Bristor sets it straight

Trinity baseball coach Levi Bristor wants to set the record straight and put an end to the rumors he has, was or will consider taking the head baseball coaching position at Canon-McMillan High School.

"I have not been approached by Canon-McMillan nor have I applied for the job at Canon-McMillan," Bristor said Monday night.

Bristor said the rumors, started by anonymous posters on this web site, that he was leaving Trinity for Canon-McMillan with the start of the season (March 20) days away filtered to his players.

Canon-McMillan won the 2008 PIAA Class AAAA championship and, just days before the first day of practice for the 2009 season, coach Steve Bucci resigned citing family reasons.

Trinity lost to West Allegheny in the WPIAL Class AAA championship and reached the PIAA semifinals before losing a difficult 1-0 game to Somerset.

"Nothing against Canon-McMillan but my whole goal in coaching is to be Trinity's head baseball coach," Bristor said. "That's what I am and that's what I intend to be."

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.

Clearing out the notebook

Some interesting developments in WPIAL football.

Seneca Valley recently hired Don Holl as its football coach, a position once rumored to be filled by former Pitt and Stanford coach Walt Harris. Holl resigned as Cathedral Prep's (Erie) coach following four season.

Holl's departure, along with an opening at McDowell High School in Erie, leaves two open positions at two of the more recognizable schools in District 10.

Anyone remember last year when rumors swirled around Trinity football coach/athletic director Ed Dalton leaving for Erie? Chances are they've started again.

No matter what happens – the guess here is Dalton stays – but there's no denying he's made serious strides with Trinity's program. In addition to the youth program, Dalton has constructed Trinity into an annual WPIAL playoff team. Did anyone think that was possible?

And, oh yeah, he's getting his players opportunities to play college football, whether it comes at Ohio State or Denison.

• South Fayette boys basketball is in the PIAA playoffs for the fourth time and the Lions face a tough first-round matchup in Mercyhurst Prep tomorrow at Edinboro University at 7:30 p.m. In its previous three trips to states, South Fayette has won at least one game each occasion and it reached the quarterfinals in 2002 and 1985. In 2002, the Lions lost to Mercyhurst Prep in the quarters.
• Washington, Ringgold and Bentworth remain without a head football coach. I've heard Ringgold is close to making a hire – there are two finalists according to my sources. At Wash High, there's little to report.
  
• At some point during the PIAA Class AA boys basketball playoffs, Washington's Ron Faust will have coached his last game for the Prexies following a wildly successful 28 years. Faust, who has coached four WPIAL and two PIAA championship teams in addition to winning more than 500 games, is one of the state's all-time great high school basketball coaches. Faust never received the credit that others did. That's probably just the way he's wanted it.
• Spring sports teams have been through five practices to date, meaning the first play date – March 16 for boys tennis and March 20 for all other spring sports – is rapidly approaching. Four stories I will be keeping a close eye on are: 1. Trinity baseball. With seniors Alex Frey, Tyler Schrader and Evan Bukowski, the Hillers can improve upon last year's second-place finish at WPIALs and possibly play for a state title; 2. Carmichaels baseball. Joby Lapkowicz, Chuck Gasti and Bill Musgrove give the Mikes a pitching staff that would make some Quad-A teams envious. If the Mikes can average three to four runs per game, it could be another championship season in Greene County; 3. Chartiers-Houston boys tennis. The Bucs field a team led by Karli and Tanya Timko; 4. Canon-McMillan's baseball coaching situation.
  

More on recruiting

Some of the more interesting, intelligent conversation in recent weeks on the blog concerns the topic of recruitment at the high school level. As I stated before, I'm not as passionate as most but I see both sides of the argument.

Anyway, the following is a column I authored following the 2008 WPIAL basketball playoff pairings meeting. It focuses on the girls basketball teams at Washington and Monessen. I think there are some relevant points to current discussion.

CORAOPOLIS – It's become tradition. Make the WPIAL playoffs and make a T-shirt for team members. Printers from Aliquippa to Woodland Hills are preparing for the blitz.

Here's a couple suggestions for the girls basketball teams at Washington and Monessen:

"Washington, the 2007-08 WPIAL Class AA Girls Public School Champions" and "Monessen, home of the WPIAL Class A Girls Public School Champions."

Can't blame the Prexies and Greyhounds, the No. 2 seeds in their respective brackets, for wanting more. Washington and Monessen each share legitimate championship aspirations.

History, however, is not on their side, or the side of public schools attempting to win girls basketball championships in the two smallest classifications.

Since 1976, when the first girls WPIAL Class AA champion was crowned, public schools have won just 13 titles, and only two since 2000.

In Class A, the numbers are equally skewed. The first WPIAL Class A championship was contested in 1978. Public schools have won 12 times. Monessen, the only undefeated basketball team out of the 264 in the WPIAL, won titles in 1995, 2004 and 2006.

"I don't look at it as a public-private thing," Monessen coach Major Corley said Tuesday night. "We realize there are a lot of private schools playing in Class A."

Despite a 23-0 record, Monessen isn't the favorite to win a fourth WPIAL championship. That honor goes to powerhouse North Catholic, which won back-to-back WPIAL Class AAA titles in 2003 and 2004 before opting to play in Class A.

A year ago, North Catholic won its 14th WPIAL championship and it reached the PIAA Class A title game. This year, the Trojans own wins over Mt. Lebanon, Moon and Greensburg Central Catholic.

Of the four section winners in Class A girls, Monessen is the only public school. Despite the obvious advantages private schools have, the Greyhounds are a consistent championship contender and are in the postseason for the 19th time in Corley's 21 years.

"The key is, over the years, we've had good players," Corley said. "The girls have always practiced hard and played hard. They don't worry about who they're playing."

Washington takes the same approach.

Like Monessen, the Prexies are the only Class AA girls school to win an outright section championship. Four of the six sections were won by private schools.

"If you look at the state rankings, in the top five or six (in Class AA), we're the only public school. The rest are all private or Catholic schools," first-year coach Mike Maltony said. "We're used to seeing the same teams over and over. Usually, the teams in our section don't change that much. The private schools can bring in that one player and, from where we're at, it's such a disadvantage."

Washington, with an impressive 22-1 record, isn't the favorite in its bracket. If the Prexies win their first WPIAL championship since 1992, when they played in Class AAA, they'll likely have to defeat top-seed Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

OLSH, like North Catholic, would be a tough out in the Class AAAA tournament. The Chargers defeated Hopewell, McKeesport and Blackhawk convincingly.

Anyone else having a hard time calling North Catholic and OLSH small schools?

Though the fight isn't as difficult on the boys side, it's still a daunting task and one that South Fayette coach Rich Bonnaure knows well.

For years, the Lions competed in the same section with Washington and other local public schools. When they were moved to Section 3-AA, South Fayette competes against Seton-La Salle and Bishop Canevin.

"It's definitely tougher because, obviously, we're dealing with the hand we were dealt," said Bonnaure, who guided the Lions to the No. 7 seed and a potential quarterfinal matchup against Jeannette.

"It's also made us a better team. And, as a coach, I have to do my homework and try to keep up with who plays on those teams."

Some coaches, like Corley, don't mind competing against the private schools for titles.

Others believe the playing field needs leveled.

"I'm a proponent of splitting it up," Maltony said. "Why should some schools recruit players?"

It's a situation in need of tweaking but one that is unlikely to change.

There's no shame in being second best but there's great satisfaction in overcoming tremendous odds.

Maybe Washington and Monessen should hold off on those T-shirts.

I'd like to hear what your solutions would be. The one I believe most in is making private schools play up one classification.

She can dunk

Stumbled on this one:

High schooler can dunk like no other woman
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Brittney Griner can dunk.
Not one of those just-above-the-rim throw-downs that have long been accepted as the best a woman can do in games of the past. When the 6-foot-8 high school senior dunks, it can be a rim-rattling, backboard shaking, two-handed slam.
Simply put, she dunks like a guy.
“It was overwhelming, obviously, the first time I did it and I just wanted to do it more and more,” she said.
Add this athleticism to her speed, blocking and rebounding prowess and it’s easy to see how Griner has become more than simply a top recruit, but someone who might be able to transform the women’s game.
Griner, who signed with Baylor, is the top player in the country according to Rivals.com and ESPN’s HoopGurlz.
“I’ve been doing this a long time ... but I’ve never seen anything like Brittney Griner,” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.
Since Georgeann Wells of West Virginia became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game almost 25 years ago, a handful of players have done it in college and WNBA games.
Virtually all those dunks have come on fast breaks and, while rare and certainly fodder for ESPN and YouTube, nobody gets those confused with anything Dr. J, or even Spud Webb, has ever done.
Griner could change that. As she gets older and more skilled, the 18-year-old who didn’t play organized basketball until ninth grade, could dunk as a normal part of Baylor’s offense.
Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt, who retired from Texas with 900 wins, has worked with Griner in summer camps and is intrigued by her skills.
“She can (dunk) better and differently than anybody that I’ve seen in the women’s game,” Conradt said. “It’s effortless for her.”
Yet for all the sizzle those dunks create, Conradt thinks Griner’s other talents will be more valuable at the next level.
“She has great hands. She has excellent quickness. She obviously has tremendous size and mobility,” Conradt said. “She has every tool that I think a player needs to have to become one of the best players or maybe the best player ever. It’s not going to happen just dunking though.”
Griner’s high school coach, Debbie Jackson, has seen her dunk for years and says she still finds herself “amazed all the time.”
“My husband said: ’You really shouldn’t say dunk, because people that haven’t seen Brittney just think, OK, she’s going over the rim and pushing the ball,”’ Jackson said. “But she’s slamming the ball. They’re monster dunks.”
Some might even say they’re Shaq-adelic. Not surprisingly, she has a fan in the big fella himself, Shaquille O’Neal.
He said he met Griner last year and was shocked at how high above the rim she got.
“It would bring a whole new dimension to the women’s game,” O’Neal said.

C-M baseball

Just to clarify all the rumors spreading on this blog concerning the Canon-McMillan High School baseball coaching position - as of last night, the position had not been filled.

No doubt, Bucci's timing was not the best for Canon-McMillan, especially the players. While athletic director Guy Montecalvo, the school board and others want to fill the position as quickly as possible, they want the best available candidate.

According to today's Observer-Reporter, a new coach can not be approved until March 16. The first game of the high school season is March 20.

"We've got Jack Smarslak and Justin White working with the team now," Montecalvo said. "They've been assistant coaches and they're both teachers here, but they really aren't interested in being the head coach."

Thomas' profile rising

At 6-4, 215, Bryan Thomas stands out wearing a Washington High School boys basketball uniform. Lately, the back-up junior player is being noticed more for his play than his imposing physical stature.

Thomas scored 12 points with a game-high eight rebounds (seven offensive) during the Prexies' easy 61-29 victory over Cranberry Tuesday night in a PIAA Class AA playoff game at Wash High Gymnasium.

"I try to play as hard as possible. It's the playoffs. I'll do anything to help," Thomas said. "Coach (Ron) Faust wants me to do what I can in the paint."

For Thomas, that means getting offensive rebounds. In Washington's last two playoff games, he's grabbed 12 offensive rebounds.

Thomas, a cousin of former Prexies and Notre Dame football player Travis Thomas, also scored points in bunches against the Berries. He tallied eight as the Prexies opened the second quarter with 10 quick points. Six of those points came on putbacks and he had four offensive rebounds during the stretch.

Faust called Thomas "the player throughout this years who has improved the most." He's also considered one of the better high school football players in the area.

Playing on a Wash High team that finished 1-8 didn't do much to raise Thomas' profile but the punishing tackler is drawing Division I interest as a linebacker or, possibly, a defensive end.

"I've got a lot of Division I schools looking at me," said Thomas, who listed Illinois, Duke and Cincinnati among the 15 teams who've contacted him. "I don't have any offers yet. Teams are waiting for me to take my SAT's."

Until then, Thomas is organizing training sessions as Washington waits for a new football coach to replace former coach Bill Britton, a staunch supporter of Thomas' skills and work ethic.

"We're in the weight room as much as possible," Thomas said. "I work 110 percent so I can take myself further."

Recruiting

One subject that never dies in Western Pennsylvania is high school recruiting for sports. On multiple occasions during the basketball regular season, I ended up discussing my thoughts on recruiting with various people. I tend to fall into the minority on the topic, meaning I don't work myself into a frenzy on the subject.

With North Catholic and Sewickley Academy winning WPIAL boys basketball titles over the weekend and the North Catholic girls adding to their already massive trophy case, recruiting remains fresh on the minds of a lot of sports fans.

Here's an interesting story concerning the Westinghouse High School girls coach in today's Post-Gazette:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09062/952744-364.stm

PIAA playoffs

Six local teams are preparing for the PIAA basketball playoffs with the Washington boys getting things started with a play-in game Tuesday night against the Cranberry Berries, the second-place team from District 9. The game will be played at Wash High. Have not confirmed a time as of posting.

Also, the Peters Township boys (AAAA), South Fayette boys and girls (AA), Monessen boys (AA) and Wash High girls (AA) are competing for state championships.

To find your team:

http://www.piaa.org/news/details.aspx?ID=1623