Though it took a couple of tries to get over the top, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill boys basketball head coach Al Knapp now owns more victories than any other coach in Section III history. The record-breaking 521st win took place Friday night, at Camden, where the Red Devils beat the Blue Devils 68-32 as Knapp surpassed the mark of 520 career wins set by Oswego’s Dave Powers, who retired in 1964. Not accustomed to getting big amounts of attention, Knapp started to receive it on Jan. 30 when VVS beat New Hartford 52-36 at “The Pit” to get win no. 520. It continued through the next week and a narrow defeat at Whitesboro in Knapp’s first chance to go to the summit. At Camden, the Red Devils had a modest start, only leading 13-8 through one period. However, in the second quarter VVS came alive on the offensive side and nearly blanked the Blue Devils in the course of a 21-4 spurt. Outscoring Camden 42-12 in a run that stretched to the fourth quarter, VVS eased up down the stretch, then celebrated Knapp’s milestone by giving the veteran coach the game ball. By themselves, Evan Croll, with 18 points, and Adam Kemp, with 14 points, matched Camden’s entire output, a byproduct of outstanding defense, long a trademark of Knapp’s teams. Nash Robb and Joe Barbano each had seven points, with Lucas Pitman adding six points. Knapp began his coaching career at Brookfield, going 233-55 and winning a state Class D title in 1983. At VVS, Knapp’s teams have gone 288-127 and won 15 Tri-Valley League regular-season titles, plus a sectional Class B championship in 1999. The win at Camden got Knapp’s win record out of the way just in time, for VVS (14-4) only had games left against Herkimer and Utica-Notre Dame before next Sunday’s announcement of the Section III Class A playoff brackets.