Sabourin becomes new assistant at Niskayuna

Scott Sabourin will be coaching varsity football this fall after all.

The 43-year-old Sabourin, who stepped down as Mohonasen's head coach following the 2007 season, has joined the Niskayuna program as a varsity assistant. Sabourin will be one of three varsity assistants working under head coach John Furey, and will boost the high school's football staff to 11 members.

Football practice for the upcoming Section II season begins Monday, and opening week is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6.

"I was over at Niskayuna where my daughter takes violin lessons, I saw John, and we got to talking," Sabourin said Tuesday. "I was telling him the adjustment was harder than I thought it would be. He said they were adding a fourth varsity coach, and after we talked a few more times, we came up with something.

"I missed football more than I thought I would when I decided to step down at Mohonasen, and I'm very appreciative of John giving me the opportunity to work in such a quality program," he added. "I hope I can make a positive contribution."

Sabourin led the Mohonasen varsity for 12 seasons, and guided the Mighty Warriors to their first Section II postseason appearance in 1996 and their first postseason victory in 1997. Six of his teams reached the playoffs, four of them posted winning records, and two others finished one game under.

Mohonasen's last winning season was in 2006, at 5-4, and the Mighty Warriors dipped to 1-7 in 2007.

"I believe Scott will be a great help to us," Furey said of the Shenendehowa and UAlbany graduate who teaches American history at Mohonasen High School. "I needed a special teams guy and he'll do that, and he'll also be working with the wide receivers and defensive backs. I also see him as a guy who is going to say, 'Let's try to do this or that. Let's try something different.' He'll provide a fresh look at some things. He knows what he's talking about, having been in the head spot before."

Sabourin served as an assistant football coach at LaSalle, Bishop Maginn and Amsterdam beforehand, and helped Amsterdam win the state Class B championship in 1995. HeÕll be striving to help Niskayuna turn around its fortunes after back-to-back two-win seasons.

TOP CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Saratoga Springs and Queensbury are ranked second, third and fourth, respectively, in the New York State Sportswriters Association's preseason top 10 poll for girls' cross country.

Burnt Hills is the two-time defending state Class A champion, and has Sam Roecker, Meghan Gregory, Alyssa Drapeau, Rachael Cyrus, Molly Pezzulo, Rachel Stalker and Riley Wilk returning for the 2008 season. Roecker placed second at last year's state meet.

Shenendehowa is ranked ninth in the poll, and Fayetteville-Manlius, the reigning state Class AA champ, tops the group that also includes Arlington (No. 5), Pittsford-Mendon (No. 6), East Aurora (No. 7), Northport (No. 8) and Ward Melville (No. 10). East Aurora has won three straight state Class B titles.

Saratoga Springs has won 14 state titles (Class AA and A), its last coming in 2005, and features Cassie Goutos and Sydney King.

AAG TABS McGRAW

Christian Brothers Academy graduate Dan McGraw has been named the new varsity basketball coach at Albany Academy for Girls.

McGraw will take over for Greg Giombetti, who led the Bears to 10-3 Central Hudson Valley League and 11-6 overall records last season.

McGraw had successful stints as the women's basketball coach at Oneonta for eight seasons (1999-2007) and at The College of Saint Joseph (Vt.) for two seasons before that (1996-98), leading those teams to a combined 189-91 record. His Oneonta teams (147-75) qualified for postseason play in six of those eight seasons.

While at Saint Joseph, from which he graduated, McGraw was twice named the Mayflower Conference Coach of the Year. McGraw's 2000-01 Oneonta edition won the SUNYAC championship, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament and set a school record with 26 victories. He was selected the SUNYAC and WBCA District II Regional Coach of the Year that season.

McGraw served as an assistant at Binghamton University last season, and also held assistant posts at CBA and at Albany College of Pharmacy before taking over at Saint Joseph.

"We are so excited to welcome Dan to The Albany Academies to serve in this crucial role as head of the girls' basketball program," said athletic director Paul Gallucci. "We are looking for Dan to take this program to the next level in terms of success and recognition, and are certain that his leadership, experience and enthusiasm will make him a tremendous asset to our school."

LEWIS TO HERKIMER

All-state outfielder Amar Lewis, who helped LaSalle Institute win the last five Big 10 baseball championships, has committed to Herkimer Community College.

"We have been after Amar for over a year now and we're thrilled to hear his commitment to us for next year," said Herkimer head coach Jason Rathbun. "We realize the caliber of player he is and will work hard to move him on to his goal of playing Division I baseball."

Lewis batted .459 as a senior with eight doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI. He also had a .607 on-base precentage for the Cadets (27-1), who, after winning their second Section II title in four years, reached the state Class AA semifinals.

Following his junior year, Lewis competed in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars.

"He is the big bat we wanted for the middle of our lineup," said Rathbun.

TROY GETS STATE POST

Greenwich athletic director Eileen Troy has been appointed second vice president of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, and will begin serving her two-year term Sept. 1.

Troy has had successful coaching stints in basketball, softball, track, field hockey and volleyball at Greenwich while teaching physical education there for 32 years. For 25 years she has served on the NYSPHSAA's executive committee, and for 19 years she's been on its championship advisory committee. Since 2001, Troy has been the state girls' basketball coordinator, a position she attained after 20 years on the state basketball committee.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Twenty individuals, including all-time Section II boysÕ basketball win leader George Mardigan, will be inducted into the Watervliet Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 5, at MichaelÕs Banquet House in Cohoes.

The induction ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. following a cocktail hour and dinner. Members of the inaugural hall of fame class will be introduced at halftime of Watervliet's homecoming football game Oct. 4.

Watervliet Hall of Fame

2008 Inductees

Crystal Carroll (1993), Ed Chambers (1954), Lou Cioffi (1948), Tony Curro (1976), Kathy Towne-DeGuire (1983), Dom Denio (1938), John DiBiase (1972), Yordan Huban (1991), Frank LaBelle (1985), Kevin LeGault (1989), Jim Manning (1992), George Mardigan (1961), Nancy Poulin (1981), Dan Reinfurt (1969), Greg Sedefian (1972), Tim Sherwin (1977), Dave Torncello (1944), Harry Tucker (1929), Dave Walko (1964), John Walko (1960).