Helped lead Schenley High to 1978 state championship
When the Schenley High School basketball team won a state championship in 1978, Calvin Kane was one of the main catalysts for the Spartans.
Mr. Kane was the team’s starting point guard and helped the Spartans march through the state tournament, culminating with a 51-50 victory against Lebanon High School in the PIAA Class AAA title game. Lebanon featured 7-foot star Sam Bowie.
Mr. Kane, who went on to play college basketball, died Tuesday morning at Mercy Hospital of a brain aneurysm. A Hill District resident, Mr. Kane was 50.
Mr. Kane’s wife, Jacqueline, remembers her husband’s Schenley days well. The two dated in high school, and she attended the state championship game.
“I just remember how he was the point guard and would always get steals and just go up and down the court,” Mrs. Kane said.
Schenley’s run to the state title that year included a handful of close victories. In the semifinals, the Spartans needed overtime to defeat Erie Cathedral Prep, 67-66. James Smith scored the winning points on a three-point play with 33 seconds left.
In the title game, Mr. Kane had 10 points and five rebounds.
“That was a big team Schenley had that year,” said former Allderdice standout Buddy Valinsky, one of the best players in the City League in 1978. “Calvin was stocky and steady. He was tough with the ball. He wasn’t blazing quick, but to win a state championship you have to have a good point guard. He was it.”
Mr. Kane went on to play at Lamar University (Texas) and was on a 1980 team that made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. And 29 years after Mr. Kane won a state title at Schenley, his son Deandre was a standout player on another Schenley state championship team. The 2007 Spartans also featured Dejuan Blair, D.J. Kennedy and Jamaal “Onion” Bryant.
“His dedication these days was all to Deandre,” Mrs. Kane said. “I’d have to say his whole life was Deandre.”
Deandre Kane is now a standout sophomore guard at Marshall University (W.VA.), leading the team in scoring.
“Calvin was actually supposed to go down to Marshall soon for two weeks, just so he could work with Deandre’s shot because it has been off lately,” Mrs. Kane said. “He told [Deandre] that he would help him get his shot back together.”
Deandre got to Pittsburgh late Monday night to spend some time with his father in the hospital. Deandre then took a plane to Florida Wednesday for Marshall’s game against Central Florida. Deandre flew back to Pittsburgh Thursday and will be at his father’s viewing and funeral. He then plans to play in Marshall’s game Saturday night.
“We made Deandre go play that game Wednesday night because that’s what his father would’ve wanted,” Mrs. Kane said.
Besides his wife and son, Mr. Kane is survived by three other children, Calvin Kane III, Ashley Robinson and Nicosa Kane; a brother, Norman Kane; and two sisters, Joann Meredith and Joann Pope.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today at Macedonia Baptist Church, 2225 Bedford Ave., Hill District. Interment will follow at Allegheny Cemetery.