Sunday, March 8, 2009

Props, rants and randomness

    Time to clear the mind after watching a life's worth of state basketball the past week.

  • WPIAL coaches like to complain about officiating when they travel outside the region. At times, it comes off like excuse making but after taking in a quadruple header in District 10 territory Saturday, and drawing from many other past experiences, they're right most of the time. The officiating was terrible, particularly during a PIAA Class AAA first-round girls game between General McLane and Mars. The Planets weren't better than General McLane but I bet they rode home thinking the refs didn't give them a chance too. I also had trouble with the first quarter of Wash High's win over Fairview and how officials called the paint play during South Fayette's loss to Mercyhurst Prep. Mike Lamberti and Mike Burroughs both foul out, while Prep's 6-8 big man is only called for two fouls. Hmmmmmm.
  • Speaking of Wash High, kudos to the Prexies for advancing to the second round. It seems fitting that Wash High is the lone boys team remaining as the great coaching career of Ron Faust comes to a close. Let's give the players credit, their was a tremendous amount of pressure placed upon them from Wash High fans to make this a memorable season. State playoff wins over Cranberry and Fairview ensured that it already is.
  • Thanks to the programming director at 94.3 FM out of the Meadville area. After sitting through four high school hoops games and eating some not-so-tasty Chinese buffet during a break in action at Edinboro Univeristy, Saturday night's "Big Hair Saturday" offered an excellent diversion on the long drive home. During the hour or so I picked up the signal, 94.3 offered tasty treats such as Cinderella's "Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)," Motley Crue's "Primal Scream", Tesla's "Little Suzi", and Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly." Those readers who are around my age, likely remember Ford's video for her biggest hit quite fondly.
  • Finally, the Varsity Letters gives props to Shade High School, located in the small, coal-mining town of Cairnbrook (Somerset County). Shade won the District 5 title for the first time then beat Neshannock in the first round for its first state playoff victory. My father, Frank Kovak, is a proud Shade graduate and my cousin, Brad Mulcahy, is an assistant coach. Congrats Panthers and good luck against Serra Catholic, you'll need it.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

If they were hanging referees Saturday at Edinborough, they would have been hanging innocent men.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but I refuse to feel sorry for a team that in the WPIAL playoffs won a game when it had a 43-11 foul shot differential.

South Fayette had a great year. Its future is bright. But keep the towels to yourself.

Anonymous said...

wash high cheated in their win against fairview

Anonymous said...

wash high didnt cheat.. its the refs fault.. without them free throws it would of been 42-41 wash high so it dosent matter.. south fayette cry babys..

Mapod said...

Following basketball for many years and found a lot of the same. Some call it being homer. I have found just around are area, travel to different county from Washington, Westmoreland, and Allegheny County how the game calling is different. You all see how some of the better know coaches work the officials and get the calls. So it no different , it is everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that Canon-Mac has offered its head coaching postion to none other than rival head coach Trinity's Levi Bristor?? any truth in this

Anonymous said...

wash high better do something this year, which is unlikely, because they wont be good for years to come

Anonymous said...

yo whoever said wash high wont be good in years to come must br crazy. From the 4th grade to the iith grade we have more talent than any school in the washington area basketball and football.If u dont think so u better look at our youth programs and jr high programs.

Anonymous said...

wash high has a bright future..

remember the name Jordan West.. he is going to the be the next big thing in wash high

Anonymous said...

We have been hearing that (fill in the blank with a different player each year) is going to be the next Brian Davis for 25 years. We're still waiting.

Anonymous said...

Wash High should win the state football champ in 2 yrs. They are loaded with talent. There are at least 7 sure fire D1 football players from 7th-10th grade. Wash High 8th grade football when healthy and eligible would have beaten any 8th grade team in the wpial. Remember these names Jaylin Kelly, Josh Wise and Shai Mckenzie. I forgot they also hoop to. Wash High is about to return to glory days. The grade school teams are really doing it to. Dale Lolley, tell 'em what is coming. players

Anonymous said...

Can't compare nobody to Brian Davis. He was probably the second best running back ever in the wpial behind Tony Dorsett.

Anonymous said...

its not like they were playing the game at trinity they won the game and will move on unlike the team who beat them with foul shots read the old blog about how south fayette was going to palumbo.In the game they beat wash high they missed over15 foul shots they were lucky to have the refs again last game and could not make there foul shots they came in like a lion went out like goats.Wash high good luck

Anonymous said...

hahaha thats prolly south fayette kids leaving them comments about wash highs not going to be good.. an south fayette was never good intill this year.. they never won a basketball championship.. An wash high has more championships than south fayette in basketball an football...

Anonymous said...

Mike can you follow up on the rumor about coach Bristor...Is it true that he was offered or perhaps applyd for the job??

Anonymous said...

FRANK ZEBRASKY IS THE C-M COACH. ITS OFFICIAL, IT IS JUST WAITING BOARD APPROVAL WHICH WILL CONFIRM IT AND FROM WHAT I HEARD THEY WILL CONFIRM IT.

Anonymous said...

According to a good source within the Trinity Baseball organization, Coach Bristor has not been approached about the head coach position nor has he applied for the job.
However, I was then afformed that Coach Ryan Daloia, (Bristor's Assistant Coach), was contacted by Guy Montecalvo and has since applied for the position and is expected to be named the new CM Coach this week.

Anonymous said...

I am 100% sure that Frank Zebrasky has the job. His name is on the agenda for board approval. There is no one else so quit with the rumors. I swear people just make things up then get on here. You guys are idiots or beleive everything you hear. FRANK ZEBRASKY HAS THE JOB!!!!!

Anonymous said...

let the school board decide and stop asking mike about it.CM wins one title and now all of a sudden we got to read who the next coach is so what those kids will play the same if lasorda coached them Peters or Bethel will clean there clocks this year anyway i hope they have a good year but i still think last year was gift.

mike_kovak said...

It is definitely not fair to compare anyone at Wash High to Brian Davis. Washington County may never see another athlete of his caliber at the high school level.

I'm not a big believer that success at the youth level translates to varsity. A lot of things can get in the way.

That said, while I believe South Fayette and Monessen can compete for WPIAL and PIAA championships next year, Washington boys basketball is always a given. The Prexies may not be a power every year, but they make the playoffs 90-95 percent of the time.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mike. However, take a real good look at the talent the youth football programs have. There are some very talented, motivated, and most of all smart (book smart) boys coming out of the programs. If the school board hires a good coach who will work with the youth coaches all the way to the high school coaches, WHS can and will have a great program for years.

Anonymous said...

Good! Hopefully those "book smart" athletes can come on this Blog and spell, unlike some of the previous posters.

Anonymous said...

Mike, you are right that success in the youth sports doesn't always translate into varsity success. The point I made was that there is an awful lot of talent in the WH pool and if every thing stays true to form then it will translate into success. But this is always the case at WH and at times the best athletes reverse direction and go another route. Being involved with the kids< I see a different trend where as most of the good athletes in this pool have a good support system which will help. Time and results will tell.

Anonymous said...

I saw some of the younger basketball teams at a tournament at Trinity last weekend. Washington has a few talented youth teams. The kids could really shoot and handle the ball for their age.