Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014: Burke Catholic investigation report delayed

   Leading off today: There was no groundhog involved -- just a fresh round of paperwork, but we're in for six more weeks of winter waiting.

   Results of the investigation into alleged recruiting by the John S. Burke Catholic boys basketball team will not be revealed for at least another six weeks, The Times Herald-Record reported.

   Bob Thabet, executive director of Section 9, said the attorney leading the probe delivered a report Tuesday but requested additional time to review affidavits provided by the Middletown School District, which initiated an investigation that led to the Section 9 probe.

   Attorney John T. McCann is now expected to present a final report incorporating the affidavits at the next Section 9 meeting on Jan. 6.

   Burke Catholic opens its season Dec. 5 at Pine Bush.

   "(McCann) just received the affidavits a few days ago and he didn't have time to incorporate them into his report," Thabet told the paper. "The athletic council decided that they wanted to wait until that information was reviewed and do their due diligence. Much to my frustration, I wish we had a clear determination by now."

   Ex-Binghamton reporter dies: Former Evening Press and Tioga County Courier sports reporter Ron Grotke died unexpectedly Friday at his Owego home. He was 66.

   A Syracuse University journalism school graduate, Grotke covered high school sports extensively and was active for many years assisting the New York State Sportswriters Association with weekly rankings and the all-state selection process. He was an inaugural inductee into the New York State High School Softball Hall of Fame in 2012.

   "Few athletes or coaches knew how much work he did behind the scenes for decades when it came to helping do state rankings or All-State team nominations in many sports," said Perry Novak, president of the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports. "He made sure if a kid or a team deserved to be recognized they were not overlooked, in addition to giving everyone great stories to fill their scrapbooks with."

   Back in action: Suspended Newburgh Free Academy running back/safety Anthony Dubose will return for the NYSPHSAA Class AA football final vs. Jamestown on Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

   Dubose missed Newburgh's 20-19 overtime win over Shenendehowa in the semifinals Saturday after being suspended for violating a school policy. AD Jason Semo would not disclose the infraction, but it resulted in a five-day suspension from school last week.

   "I'm grateful to end my career on my terms and end it with the people I started with," Dubose told The Times Herald-

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Record. "It was very hard watching the game last week, but I had faith in the team. I made a mistake and I learned from it. I won't dwell on it. I'm very excited to play in the Dome."

   Dubose, a four-year starter and likely Division I recruit, has rushed for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven games this fall.

   Aquinas QB narrows choices: Aquinas junior quarterback Jake Zembiec has narrowed his college decision to either Michigan State or Penn State, various media reported this week.

   "Those two schools have everything I need," Zembiec, the 2013 state Class AA player of the year, told the Democrat and Chronicle. "They're both relatively close, Penn State is really close. It's important to me to have my family to come and see me play. They've been there since I was six or seven."

   Zembiec will see both schools this weekend in State College, where the Nittany Lions will host Michigan State.

   Extra points: Rochester City School District Superintendent Bolgen Vargas has recommended to the school board that Charlotte High School be closed in June 2017. The Leadership Academy for Young Men, a quasi-charter school run by the district and which currently shares space at Charlotte, would take over the entire building.