Price named Ringgold football coach

Already one of the hardest-working athletic directors in the WPIAL, Ringgold's Lloyd Price is taking on some extra responsibilities. At Wednesday evening's school board meeting, Price was approved by a unanimous vote to become the Rams' next head football coach. Price, a Ringgold graduate, becomes the seventh coach in 11 years at his alma mater.

He replaces Jeff Petrucci, who resigned after two seasons and two playoff appearances with a 9-11 record. Overall, Ringgold has reached the postseason three straight years.

“My goal is to get these student-athletes to excel academically. I want them to improve as young men,” Price said. “I want them to get to a high level and achieve success.”

Live – Wash High vs. N. Catholic

We've got wireless at Hempfield High. So, as long as I have battery power, the PIAA Class AA boys semifinal between Washington and WPIAL champion North Catholic will be updated live.

NC arrived late, so tipoff will not be until 6:10 p.m., at the earliest.

Big crowd already in attendance from the High.

End of one quarter – North Catholic leads 12-10. NC not quite as athletic as I thought but the Trojans look like they can rebound with the Prexies. One developing storyline is fouls – Wash High's Robert Anderson has two.

5:57 2nd – Wash High timeout after turnover. NC leads 17-12. The Trojans have made three three-pointers.

3:25 2nd – Anderson steal and layup trims Wash High deficit to 17-14.

Halftime – After Wash High creeps within 19-18, NC scores five straight poin6ts and leads at halftime, 24-20. NC has five three pointers and has limited the Prexies to three offensive rebounds.

Robert Anderson leads Washington with 10 points, while Troy Wilson has six rebounds. Jesse Long leads the Trojans with seven points. Henry Pwono has six points and four rebounds.

2:01 3rd – Wash High on a 14-3 run. Takes 34-27 lead on Anderson fast-break layup.

End 3rd – Wash High leads 36-27. NC no field goals in third and only one rebound final 4:30.

5:01 remaining – Wash High ahead 40-32 with Pwono at line attempting to complete three-point play. Battery power very low.

1:27 remaining – Wash High clinging to 46-44 lead. Has the basketball. NC on 11-4 run. Gym is very loud.

Under 1 minute – Pwono bank, game tied, 46-46. Wash High has the basketball.

OVERTIME!

51.8 left – NC 55-54 with ball.

Final score – NC 58-54.

Disturbing

There was a time when David Jeffries was an up-and-coming running back on the Monessen High School football team. I saw him play a couple times and he had skills. He was also pegged to be a key contributor in basketball. Looks like his playing days are over.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/03-18-Monessen-Gang-Violence

Rood named Bentworth football coach

The Bentworth School Board approved the hiring of Lou Rood as varsity football coach for the 2009 season on Monday night. Rood replaces Randy Walters, who coached the last two seasons.

Rood, a 1972 Belle Vernon Area graduate who attended Marietta College and California University of Pennsylvania, has a wealth of football coaching experience.

Rood coached Belle Vernon from 2006-08, guiding the Leopards to WPIAL Class AAA playoff appearance in 2006 and 2007. Belle Vernon finished 4-6 in 2008, but 1-5 in the Big Seven Conference. Rood also serves as a consultant for the Pittsburgh Passion, a women's professional team. He was the Passion's head coach in 2004.

The hiring leaves Washington and Ringgold as the only remaining area schools with openings.

Prexies to play at Hempfield

The Washington High School boys basketball team will resume postseason play in the PIAA Class AA semifinals Wednesday night against North Catholic at Hempfield High School in Greensburg. Tip-off is 6 p.m. Washington has a 25-3 record. North Catholic is the WPIAL champion and is 27-2.
The winner advances to the state championship game Saturday at the Bryce Jordan Center to face either Imhotep Charter (30-1) or Hughesville (23-5).
The Washington-North Catholic game is part of a doubleheader at Hempfield. At 7:30 p.m., the North Catholic girls play Bishop Guilfoyle in a Class A semifinal.

Wash High vs. Beaver Falls

WEXFORD – Senior Mark Wise and sophomore Zach Barnes finished with double-doubles as all five starters scored in double figures for Washington in a 69-51 victory over Beaver Falls in Saturday’s PIAA Class AA quarterfinal at North Allegheny High School.
Wise finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Barnes added 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Prexies (25-3), who play WPIAL champion North Catholic (27-2) in Wednesday’s semifinal.
Nick Bryant led Wash High with 17 points, while Troy Wilson added 15 points and six rebounds. Robert Anderson chipped in 12 points for Washington, which never trailed after tying the game 15-15 early in the second quarter.
Beaver Falls (21-6) got 20 points and 12 rebounds from Todd Thomas but the Tigers were dominated inside despite a decided size advantage. Kevin Nesmith, a 6-7 center, did not score, while 6-6 B.J. McBryde scored two points.

• While driving away from North Allegheny High School, I began thinking about a post-game interview with Washington coach Ron Faust following the Prexies' loss to South Fayette in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Faust was pleased with how hard his team played that day and said he thought the Prexies would be just fine in the state tournament. Correct again Coach.
• Washington has dominated Quaker Valley and Beaver Falls in successive games. The Quakers and Tigers were possible the two most hyped teams coming into the season.
• The Prexies are winning because everyone is finding ways to make key contributions. Against Beaver Falls, I thought Zach Barnes was the player of the game, followed closely by Mark Wise. The way those two controlled the inside was why the margin of victory was so large.
• Beaver Falls' senior Todd Thomas is one seriously gifted athlete. I didn't really like the way he jawed at the officials when he came out of the game late in the fourth quarter. It wasn't the refs fault. It was Beaver Falls' inability to rebound that ultimately doomed its season.
• Then again, it shouldn't be a surprise Thomas mouthed off. His coaches did not let the officials alone and it eventually led to a technical foul. Again, I go back to rebounding.
• Finally, a couple other local teams (South Fayette and Monessen) should be taking notes. The Lions are Greyhounds are as talented as Wash High. The Prexies' mental toughness is what has Washington in the Western Final for the first time since 1990.
  

APB, Where are they now?

With Washington and Beaver Falls set to play in Saturday's PIAA Class AA boys quarterfinal at North Allegheny, it's appropriate to look back at the March, 6 2005 first-round state game between the two powers.

Beaver Falls defeated Wash High, 72-70, on a last-second shot by Jack Anderson to end the Prexies' season.

The Varsity Letters issues an All Points Bulletin for one of that game's former stars – Wash High's Romone Barnes.

Against the WPIAL champs, Barnes was a monster and his floater with six seconds left tied the game, 70-70. He slashed his way to 24 points in his final varsity basketball game and Barnes drew considerable praise from the opponent following the game. Barnes ended up a third-team all-stater that year and was runner-up to Fort Cherry's Dan Davis for Observer-Reporter's Player of the Year honors.

Anyone knowing of Barnes' whereabouts is urged to contact the Varsity Letters.

Live – Wash High vs. Quaker Valley

The Varsity Letters is blogging live from today's PIAA Class AA boys second round playoff game between Washington and Quaker Valley at the Palumbo Center.

Four minutes to tip.

6:13 1st – Robert Anderson scores on a breakout. High up 3-0. QV – three turnovers, no field goal attempts.

Wash High closes out 1st quarter on 10-0 run. Nick Bryant scores 10 first-quarter points as Wash High leads, 18-8.

4:01 2nd – Wash High ahead 24-18. QV has only four rebounds but has kept the game close with four three-pointers.

Halftime – Wash High leads, 26-20. Bryant has 12 points. The Prexies have nine offensive rebounds.

Washington has 17 rebounds. Quaker Valley has five reounds.

5:25 3rd – Wash High up 36-23 as it opens 3rd with a 10-3 run. Troy Wilson and Bryant scored all 10 points.

After three, it's Wash High 43-29. Bryant injured an ankle grabbing a defensive rebound at the 2"06 mark but returned to take the final shot of the third.

4:16 4th – We have a Herb Pope sighting. Pope, the oft-traveled former Aliquippa star who will play at Seton Hall next year, just walked in for the Quips game, which follows this one.

Wash High is up 50-32.

Final score, Wash High 60- 38 . The Prexies dominated the second half. Read more in tomorrow's Observer-Reporter.

Prexies power

After one round of the PIAA boys and girls basketball playoffs, two local teams remain - the Washington boys and girls. First round losses claimed the seasons of WPIAL Class AAAA champions Peters Township as well as Class AA's Monessen, South Fayette boys and South Fayette girls.

All four enjoyed excellent and, in a couple cases, surprising seasons.

But doesn't it seem a little fitting that the only teams remaining are from Wash High.

"It's been an awful lot of fun. It really rings back to the 80s when that type of thing happened," Washington boys coach Ron Faust said. Faust is nearing the end of his 28th, and final, season as basketball coach. He also serves as Wash High's athletic director.

"It's been a good winter to support and compete with each other. It's a shame we can't play on the same night but the support has been great and that has spilled over into the community."

Faust will be at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown tonight as the Washington girls (19-5) play Southern Huntingdon (26-1) at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, the Washington boys (23-3) face Quaker Valley (18-6) at the Palumbo Center at 5 p.m.

"I think it's pretty big. You don't see that many schools sending both teams into the second round," Washington girls coach Mike Maltony said. "Having both adds to the enthusiasm in both locker rooms. It's a little bit of school history."