Scholastic Notebook...
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
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Scholastic Notebook...
Scholastic Notebook ........
1/8/2007 -
No matter the sport, a team jumping from W.P.I.A.L. Class (A) to (AA) can struggle. But the Monessen boys' basketball team is thriving in the move up in class.
Monessen was moved from Class (A) to Class (AA) this season and the Greyhounds are moving at a fast pace. They have a 9-3 record and are tied with Washington for first place in Section #5 with a 5-0 record (heading into games Jan. 9). Monessen also is averaging 70.7 points a game, which is second-best in Class (AA) to Aliquippa, which averages 77.8.
A year ago, Monessen finished 13-12 overall while playing Class (A). Two years ago, the Greyhounds were 8-14.
"To be honest, I think I've gotten a new boost of energy with this move up," said Monessen coach Joe Salvino, who is in his 22nd season. "I think I had gotten this ho-hum attitude where you're in the same section year after year, and you know the other team's players just about as well as you know your own team. Playing in this Double-A section has generated more energy in me."
Josh Arnold is generating a lot of points for Monessen. A senior guard, Arnold leads the entire W.P.I.A.L. in scoring, averaging "32" points a game. He had "53" in a game earlier this season.
"But we have some other players who can do some things so that you just can't concentrate on Josh," Salvino said.
Monessen has a showdown with Washington Tuesday "I think the kids and myself want to prove that we can compete at this level," Salvino said.
Jaguar Warning....
A team to watch in Class (AAA) now is Thomas Jefferson. Four of the five Jaguar starters were on the football team that made it to the P.I.A.A. semifinals.
"We're only 6-3, but I'm pretty pleased," said Thomas Jefferson coach Dom DeCicco Sr. "Our football guys are just starting to get their basketball legs and they're looking better and better."
Thomas Jefferson was projected to be one of the better teams in Class (AAA) before the season. DeCicco's son, Dom Jr., is the team's leading scorer.
"A key for us is going to be these next three weeks," DeCicco said. "I think we have three games for the next three weeks. But we need to play games. You can only do so much in practices. You need to go play."
Perfect Showdown.........
Only two undefeated teams remain in W.P.I.A.L. boys' basketball. They will meet Tuesday, Jan. 9th. Hampton and Highlands are both 13-0.
The only undefeated team in W.P.I.A.L. girls' basketball is New Castle (12-0).
Another top boys' game Tuesday is in the City League. Can anyone stay close to Schenley in the City? We'll find out when the Spartans play at Perry Jan. 9th. Perry is 10-3 and 5-1 in City League play.
Boy-Girl Difference......
Aliquippa is a perennial power in W.P.I.A.L. boys' basketball. But isn't it hard to figure why the Aliquippa girls are now the total opposite?
While the boys lead the W.P.I.A.L. in scoring and are one of the top Class (AA) teams in the state, the Aliquippa girls are 0-11 and average only "36" points a game. The Aliquippa girls have lost "28" games in a row.
Too bad Herb Pope or Jonathan Baldwin don't have sisters.
P.I.A.A. Backs W.P.I.A.L.
Many times in transfer cases, the W.P.I.A.L. will rule an athlete ineligible, saying he or she transferred for athletic intent. But then the P.I.A.A. .will overturn the decision.
But the P.I.A.A. backed the W.P.I.A.L. in one recent case. The P.I.A.A. upheld the W.P.I.A.L.'s decision to make sophomore wrestler Sam Brownlee ineligible because he allegedly transferred from Mount Lebanon to Canon-McMillan with athletic intent.
Brownlee was a section champion last year as a freshman.
Crummie Existence............
There are a lot of Crummies involved with the Pittsburgh Central Catholic basketball team this year.
Kevin Crummie is a starting senior forward for the Vikings. His father, Chuck, is Central Catholic's head coach. Chuck's two other sons played for him and now sit on the bench as assistant coaches. They are Devin and Sean.
Sean was most recently an assistant coach at Oliver.
Where Are They Now ????????????
Andrea Walker, a West Allegheny graduate, is seeing playing time as a freshman for the Ohio State womens basketball team, which is ranked No. #7 in the country. Walker, a forward, is averaging "4" points a game.
Plum graduate Mike McKee is seeing a little playing time on the Kent State mens basketball team and is averaging 4 points a game.
THE CHOPS....
1/8/2007 -
No matter the sport, a team jumping from W.P.I.A.L. Class (A) to (AA) can struggle. But the Monessen boys' basketball team is thriving in the move up in class.
Monessen was moved from Class (A) to Class (AA) this season and the Greyhounds are moving at a fast pace. They have a 9-3 record and are tied with Washington for first place in Section #5 with a 5-0 record (heading into games Jan. 9). Monessen also is averaging 70.7 points a game, which is second-best in Class (AA) to Aliquippa, which averages 77.8.
A year ago, Monessen finished 13-12 overall while playing Class (A). Two years ago, the Greyhounds were 8-14.
"To be honest, I think I've gotten a new boost of energy with this move up," said Monessen coach Joe Salvino, who is in his 22nd season. "I think I had gotten this ho-hum attitude where you're in the same section year after year, and you know the other team's players just about as well as you know your own team. Playing in this Double-A section has generated more energy in me."
Josh Arnold is generating a lot of points for Monessen. A senior guard, Arnold leads the entire W.P.I.A.L. in scoring, averaging "32" points a game. He had "53" in a game earlier this season.
"But we have some other players who can do some things so that you just can't concentrate on Josh," Salvino said.
Monessen has a showdown with Washington Tuesday "I think the kids and myself want to prove that we can compete at this level," Salvino said.
Jaguar Warning....
A team to watch in Class (AAA) now is Thomas Jefferson. Four of the five Jaguar starters were on the football team that made it to the P.I.A.A. semifinals.
"We're only 6-3, but I'm pretty pleased," said Thomas Jefferson coach Dom DeCicco Sr. "Our football guys are just starting to get their basketball legs and they're looking better and better."
Thomas Jefferson was projected to be one of the better teams in Class (AAA) before the season. DeCicco's son, Dom Jr., is the team's leading scorer.
"A key for us is going to be these next three weeks," DeCicco said. "I think we have three games for the next three weeks. But we need to play games. You can only do so much in practices. You need to go play."
Perfect Showdown.........
Only two undefeated teams remain in W.P.I.A.L. boys' basketball. They will meet Tuesday, Jan. 9th. Hampton and Highlands are both 13-0.
The only undefeated team in W.P.I.A.L. girls' basketball is New Castle (12-0).
Another top boys' game Tuesday is in the City League. Can anyone stay close to Schenley in the City? We'll find out when the Spartans play at Perry Jan. 9th. Perry is 10-3 and 5-1 in City League play.
Boy-Girl Difference......
Aliquippa is a perennial power in W.P.I.A.L. boys' basketball. But isn't it hard to figure why the Aliquippa girls are now the total opposite?
While the boys lead the W.P.I.A.L. in scoring and are one of the top Class (AA) teams in the state, the Aliquippa girls are 0-11 and average only "36" points a game. The Aliquippa girls have lost "28" games in a row.
Too bad Herb Pope or Jonathan Baldwin don't have sisters.
P.I.A.A. Backs W.P.I.A.L.
Many times in transfer cases, the W.P.I.A.L. will rule an athlete ineligible, saying he or she transferred for athletic intent. But then the P.I.A.A. .will overturn the decision.
But the P.I.A.A. backed the W.P.I.A.L. in one recent case. The P.I.A.A. upheld the W.P.I.A.L.'s decision to make sophomore wrestler Sam Brownlee ineligible because he allegedly transferred from Mount Lebanon to Canon-McMillan with athletic intent.
Brownlee was a section champion last year as a freshman.
Crummie Existence............
There are a lot of Crummies involved with the Pittsburgh Central Catholic basketball team this year.
Kevin Crummie is a starting senior forward for the Vikings. His father, Chuck, is Central Catholic's head coach. Chuck's two other sons played for him and now sit on the bench as assistant coaches. They are Devin and Sean.
Sean was most recently an assistant coach at Oliver.
Where Are They Now ????????????
Andrea Walker, a West Allegheny graduate, is seeing playing time as a freshman for the Ohio State womens basketball team, which is ranked No. #7 in the country. Walker, a forward, is averaging "4" points a game.
Plum graduate Mike McKee is seeing a little playing time on the Kent State mens basketball team and is averaging 4 points a game.
THE CHOPS....