City League off to strong start
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Allderdice is chasing history this season, trying to become the first team in more than a half century to win five consecutive City League titles.
Teams such as Westinghouse and Carrick are hoping to throw a wrench into those plans.
If the first two weeks of the season are of any indication, this could be a strong season for the City League. Entering the week, the top three teams boasted a combined record of 10-1. Carrick was 4-0, Allderdice 3-0 and Westinghouse 3-1.
Carrick is the biggest surprise. The Raiders went 7-15 last season and didn’t win their fourth game until Jan. 18. Longtime coach Walt Milinski pointed to experience as being the primary reason for his team’s improved play. The Raiders have been scoring well, averaging 73 points per game during a run that included an 84-71 win against Montour and a 56-55 win at East Allegheny. Senior forward Ernie Howard is averaging 16 points a game.
“I just think it really has to do with a year of maturity,” Milinski said. “Other than one new kid, all the kids are the same as last year. Nothing beats that year of experience.”
Westinghouse (13-10 a season ago) is opening eyes not just because of its record, but who it has beaten. The Bulldogs defeated Central Valley and then perennial WPIAL Class 4A power New Castle to win the New Castle tournament and two days later topped defending WPIAL Class 1A champion Monessen.
“Some things are unexplainable. This might be one of them,” said Westinghouse coach Eugene Wilson. “It’s such a young group overall. People think about us this season and they know James Ellis, and that’s it. Someone called us a bunch of no-names. But it’s a bunch of no-names that work hard.”
Ellis stands out as soon as walks into the gym. A 6foot-11 senior center, Ellis was an all-City choice last season and is averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocked shots a game. Wilson said that Division I and II schools and JUCO’s have shown interest in a tower of a player whom Wilson said has matured immensely in recent years and continues to get better.
“He’s the centerpiece of why we are successful,” Wilson said. “He changes the dynamic of the paint defensively and getting rebounds, and then outletting the ball and allowing us to get the ball to the hoop.”
History is not on Carrick or Westinghouse’s side. Carrick last won a City League title in 1994. Westinghouse has done it just once (2013) since the turn of the century.
Another team that could be in the title hunt is Obama Academy, which has played — and lost — in the championship game five of the past six seasons. The Eagles began this season 1-3.
But Allderdice is still the team to beat. Coach Buddy Valinsky has guided Allderdice to four consecutive championships and seven in the past eight years. No team has won five consecutive titles since Westinghouse did it from 1950-54.
“Everyone judges you on the success you have against Allderdice,” Milinski said. “Buddy has got that program going in the right direction. Young team, but an experienced team being in the championship game four years in a row and playing in the state playoffs. We’re hoping to be competitive, but we’re going to find out.”
Jeannette
Eight days after winning a PIAA football championship, Jeannette players traded the turf for the hardwood … and their winning ways came with them.
Playing its season opener a week later than most WPIAL teams, Jeannette rolled to a 67-37 victory at Summit Academy last Friday.It was not only a win, but a section win (Class 2A Section 1) for Jeannette, which has reached the WPIAL playoffs16 years in a row.
Two of Jeannette’s football stars led the way in the opener, with Tre Cunningham scoring a game-high 22 points and Robert Kennedy adding 13. Kennedy accounted for four touchdowns in the PIAA championship and Cunningham had a touchdown catch and kicked a field goal.
All but one player in Jeannette’s main rotation played on the football team. The only one who didn’t was junior point guard A.J. Sharp, who scored 12 points in the win against Summit Academy.