MILESTONE UPDATE: Although Trinity’s Larry Kostelac Jr. locked up his 600th career victory with a 74-47 conquest of William Sayre Wednesday in Shillington, he wasn’t the only coach to post a big number in the second round of state play.
One night earlier, with a 69-54 triumph over Beaver Area, General McLane’s Andy Schulz racked up his 600th career win. While Schulz will go for No. 601 Friday night against Montour, he’s already indicated this will be his last season.
Coatesville’s Rick Nelms, who has his Red Raiders in Saturday’s Class AAAA quarterfinals, also has decided to retire. Kostelac, whose Shamrocks (20-7) will meet Loyalock at Pottsville’s Martz Hall, gave no such indication.
"That's a milestone, I guess, and I'm appreciative of it, the recognition," Kostelac told PennLive.com following his team’s resounding victory. "But guys that know me and been around a long time know that I am seriously about the next possession.
"That's what I coach for and when I stop thinking along those lines, then it's time to pack it in,” Kostelac continued. “But, I think I have a whole lot of possessions left in me."
By the way, Trinity shot 58 percent (25-for-43) from the floor in Wednesday night’s. Remarkably, the ‘Rocks – Dylan DeFrank and Dom Antonelli were a combined 12-for-18 from deep -- were even better (14-for-22) from beyond the 3-point arc.
Nice night all around.
LAST TIME WAS TIGHT, SO … It may have been five-plus years since Harrisburg and Lower Merion collided in a meaningful basketball game, but the last meeting between the two was tight.
In fact, Kirk Smallwood’s Cougars claimed a 54-53 triumph over Gregg Downer’s Aces in a Hoop Group showcase event at Harrisburg’s Kimber Gym. Quincy Roberts and Alphonso Washington each posted 14 points for the ‘Burg, while Sheldon Wilson chipped in 11.
Lower Merion featured junior Greg Robbins, one of the few remaining pieces from the Aces’ 2006 PIAA Class AAAA championship side.
Fast forward to Saturday (1 p.m.) at Reading, where Smallwood’s Cougars (28-2) will meet Lower Merion (27-3) in a highly anticipated PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinal-round scrap.
Only the winner moves on.
QUALITY MATCHUP IN CHAMBERSBURG: Franklin County hoop fans may want to check out Friday’s Class AAA contest between perennial District 12 power Archbishop Carroll (21-6) and WPIAL hammer Chartiers Valley (24-4).
Tip is set for 7 p.m.
While Carroll sports a terrific backcourt featuring Nick Jones, Joe Mostardi and Binghamton recruit Yosef Yacob, Paul Romanczuk’s Patriots also can intimidate opponents up front. Especially since that’s where 6-10 Ernest Aflakpui and 6-6 Derrick Jones reside.
Jones is the first- or second-rated sophomore in Pennsylvania (depending on what recruiting site you visit). He has offers from Penn State and St. Joseph’s – not to mention legit interest from Villanova, Temple, Rutgers, Xavier and Pittsburgh. Others, too.
And for those who may have missed it, Jones nearly racked up a triple-double (16 points, 19 rebounds, 8 blocks) in Carroll’s 57-40 win over Pope John Paul II in Tuesday night’s second round.
Char Valley’s 6-6 Spencer Casson did post a triple-double (13p, 10r, 10b) on Tuesday night – Casson averages 11 points, 11 boards and nearly eight blocks per outing -- as Tim McConnell’s Colts pounded Johnstown 65-38.
Guards Michael Boulos and Matty McConnell – who average a combined 34 ppg -- shared 37 points against Johnstown.
COACH WATCH: On hand to watch Math, Civics & Sciences’ 62-46 victory over St. John Neumann Tuesday night at East Pennsboro were coaches from Robert Morris and St. Peter’s (N.J.).
The three-man Robert Morris party – including skipper Andy Toole – was there to watch Britton Lee and Jeremiah “Lump” Worthem. Both signed in November with the Colonials.
St. Peter’s had two members of its staff in attendance to catch up with the Mighty Elephants’ 6-8 Quadir Welton. Welton, who booked seven points and five boards early, signed with the Peacocks in November.
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CLASS AAAA SECOND-ROUND REWIND: Jahaad Proctor, Jerel Patterson and Steven Stoney shared 48 points as Harrisburg clipped Upper Darby 79-62. … B.J. Johnson, JaQuan Johnson, Raheem Hall and Yohanny Dalembert combined for 58 points as Lower Merion starched Martin Luther King 63-50. Dalembert also grabbed 19 boards. … Mikal Bridges popped a double-double (26 points, 10 rebounds) as Great Valley held off Parkland 64-61. … Rondae Jefferson racked up 23 points and 16 rebounds – including career point No. 1,000 – as Chester pulled away from Williamsport 67-50. … Howard Sellars, Jaquan Hollingshed and Emmett Hunt hooked up for 44 points – Hollingshed also snared 13 boards and blocked five shots – as Coatesville trimmed Norristown. … St. Joseph’s Prep received a combined 59 points from Kyle Thompson, Stephen Vasturia, Miles Overton and Chris Clover in a 72-55 win over York. … Shawn Anderson popped a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds), while Brandon Domenick netted 14 points and Anthony Richards added 11 as New Castle rallied for a 57-46 win over North Allegheny. … Sheldon Zablotny rolled up 21 points, while Matt Harris and Conor Colpoys chipped in 12 each as Cathedral Prep downed Hampton 58-50.
CLASS AAA SECOND-ROUND REWIND: Brandon Austin, Abraham Massaley and Basil Thompson combined for 40 points as Imhotep Charter held off Susquehanna Twp. 57-48. … Martin Dietrich, Jason Dietrich, Matt Foltz and Dylan Houseal reached double figures, sharing 54 points as Donegal ousted Allentown Central Catholic 66-57. … Ja’Quan Newton bagged 22 points as three-time state champ Neumann-Goretti survived Scranton Prep 51-44 in overtime. … J.C. Show poured in 30 points, while Jason Bamford and T.J. Murray added 13 apiece as Abington Heights nipped Philly Electrical 66-63 in OT. … Derrick Jones posted big numbers (16 points, 19 rebounds, 8 blocks) as Archbishop Carroll sidelined Pope John Paul II 57-40. … Spencer Casson racked up a triple-double (13p, 10r, 10b) as Chartiers Valley walloped Johnstown 65-38. … Rob Julian banked 26 points in Montour’s 48-38 conquest of Girard. … Jaymon Mason poured in 33 points as General McLane trimmed Beaver Area 69-54.
CLASS AA SECOND-ROUND REWIND: Dylan DeFrank scored 26 points and Dom Antonelli added 23 – they were a combined 12-for-18 from beyond the arc – as Trinity rocked William Sayre 74-47. … Ahmad Gilbert cranked out a double-double (20 points, 16 rebounds) as Constitution downed Delone Catholic 63-55. … Omar Little netted half of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as Loyalsock rallied for a 51-48 win over Communications Tech.… Josh Kosin poured in 31 points and Connor Callejas chimed in with 23 as Holy Cross decked Del-Val Charter 70-54. … Elijah Cottrill racked up 27 points as Beaver Falls bounced Mercyhurst Prep 53-39. … Coty Gander, Casey Greggs and Dalton Boggs shared 40 points as Lakeview tripped Greensburg Central Catholic 49-41. … Dillon Brown, Jeff Callihan and Jeremy Sotosky combined for 40 points as Conemaugh Twp. clipped Northern Cambria 65-46. … Matt Dogan banked 30 points as West Middlesex eliminated Bishop McCort 61-54.
CLASS A SECOND-ROUND REWIND: Louis Myers and Britton Lee split 38 points as Math, Civics & Sciences turned away St. John Neumann 62-46. … Lester Mattox, Rysheed Jordan, Amir Butler and Daron Johnson reached double figures, combining for 49 points as Vaux smacked Sullivan County 76-41. … Aondofa Anyam and Joey Shelton shared 25 points as Church Farm rallied past Mahanoy Area 42-36. … Dache Talbert, Anthony Wright-Downing and Luis Martinez combined for 42 points as Sankofa Freedom slipped past Pius X 61-56. … Cole Peterson poured in 26 points as Johnsonburg tripped Shade 54-49. … Maverick Rowan collected 20 points and Ryan Skovranko chipped in 13 as Lincoln Park stopped Ridgway 51-34. … Marcus Lee posted a double-double (33 points, 14 rebounds) and Scott Ranck netted 27 points as Bishop Carroll outran Vincentian 92-85. … Zach Smith registered 19 points and snared 13 rebounds as Smethport edged Clairton 37-35.
DISTRICT-BY-DISTRICT UPDATE: After two rounds of state play, here’s what each PIAA district has accomplished thus far and what ‘s left.
District 1: 13-11 ... Five teams remaining (one in A, four in AAAA)
District 2: 5-5 ... Two teams remaining (one in AA, one in AAA)
District 3: 9-18 ... Three teams remaining (one in AA, one in AAA, one in AAAA)
District 4: 5-8 ... One team remaining (AA)
District 5: 4-2 ... One team remaining (AA)
District 6: 5-8 ... One team remaining (A)
District 7: 16-17 ... Five teams remaining (one in A, one in AA, two in AAA, one in AAAA)
District 8: 0-2 ... No teams remaining
District 9: 5-4 ... Two teams remaining (two in A)
District 10: 8-6 ... Four teams remaining (two in AA, one in AAA, one in AAAA)
District 11: 4-9 ... No teams remaining
District 12: 23-7 ... Eight teams remaining (three in A, one in AA, three in AAA, one in AAAA)
QUOTABLE PART ONE: “He came over to us in the fourth quarter and told us, ‘Get the ball in my hands.’ We were struggling a little bit and sometimes our best play is ‘Go Matt.’ [Wednesday] night it was ‘Go Matt’ and he got to the line for us.” – West Middlesex coach Chad Mild to the Sharon Herald, following Matt Dogan’s 30-point performance.
QUOTABLE PARTS TWO … AND THREE … AND FOUR: “They are an average team, at best. There was nothing they did that caused us to lose. Now the refs …”
And …
“That was probably the worst officiated game that I have ever been a part of. Anybody who was here at saw this game would agree. We kind of knew coming in here that these guys never saw a team like us before.”
And …
“My biggest problem was that they let them get away with so much. I am dumbfounded at what I witnessed. They set moving screens every time, they shuffled their feet every time they drove to the hoop, and nobody ever saw it. I figured they were kind of blind, but every time I asked a question, they never saw it.” – Clairton coach Matt Geletko to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review following a 37-35 loss to Smethport.
MICHAEL BULLOCK:mbullock@pennlive.com
GEOFF MORROW:gmorrow@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n
MORROW ON TWITTER: @RageAgainstGMo