's basketball team was long and it had to end sometime.
Red Dragons wrestler places 8th at NCAAs
WATERLOO, Iowa — After clinching All-American status on Friday, Oneonta State senior Rubin Prophete finished eighth at 125 pounds Saturday at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships held at Wartburg College.
Saturday, March 3, 2001
Oneonta players have come a long way
Paula Polce five years ago:
Dribble to left wing, pass to left corner.
While teammates swing the ball around the perimeter, circle opposite way along baseline.
Run past double screen set up in the low post, one on the left block and one on the right block.
Defense keys 26-1 season for O-State women
ONEONTA —
As the joke goes, some basketball players think defense is the Italian word for the structure surrounding one's home.
For the Oneonta State women's basketball team, defense is no laughing matter. In fact, it's a prerequisite for getting into a game.
Defense has kept the Red Dragons in every game this winter, contributing to a school record of 26 victories. That includes their current 24-game winning streak, which is tied for the second-longest streak in all of NCAA basketball.
Wildcats are underdogs for Class D boys crown
ONEONTA — This season, the Milford boys basketball team has won 20 games, captured its division in the Tri-Valley League and earned the top seed in the Section Four Class D Tournament.
So, of course, the Wildcats will be the underdog when they play third-seeded Downsville at 4 p.m. Saturday at Broome County Arena with the sectional crown at stake.
Delhi Tech men win 26th straight
COBLESKILL — Rodney Pete hit five 3-pointers en route to a team-high 19 points as the Delhi Tech men's basketball team defeated SUNY-Morrisville, 88-66, in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division III Region III Tournament on Friday.
G-MU looks to turn O-M inside-out
ONEONTA — Gilbertsville-Mount Upton senior point guard Shelly Miles answered immediately on Tuesday.
"We need to play defense on two of their girls, who are exceptionally good," Miles said following her team's 41-34 girls basketball victory over Milford in a Section Four Class D semifinal.
Miles was referring to Odessa-Montour's talented tandem of point guard Stefanie Collins and forward Jill Pevo.
B-G/A's Locke advances to semis
SYRACUSE — Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton senior Ben Locke was the lone area athlete to qualify for the semifinals Friday in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Tournament.
Locke, who received a bye into the 171-pound quarterfinals, defeated Brandon Booker of St. Francis, 8-2.
NJCAA Division III Region III Men's Basketball
COBLESKILL — Laurel Bobb scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Jefferson Community College to a 95-91 victory Friday over SUNY-Cobleskill in an NJCAA Division III Region III men's basketball quarterfinal.
DEI will go on without Intimidator
For the past two weeks, the racing nation has mourned the death of Dale Earnhardt and fondly remembered an outrageously successful driving career that took him from the rutted quarter-mile tracks in North Carolina to the speedways of NASCAR and seven Winston Cup championships.
Here's what I want to know: Wasn't driving the No. 3 for owner Richard Childress enough of a full-time job? Where did he find the time to manage Dale Earnhardt, Inc., which has turned into a three-car empire this season?
Area bowling roundup
ONEONTA — Jay Gage had a 722 series to lead all ISD Classic bowlers Feb. 14 at Holiday Lanes.
Gage bowled a 277 in the final game to help Zim's Shoes defeat Dante's Pizzeria, 2-1. Kermit Weaver had a 660 set for the winners. Jim Delello led Dante's with a 694 triple.
Friday, March 2, 2001
Area quartet ready for War
ONEONTA — They're coming from opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum for this weekend's New York State High School wrestling tournament.
On one end is the duo from Unatego, underclassmen Eric Decker and Jake Fairbairn who understand that if a state championship does not come Saturday there will be other opportunities.
Then there is the Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton tandem of Dustin Winn and Ben Locke, seniors who have to get it done this weekend.
Oneonta, Cortland to meet once again
ONEONTA — The fourth installment of any series normally doesn't have much promise. Think: `Lethal Weapon,' `Batman' or `Friday the 13th.'
But round four of the Oneonta State-Cortland season series is a different matter.
The two Red Dragons squads will square off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Alumni Fieldhouse in the second round of the NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament.
Hawks earn their first ranking in water polo
NEW YORK — After playing some of the top teams in the country in California last weekend, the Hartwick College women's water polo team heads to New York City this weekend for key New York Division games.
Like a hawk's talons, a falconer must be razor sharp
High overhead in the azure sky, the beautiful red-tailed hawk gracefully circled among white billowy clouds. As the wide-winged hawk soared, her whistled call drew my attention. She hunted for rabbits or mice in the swamp and meadows below.
Thursday, March 1, 2001
Bulldogs lose in OT, 55-54
TIOGA — There wasn't going to be a double-digit, ho-hum outcome on Wednesday.
Not with Delhi competing. Followers of the Bulldogs have come to expect exciting, last-second specials from the team, and Delhi delivered in a Section Four Class C boys basketball semifinal at Tioga Central.
Milford moves on in Class D
BINGHAMTON - The Bill Crowley farewell tour will continue for at least another game.
With five players scoring nine or more points, the top-seeded Milford boys basketball team defeated No. 12 Schenevus, 49-37, on Wednesday in a Section Four Class D semifinal at Broome County Arena.
Junior center Reed leads Downsville past Windham, 63-51
BINGHAMTON - Those who think going to the well once too often is a bad thing never met Kevin Reed.
The Downsville boys basketball team did just fine Wednesday in repeatedly giving the ball to its 6-foot-5 junior center at Broome County Arena.
O-State women to play Cortland on Saturday
ONEONTA — The Oneonta State women's basketball team will play Cortland State for the fourth time this season, in an NCAA Division III second-round game on Saturday.
