The Boys Basketball Coaches of New York State have honored two veteran officials in Sam LaMacchia (left) and Dick Bennett (right) of Ogdensburg with Golden Whistle awards.

The duo refereed any number of championship games together for many years. LaMacchia remains a very active official while Bennett is now the NNY Board Assigner after being forced to retire because of hip problems. Presenting the awards is Section 10 Basketball Chairman and NYS Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame member Bill Merna of Ogdensburg. (Heaton Photo)

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer