Leading off today: Mike Rapone became the winningest boys basketball coach in Section 5 history last night when Batavia Notre Dame defeated Arkport 60-41 in the Class D-1 semifinals at Letchworth.

   It gave Rapone 546 victories to pass Ed Nietopski, the retired Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Kearney coach.

   "I wouldn’t be sitting here without all the players I’ve had,” Rapone told The Daily News in Batavia. "This was a goal they wanted. I told them 'It’s about you guys,' but I know behind the scenes, this is something they wanted, to be the team that got it (No. 546)."

   Among those attending was retired Prattsburgh coach Jim Burke, himself a 517-game winner. Burke, a longtime friend and coaching rival, presented the Fighting Irish's 30th-year mentor with a congratulatory poster signed by Prattsburgh's players.

   Rapone's record is 546-136 with 27 Genesee Region divisional championships, seven sectional crowns and four trips to the NYSPHSAA final four in Glens Falls.

   Can't be stopped: Count Mount Vernon out at your own risk.

   The Knights suffered through a six-loss regular season that even included setbacks on their home court -- gasp! -- but they're delivering when it count most.

   Seeded fourth in the Section 1 Class AA tournament, Mount Vernon rolled past Poughkeepsie 69-57 to beat the Pioneers at the County Center for the third straight year and win their fifth straight sectional title.

   "This is a tremendously satisfying season — and we're not done yet," coach Bob Cimmino told The Journal News. "We tell all of our teams, each team has to take a different path to success. We took a unique path, we got beat up sometimes, but every one of the players constantly listened and constantly fought in practice.

Winter season bonus links Boys hoops: Road to Glens Falls, your all-purpose destination Boys hoops: NYSPHSAA brackets Girls hoops: NYSPHSAA brackets coming soon Boys hockey: NYSPHSAA brackets - D-I | D-II Wrestling: Final NYSPHSAA results - D-I | D-II

They took in whatever the coaches had to offer, and they worked very, very hard."

   Mount Vernon advances to the state tournament next week vs. Vestal on the strength of a 26-point performance by Jabarie Hinds.

   Harris, HHHW prevail: Playing the entire fourth quarter with four fouls, Tobias Harris scored 10 points down the stretch as Half Hollow Hills West defeated Longwood 77-69 in the Section XI Class AA final before a crowd of more than 4,000 at Farmingdale State.

   "At the end of the third quarter, Tobias said to me, 'Don't worry. I got this,'" HHHW coach Bill Mitaritonna said. "Tobias is the man."

   "You have to give credit to Longwood. They stayed with us the whole game," Harris told Newsday after finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. "I knew I had to put some balls in the hoop."

   HHHW takes on Harborfields on Saturday in Suffolk County's overall tournament final and then meets the Uniondale-Baldwin winner March 13 at Hofstra for the right to travel to Glens Falls.

   Extra points: Fairport boys basketball coach Scott Fitch had quite the day. His wife, Kim, gave birth to their second child Wednesday morning and later his Red Raiders upset Wilson 62-48 in the Section 5 semifinals.