McKinley wins first state title

GLEN FALLS, NY (AP) - Tournament Most Valuable Player Lovell Smith scored 24 points to lead McKinley to a wild 76-73 overtime victory against John S. Burke Catholic in the Class A final Sunday at the New York State Boys High School Basketball Championships.

Marcus Morris added 16 points and Reyjzon Jordan had 11 for the Macks, who finished 22 and 3.

Michael Coffey scored 22 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Eagles (18-5), who also got 19 points and 14 rebounds from Stan Buczek.

After squandering a nine-point second-half lead, McKinley trailed 60-57 with 48 seconds to play. But the Macks forced overtime when Samuel Smith, who finished with 10 points, converted both ends of a 1-and-1 with 5.8 seconds left, tying it at 62.

McKinley went ahead for good on Lovell Smith's basket to make it 69-67 with 90 seconds remaining in the extra period.

Burke Catholic led 26-25 at halftime.

Fourth-time finalist Burke Catholic, from Orange County in Section 9, reached the finals with a 68-50 victory over Amityville in Saturday's semifinal round.

Second-time finalist McKinley, out of Erie County in Section 6, got to the championship with a 75-61 win against Bishop Ludden in the semis.