A-K Valley notebook: Trio picked for all-star basketball event

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 | 10:24 PM

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A trio of Alle-Kiski Valley basketball players will compete in another All-Star setting.

St. Joseph’s Alex Jones, Apollo-Ridge’s Megan Ost and Burrell’s Donovan Russell all will play in the 43rd annual Pennsylvania vs. Maryland All-Star Weekend on Friday and Saturday at Harrisburg Christian Athletic Center.

The two days will feature nine games — three on Friday and six on Saturday. Jones and Ost each will play in a pair of games, with both representing the PA All-Stars against the Capital Area girls at 7:15 p.m. Friday and the East Coast South girls against the East Coast North at 2:15 p.m. Saturday. Russell will play for the East Coast North Boys against the West Coast North at 6 p.m. Saturday.

All three players competed in last month’s Cager Classic at Highlands, with Jones claiming West Girls MVP honors. Jones and Ost also will play in the Roundball Classic later this month at Geneva College.

Jones, Ost and Russell all led their respective teams to the playoffs this season. Jones averaged 17 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists for St. Joseph, while Ost, a Carlow recruit, averaged 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds. Russell averaged 12.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for Burrell.

Snow problem

Do you want to build a snowman?

Seven members of the Kiski Area track and field team did Monday, livening up practice by taking advantage of the overnight snowfall.

Junior Kierra Shreffler led the effort, joined by freshmen Alexi Cramer, Matt Dongiovanni, Dylan Matchko, Jordan Fairman, Jake Folaron and Emily Schrag.

“Kierra likes to have fun, so it was Kierra and all the ninth-graders, and all the upperclassmen were stretching inside and laughing at her,” Kiski Area track and field coach Tom Berzonsky said.

No word on the snowman’s foot speed, but it might not matter that much this spring.

Keeping practices interesting is becoming challenging for coaches across all sports, as inclement weather is creating havoc with game and practice schedules. The snow Sunday into Monday wiped out nearly the entire schedule of games across the WPIAL, as did widespread rain Tuesday.

Although Berzonsky said he liked having extra time to train rather than constantly racing, Kiski Area has made just one off-campus trip to Roaring Run Trail, where the team likes to hold workouts. Many of the practices consist of what Berzonsky labeled “parking lot loops.”

“It’s been a challenge,” Berzonsky said. “The distance runners, I’d say nothing really impacts us a whole lot. But for our throwers and all our other events, it’s been a challenge to get on the track.”

Perfect day to build a snowman after practice! pic.twitter.com/W0KTvdZYCY

— Thomas Berzonsky (@Kiskitrackandxc) April 2, 2018

As the nose goes

St. Joseph softball is anticipating a return soon for first baseman Courtney Fogle after the senior suffered a broken nose in a preseason scrimmage against Shady Side Academy.

Fogle was playing first base when a throw after a dropped third strike clipped the baserunner’s helmet and the ball deflected into her face. Coach Dan Edgar said he expected Fogle to return next week. To this point, the weather has forced Fogle to miss just one game.

Penn in

Freeport senior Morgan Penn committed to play golf at Mt. Aloysius.

Penn led the Yellowjackets in scoring average as a junior and senior, averaging 38.33 strokes in 2017. He also qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championships at Allegheny Country Club, placing 24th, and made four appearances in the team playoffs.

Net loss

Apollo-Ridge and Riverview are searching for girls volleyball coaches for the fall 2018 season. Interested candidates should contact Apollo-Ridge athletic director Ray Bartha at 724-478-6033 or Riverview athletic director Mario Rometo at 412-828-1800, ext. 1015.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Freeport, Kiski School, Riverview, St. Joseph