Westmoreland County high school notebook: Roundball Classic finds new home

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Roundball Classic is changing locations.

Allen Deep, who has been running the event for decades, said the 20th installment of the all-star basketball weekend will move to North Allegheny.

Games traditionally have been played at Geneva College.

This year’s event will be May 9-12.

“The nice thing is that we get Sunday by going to NA,” Deep said. “It is the most modern basketball facility in District 7, with video scoreboard, huge parking capacity and the absolute center location and best access for all schools in (the included districts).

“We’re changing the format a little bit, too.”

Deep said underclassmen games will be played first, followed by the showcase games featuring the top senior players from the WPIAL, City League, District 9 and District 10.

The event will include underclassmen games for freshmen, sophomores and juniors, who will compete in a single-elimination tournament May 9-10.

On May 11-12, the all-senior games will be played with rosters by classification. There may be fewer games than in past years.

Player invitations will not go out until March, Deep said.

Deep, who runs a myriad of showcase events throughout the WPIAL regular season, was recently recognized with a certificate of appreciation from St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Deep donates a portion of ticket sales from each event to the hospital. He also has raised money for the Hoops for a Cure and Coaches vs. Cancer causes.

Irish offer Tatsch

Another scholarship offer rolled in for Latrobe football player Alex Tatsch, and it’s a big one.

Notre Dame became the latest Power 5 program to offer the junior linebacker. Tatsch, who has offers from Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia, USC, Michigan State, Stanford, Maryland and others, is a four-star prospect who made 111 tackles and had four sacks and four interceptions last season.

Latrobe teammate John Wetzel, a quarterback and defensive back who is drawing increased interest from Division I programs as a safety, added another offer this week, from Marshall.

His other offers include Temple, Akron, Lehigh, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Boston College.

Basketball playoff teams

The WPIAL regular season winds into its final week with a few playoff spots left to be determined.

County boys teams that have qualified are Franklin Regional in Class 5A, Belle Vernon in 4A, Derry, Burrell, Yough and Mt. Pleasant in 3A, Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette in 2A and Monessen in A.

Girls qualifiers are Norwin in 6A, Penn-Trafford in 5A, Greensburg Salem and Belle Vernon in 4A, Burrell and Mt. Pleasant in 3A, Greensburg Central Catholic in 2A and Monessen and Jeannette in A.

Paulone in all-star game

Jeannette football coach Tom Paulone has been selected to coach in the annual East-West small-school all-star game May 19 at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley.

Kickoff is set for noon. The large-school game starts at 5 p.m.

Paulone, who will begin his third year at Jeannette in the fall, will be on the West staff.

The West head coach is Roger Beitel of Ligonier Valley.

McCutcheon picks Cal (Pa.)

Amarah McCutcheon had Division I attention, but the softball standout from Southmoreland opted to stay close to home.

The power-hitting shortstop made a verbal commitment to play at Division II Cal (Pa.).

McCutcheon batted .542 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs and 22 runs scored last season as Southmoreland finished as the WPIAL 3A runner-up.

Williams to Clarion

Latrobe’s Ja’Tawn Williams announced his intentions to play football at Clarion in the D-II PSAC.

Williams (6-foot, 155 pounds) had 33 receptions for 756 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for the Wildcats (8-4), who reached the WPIAL 4A quarterfinals.

He also averaged 43 yards per kickoff return and had two interceptions on defense.

Signing day

Football commits can sign letters of intent beginning Wednesday, the start of the regular signing period.

The period runs through April 1 for Division I commits and ends Aug. 1 for D-II players.

The signing period for all other college sports starts Nov. 8.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Jeannette, Latrobe, Southmoreland