Russell lived life ‘as fast as possible’
Belle Vernon Area’s Johnny Russell glides to the basket for two points during a WPIAL semifinal game at the Civic Arena against New Castle. Submitted
By JEFF OLIVER
MVI Sports
The 1977-78 Belle Vernon Area basketball team was truly special.
In fact, in school lore, it is iconic.
After all, that team won the only WPIAL basketball crown in the school’s history.
And I guess you could say that team was also special to me, personally because I knew those guys off the court.
Being a Monessen native, I pretty much always knew the kids who played under Joe Salvino as I saw them not only on the court, but around town as well.
However, that BVA team to this day remains the only non-Monessen squad that I personally knew all five starters.
It was coached by the legendary Don Asmonga and the starters were Tom Parks, Johnny Russell, Randy Giannini, Bill Contz and Scott Grimm. Over the years, I got to know them all and still talk to few couple of them today
Heck, I even knew some of the bench players, like Dan Wassilchalk and Doug Indof.
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