Belle Vernon to honor 1978 hoops champs

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 | 3:25 PM

vi-yesteryear-102813 — Johnny Russell (34) is pictured at a playoff game at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena helping the Belle Vernon Area Leopards' cause for an eventual WPIAL crown in basketball in the spring of 1978. Russell was a 6’1 guard who eventually signed with Robert Morris College. He was a two-year starter in Coach Don Asmonga’s back court and left as the fifth all-time leading scorer for BVA with 714 points. This photo is from the files of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame.

vi-asmonga-121813 — Courtesy photo

Don Asmonga, the first basketball and baseball coach in the history of Belle Vernon Area, will be honored at a BVA basketball game on Jan. 7. He guided the Leps to their only WPIAL basketball title in 1978.

Belle Vernon will recognize one of its greatest boys basketball teams during its regular-season home finale against Elizabeth Forward on Feb. 9.

Belle Vernon will honor the 1978 team that won the school's only WPIAL hoops title, on the 40th anniversary of the achievement.

The Leopards, coached by Don Asmonga, finished 26-5 and won the Class AAA title. The school said that team established 14 school records, including Tom Parks' single-season scoring mark of 568 points, and his single-game record if 45 points.

Parks also set the record for career points with 1,193.

Some of the other top players that year included Johnny Russell, Bill Contz, Greg Grimm, Randy Giannini, Doug Indof, Mark McManus, Joe Tordy and Dan Wassilchalk.

Other reserves included Marvin “Guy” Bizzelle, Mike Breza, Walt Diethorn, Dave Hoffman and Richard Zuraw.

Parks and Russell went on to play at Robert Morris.

Asmonga was the first coach in program history.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Belle Vernon

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Belle Vernon to honor 1978 hoops champs

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