Little Victories
Little Brothers & Little Sisters crown champions; Spitz recognized for PYMC service
SCHUYLKILL >> On a night when boys basketball commissioner Rob Spitz was honored for more than 25 years of service to the Phoenixville Marian Youth Club (PMYC) organization, two excellent gameswere played on the Schuylkill Township Elementary School basketball court.
In the Little Brothers opener, the top-seeded Redmen completed an undefeated season by beating the third-seeded Hoyas, 37-27. The Redmen are coached by Anwar Abernathywhile theHoyas are coached by first-year head coach Eliott Johnson and his son, Durron Johnson.
Spitz was then honored between games of the doubleheader. Spitz received a special plaque for all of his volunteer work. Veteran PMYC president/head football coach Chuck McQuiston and former assistant football coach Ron Van Horn, who each have spent more than 30 years on the board of directors at PMYC, made appearances for the presentation.
That was followed by the Big Brothers game between the third-seeded Magic and fifth-seeded Spurs. The Spurs wound up taking the tight battle, 44-41. The Spurs are coached by Jeremiah Rockemore. The Magic are coached John DiMaio, who spent his first year in the Big Brothers division, and his assistant, Dave Clarke.
“It is an honor to be out here with the community,” said Spitz. “My kids are 35 and 36. They started here when they are 7 and 8 years old in basketball and football.
“I have watched Anwar
grow as a young man to a pillar of the community. He has made me so proud. He came out to coach and has stuck with it. Now we have others like Michael Stokes (coach, playoff game timer, machine scorekeeper) and James Jr. They grow up playing on the court and then are sticking with it.
“I am honored to be out here. It is great to give back to the community.”
Spitz thanked the parents and other adults who have spent years involved in the circuit and have spent a lot of time transporting their children to and from practices and games. He encouraged more parents to become involved in order to givemore stability to the organization with some new blood while many of the current workers are getting older and have already put inmany years of their time.
Glen Faust and Dan Falcone served as officials for the boys basketball doubleheader.
Isabelle Gottfried delivered a moving rendition by singing the National Anthem prior to the Little Brothers first game. Tyson Gottfried is amember of the Little Brothers Hoyas team.
Girls basketball commissioner Jeanne Schanzenbch said Spitz cooperated with her when girls were invited to join the PMYC basketball program some 14 years ago. Spitz said Schanzenbach’s work and devotion to the PMYC programis one of the reasons he has been able to stay around the circuit for so long remain as active as he has been throughout the years.
“Jeremiah Rockemore is another coach,” said Spitz. “Anwar brought himin. He’s a big part of this community, too. So many parents have told me how much of an inspiration he has been. It was team players, and he is all about learning team basketball and fundamentals.”
“I love basketball,” said Rockemore. “I want all the kids to get better.”
During earlier games in the playoffs, in Little Brothers, the fifth-seeded Panthers beat the fourth-seeded Owls, 21-15. The thirdseeded Hoyas stopped the sixth-seeded Blue Devils, 22-16. There second-seeded Hawks defeated the seventh-seeded Wildcats, 27-7. Then, in the second round, the No. 1 Redmen beat the No. 5 Panthers, 21-17, and the
No. 3 Hoyas topped the No. 2 Hawks, 23-21.
In Big Brothers, No. 1 Celtics defeated No. 8 Knicks, 45-29; No. 5 Spurs defeated No. 4Heat, 33-29; No. 2Warriors edged No. 7 Lakers, 5047; and No. 3 Magic tripped No 6 76ers, 47-43.
In the second round, No. 5 Spurs defeated No. 1 Celtics, 38-32; and No. 3 Magic bested No. 2Warriors, 53-41.
The Redmen were led in scoring by Trey Lear with 13 points, including nine free throws. Deacon Williams had seven, Jordan Newsom six, Bobby Gray five and Jaylyn Johnson, Logan Matthews and Ethan Zhang with two each.
Other Redmen players include Brody Rosenbaum, Jahsire Savage, Hathaway, Cole Hathaway and King Anderson.
For the Hoyas, Anthony Alexander had seven points, Stephen Yurick IV six, Ander Littlejohn six, Ashton Alexander four, Cole Geiger two and Giovanni Jito two. Also seeing action were Derrick Johnson Jr., Tyson Gottfried and Jimmy McCauley. Travis Richardson completed members of the roster.
For the Redmen, Lear totaled six rebounds and three steals. Newsom had seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Matthews
had three rebounds and two steals.
Williams had one rebound, one block and one steal. Johnson had two rebounds. Zhang had two rebounds. Rosenbaum had two rebounds. Gray had two rebounds. Cole Hathaway had two steals plus one rebound. Bennett Hathaway had one rebound.
For the Hoyas, Littlejohn and Jito each had five rebounds and one steal. Yurick had two rebounds and one
steal. Anthony Alexander grabbed two rebounds. Gottfried had one steal and one rebound. Ashton Alexander had one rebound.
The Redmen held a 19-17 lead at the end of three period and then 24-21 before outscoring the Hoyas 13-6 during the last stanza.
Elijah Martin led the way for the Spurs with a gamehigh 21 points, with three counters coming at the foul line, Dylan Gehris followed upwith 13 points with three
3-point field goals. Saleem Smith chipped in with six and Jackson Kuranda had four.
Also seeing action for the Spurs were Bryan Kirchner, Elijah O’Toole, Braydn Strzelecki, Simon Selverian and JJ Rockemore.
For the Magic, DJ Clarke totaled 13 points with two 3-pointers and 3-for-5 shooting at the free throw line. Zahaire Savage and Adam DeJesus each ended with eight points while Zavier
Mayo had six. Gavin Matta had four and Zachary Pekofsky two.
Also seeing action for the Magic were Lucas DiMaio, Bryce Absher and William Brennfleck.
For the Spurs, Martin extended his line with six steals and three rebounds. Gehris pulled down three rebounds and had one steal. Kuranda had three steals and two rebounds, Smith had one rebound. Kirchner had three rebounds and one steal. O’Toole had two rebounds. Rockemore had one rebound.
For the Magic, DeJesus yanked down eight rebounds while Pekofsky had six rebounds and one steal, Mayo six rebounds, Savage had five rebounds plus one steal, Matta had five rebounds and Clarke had three rebounds.
Dimaio played a solid floor game with several assists, one steal and one rebound from his guard position. Absher and Brennfleck each had one rebound.
The Spurs led 11-9 after one period, and the game was knotted at 17 after two periods. Then the Spurs pulled in front 35-27 after three before the Magic madde it close with a 14-9 advantage in the final period.