Local stars set for Roundball
By Jose Negron
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Despite a pause in the PIAA tournament amid concerns regarding COVID-19, there is still a chance local high school basketball seniors could get the opportunity to take the court one last time while representing their schools.
Several Valley standouts were selected to participate in an event that has become a Western Pennsylvania all-star tradition as the annual Roundball Classic will be held April 24-25 at Geneva College.
The event, which will consist of seven games, includes senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10.
Roundball Classic organizers plan to follow the PIAA’s lead when deciding whether the games should be played. A postponement until late May or June is a possibility.
The schedule will start with a 6 p.m. tipoff April 24 between the western and eastern boys all stars.
The west team, coached by Freedom’s Jeff Griffith, will feature Beth-Center’s Andrew Bower, while the east squad will have Serra Catholic’s Jayden Bristol and the Thomas Jefferson duo of Noah Pierce and Isaac McNeil. Bristol, Pierce and McNeil will play under the guidance of South Side Beaver coach Bob Harrison.
A 7:30 p.m. matchup will follow with the south team taking on the north team.
While there are no local kids on the south squad, former Belle Vernon Area guard Cam Nusser is listed on the north roster. Ringgold forward Luke Wyvratt will also suit up for the north team and Blackhawk head coach Brooks Roorback. The south will be led by Sto-Rox head coach Ryan Hughes.
In the final game on April 24, the all stars from Class 2A and 3A will unite to take on the all stars from Class 4A at 9 p.m.
California’s Malik Ramsey, a 6-4 guard, will suit up for the Class 2A/3A team coached by North Catholic’s Dave DeGregorio.
A pair of local stars will play for Highlands coach Tyler Stoczynski and the Class 4A squad. Ringgold’s Chris Peccon and Belle Vernon Area’s Mitch Pohlot will reunite on the same team. The pair were teammates while playing for Campy’s Pizza in the J. Budd Grebb Memorial Summer Basketball League in California.
To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Friday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.
