Leading off today: Stan Moore, who coached Massena to more than 500 ice hockey victories over 32 seasons, died Monday at the age of 79, The Daily Times in Watertown reported this week.

   Moore, 79, died at the St. Regis Nursing Home in Massena.

   He compiled a record of 522-141-15 and his teams earned 17 Section 10 and seven state championships. He held the state mark for victories until Salmon River coach Bill Plante eclipsed him in 2006.

   Moore played for Clarkson University and coached at Massena beginning in 1960.

   Everybody has buttons that need to be pushed," said 1976 Massena graduate Mark Morris, coach of the AHL's Manchester Monarchs. "You have to find what makes the person tick and he obviously could do that. He took the time to give you a boot in the pants if you needed it and also a pat on the back if you needed it as well."

   Ten for 'Toga: With seven teams ranked in the top five across five classes, there is no region of the state deeper in cross country talent than Section 2. But Saratoga reigns supreme year after year, and the Blue Streaks made it 10 sectional large-school titles in a row Friday.

   This one was close, however, as Saratoga edged Shenendehowa by a 27-31 margin at Saratoga Spa State Park. Freshman Keelin Hollowood paced the winners by finishing first as Saratoga triumphed for the 13th time in 14 year.

   Queensbury, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class A, ended the three-year title run by No. 2 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake by a score of 28-34. Sisters Brittany Winslow and Danielle Winslow pulled down the top two spots.

   A sporting gesture: Defending Section 2 Class A boys cross country champion Otis Ubriaco eased up near the finish, allowing Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior teammate Scott Maughan to hit the tape first for individual honors at sectionals.

   Ubriaco, a junior, was even with Maughan down the final straightaway before backing down. Their one-two finish led the team's sweep of the top four spots. Ubriaco was evasive when asked about the end of the race, but Maughan understood what transpired.

   "I think Otis kind of let me have a turn winning sectionals, so that was nice of him," Maughan told The Times Union.

   Pushing for a change: The Basketball Coaches Association of New York has issued a position paper regarding the two-year reduction in schedules for schools in the New York State Public High School Atheletic Association, and it makes a compelling case for going back to a 20-game season.

   The BCANY surveyed coaches associations in 25 states and found only one (Nebraska, 17) that allows teams fewer than the 18 regular-season games NYSPHSAA boys and girls basketball teams are slated to play the next two years.

   The BCANY raised a couple of interesting issues in particular:

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• Though all sports absorbed schedule reductions, teams in some sports such as skiing, gymnastics and indoor track often never scheduled the maximum number of contests, so the cuts are less meaningful.
• With PSAL, CHSAA and AIS schools still playing as many as 24 regular-season games, players may transfer from NYSPHSAA schools in order to gain more experience and recruiting exposure.
• AAU programs are likely to become more influential at a time when several organizations are working toward tougher, uniform standards for outside coaches.    While some non-school programs are credible, many are not, which is not good for the athlete, said BCANY Executive Director Dave Archer.

   Lights, action ... put the camera away: The Journal News ran into a problem this weekend while preparing to webcast the Section 1 football finals.

   Reporter Kevin Devaney Jr. blogged Friday that Section 1 denied requests to show the game on LoHud.com following several days of negotiations.

   According to Devaney, Executive Director Jennifer Simmons said the section "put a halt on everything until we’ve looked at it and decided what we’re going to do" about potential legal and liability issues.

   Simmons made vague reference to potenial issues related to serious injuries, which makes it sound as though Section 1 doesn't want videotape available (unless, of course, it helped the section in the courtroom).

   C'mon, gang. Come out and admit it. What you really want is for someone to write a larger check for broadcast rights. And there's nothing wrong with that. The Journal News paid in the past, so just give them a number to work with so meaningful negotiations can begin.

   And remember this whenever someone tells you it's not about the money, it's about the principle: It's always about the money.

   Extra points: Bishop Loughlin senior Jayvaughn Pinkston hasn't committed to play basketball for Tennessee, The New York Post reported. The paper said erroneous info on the subject is floating around New York City. Pinkston averaged 24.6 points per game last season.