By Chris Vaccaro
MaxPreps.com
Elmont girls basketball coach Gregg Petrocelli collapsed at the edge of the court during his team's Nassau Class AA semifinal game at Bellmore's Kennedy High School against Hicksville. After failed attempts to resuscitate him by two women in attendance, Petrocelli passed away at the age of 38.
According to Newsday, Petrocelli slouched onto assistant coach Tom Magno's left shoulder. Magno eased him to the floor thereafter. Newsday later reported that Petrocelli battled cancer as a young adult and had intense treatment which caused liver damage. An artery ruptured which supplies blood to his spleen and one of Long Island's most successful coaches in recent years was sadly gone.
Petrocelli was head coach for nine years, compiling a 139-22 record, winning Nassau County titles in 2001 and 2004.
Girls Basketball: North Babylon Beats Copiague
Copiague has waited for another shot at North Babylon since Dec. 12, when it dropped a 66-50 game to the Bulldogs.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the rematch in the Suffolk Class AA semifinals at Eastport/South Manor High School last Monday was more of the same.
Top-seeded North Babylon upped its earlier margin of victory by one, winning 62-45. The Bulldogs were led by Eugenia McPherson, who scored 20 points, and Chanel Chisolm, who added 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Other Girls Playoff Scores
Commack beat Sachem East, 66-51, in the Suffolk Class AA semifinals.Wyandanch beat Stony Brook, 60-46, in the Suffolk Class B-C-D final.Harborfields beat Huntington, 49-48, in the Suffolk Class A final.Floral Park beat Great Neck South, 42-35, in the Nassau Class A final.Massapequa beat Calhoun, 65-49, in the Nassau Class AA semifinals.Sacred Heart beat St. Mary's, 62-45, in the CHSAA Class AA quarterfinals.
Boys Basketball Notebook
After upsetting perennial favorite Amityville, Kings Park beat Glenn, 41-39, in the Suffolk Class A final. Glenn coach Steve Robins has had an emotional run this year. His father, Doug Robins, the winningest baseball coach in Long Island history, passed away Feb. 12. His wife then had a baby four days later. He used basketball as an escape from hardships.Wyandanch and the Barber brothers are one step closer to completing their ultimate task, winning a state title. They beat Greenport, 68-54, in the Suffolk Class B-C-D final. Chris Barber led his team with 21 points.Whitman beat Lindenhurst, 55-49, in the Suffolk Class AA semifinals.
Wrestling: Gillespie Finally Wins Title
Long Beach senior PJ Gillespie has waited a long time to be crowned a New York State champion, and his wish came true this weekend. Gillespie beat Ron Majerus of Mexico (Section III, Syracuse) in a 6-2 decision during the 145-pound bout at Times Union Center.
Other Long Island winners included Islip's Lance Wade (140), Shoreham-Wading River's Corey Jantzen (135), Wantagh's Paul Liguori (112), Shoreham-Wading River's Steven Keith (96) and Herrick's Maciej Jochym (215).
Although Syosset's Nick Arujau lost the 103-pound final, he was the school's first state finalist. He lost to Valley Central's (Section IX) Cody Ruggirello.
Rifling: Valley Stream Wins Championship
Valley Stream's district team won the team air riffle NYSPHSAA championship with a score of 1,095. Nick Novello was second in the individual competition with a 280, while teammate Stephen Zawislak scored a 278.
Track and Field: Henning at it Again
St. Anthony's senior hammer thrower Walter Henning knows how to do one thing pretty well - throw the hammer further than just about anyone who competes against him, and set national records while he's doing it.
He threw the hammer 86 feet, 3.75 inches at the Eastern States Championships at the Armory in Manhattan, breaking the record he set of 86-2 last May. He's headed to the University of North Carolina in the fall.
