Senior hoopers eager to represent Valley in Roundball Classic

Nicole Pawlowski

Antonio Epps

Haley Hertzler

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the annual Roundball Classic last year, a number of senior basketball players are preparing to return to Geneva College for the 2021 event May 13-15.
Rosters were unveiled earlier this month and a whopping 23 players – 15 boys and eight girls – will represent the Mon Valley in eight games over the course of three days.
On the boys side, Thomas Jefferson has four representatives, while McKeesport is represented by three players and a former coach. Other programs with representations are Belle Vernon Area, Charleroi, Frazier, Ringgold, South Allegheny and Yough.
Girls representatives hail from Belle Vernon Area, California, Clairton, Elizabeth Forward, McKeesport, Serra Catholic and Thomas Jefferson.
All-star weekend will begin May 13 with a 6:30 p.m. clash between the Class 2A all stars and the Class A team.
Frazier guards Owen Newcomer and Luke Santo, a pair of seniors who helped lead the Commodores to an 18-win season, a section championship and a playoff appearance this past winter, will represent 2A under Our Lady of Sacred Heart head coach Mike Rodriguez. Newcomer averaged 18.7 points per game during the regular season, while Santo scored 16.6 per contest.
The Class A team will be coached by Bishop Canevin’s Gino Palmosina.
“Playing one last high school game means a lot to me. I get to make more memories and just get to play the game I love one last time as a high schooler,” Newcomer said. “And to play with Luke one last time means the world to me, too. I grew up not only playing with him, but I’ve been friends with him since elementary school. Getting to play one more game with him will be a memory I won’t forget.”
A battle between Class 4A (Silver) and Class 3A will take place at 8:30 p.m. following the Class A-2A contest.
The South Allegheny duo of Antonio Epps, a 6-0 guard, and 6-5 forward Omar Faulkner will join forces with another area player in Charleroi’s Zach Usher on the Class 3A team. They will play for Ellwood City head coach Steve Antuono while the Class 4A (Silver) team will be guided by Blackhawk coach Brooks Roorback.
Epps and Faulkner each played a pivotal role in helping to lead the Gladiators to a 17-win season and a trip to the WPIAL championship game.
Usher was also a significant asset as a senior leader for the Cougars, who captured their first playoff win in 24 years.
“Omar and I have been playing sports together since the sixth grade and this will be a good way to go out,” said Epps, a Duquesne football recruit who averaged 14.4 points per game during the regular season.
“Sharing the court with Omar was always fun. Watching him go up for a dunk or a chase-down block brought energy to SA basketball that was never seen before. I would tell him before every game, ‘Man I love being on the court with you,’ knowing a big play was coming. I look at him like family just like the rest of the guys.
“Being able to represent SA one more time will be great. It will be a nice finish to our high school careers. We wanna be able to compete and go out with a bang for SA one last time.”

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