{"id":79452,"date":"2017-04-03T19:30:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T19:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=79452"},"modified":"2023-04-12T19:49:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T19:49:06","slug":"behind-mic-winter-bye-bye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/behind-mic-winter-bye-bye\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Mic: Winter Bye-Bye"},"content":{"rendered":"

The season of 2016-17 officially came to an end this past weekend with the VIA All-Star basketball games being played.\u00a0 Outstanding seniors donned their school\u2019s uniforms for the last time and Lehigh Valley basketball was officially over.\u00a0 There is no better time to reminisce\u2026\u00a0 Here are my top ten memories of this past season.<\/p>\n

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  1. The RCN TV<\/a> team \u2013 I have spent more than 40+ years with this group and they never cease to amaze me with their work ethic, their dedication and their skills. Imagine over 100 winter productions laying wire, setting up cameras at the top of arenas, preparing the announcers\u2019 booth, working the game and reversing the whole process when the game ends.\u00a0 Now imagine doing that over and over and over again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. East Stroudsburg North<\/a> \u2013 This team had to put together a winning streak down the stretch just to get into the EPC playoffs and districts. They lost to Bethlehem Catholic in the EPC semis on a last second shot but came back to beat Whitehall, Central Catholic, and Pottsville to win their first District championship in school history.\u00a0 The icing on the cake was their first-round state win (also, the first in school history) before finally falling.\u00a0 It was a memorable season to say the least.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Lafayette women<\/a> win at home \u2013 On February 25, the Lafayette women were playing Colgate in the final home game of the year. They had not won a game at home all season.\u00a0 In as entertaining game as you could see, the Leopards prevailed by a 90-85 score.\u00a0 I\u2019ll never forget how happy the women were along with their staff that they got this win on Senior Day.\u00a0 Then, despite winning only two league games all year, they went on to win the first round game in the Patriot League Tournament.\u00a0 More smiles.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Lafayette <\/a>hires new head football coach \u2013 Despite the winter sports season being about basketball and wrestling, the news that Lafayette hired a new head football coach makes my top ten. I loved working with former head coach Frank Tavani and, obviously, was saddened by his departure.\u00a0 John Garrett<\/a> was named the new head coach on December 21.\u00a0 He enters Lafayette with a tremendous resume with both college and NFL experience.\u00a0\u00a0 Having attended some spring practices, there is a renewed energy in the staff and the players.\u00a0 I\u2019ll take that same energy into next season.\u00a0 Go Leopards!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Tom and John \u2013 All the respect and praise I feel for the RCN staff carries over to my color analysts for high school and college basketball, Tom Stoudt and John Leone. Obviously, the three of us spend a great deal of time together and it is full of conversation, joking, ribbing, and good times.\u00a0 The winter goes very quickly when you are around these guys!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. Allen\u2019s <\/a>fan base \u2013 Many of us in the media have been lamenting the absence of good crowds for the high school basketball games in the past few years. Interest just seemed to lag.\u00a0 Not this year.\u00a0 Gyms were filled, for the most part, and the Allen fan base wins the award for the greatest support.\u00a0 I think interest was up throughout the Valley, but no team had more support, both adult and student-based than the Allen Canaries.\u00a0 There is nothing better than a high school gym filled with two good teams and an enthusiastic crowd.\u00a0 There were plenty of both this season.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. Emmaus<\/a>\u2019 run in the PIAA state playoffs \u2013 This team went in as the #4 seed from District XI \u2013 a seed we had never had before the increase in classifications. In other words, before this year, they would not have even gotten into the playoffs.\u00a0 They sure made the opportunity pay off.\u00a0 No boys\u2019 team from the Lehigh Valley went further into the playoffs.\u00a0 They beat Cheltenham and Harrisburg before losing in double overtime to Carlisle in the most exciting game of the year.\u00a0 Talk about seizing the moment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                1. The individual talent \u2013 I have never experienced a year with so much talent on so many teams, both boys and girls. It did not seem to matter which gym you would walk into. You knew that there would be two or three or sometimes eight great players.\u00a0 One night a doubleheader featured eight 1,000 point scorers (unheard of).\u00a0 Martin, Williams, Iorio, Kachelries, Kachelries, Johnson, Singh, etc. on the boys\u2019 side, and Blount, Brugler, Cyr, Luma, Zamolyi, Medina, Bloshuk, etc. on the girls\u2019 side.\u00a0 Most graduate but, hopefully, the next group is ready to make history as well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  1. The Bethlehem Catholic state championship \u2013 This team won a school-record thirty games, breezed through the PIAA state playoffs and won their first state title in history. They were led by Jose Medina, who has won 75 games in three years as their head coach.\u00a0 His team won the five state games by an average of 21.2 points (oh, my!!).\u00a0 I just loved the way they played and the demeanor of the entire staff.\u00a0 You can feel good about rooting for this team.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                      \n
                    1. I think #1 on every fans\u2019 list this season was the amazing crowd (8,000 +) at the PPL Cente<\/a>r for the EPC <\/a>semifinals.\u00a0 It featured four great teams \u2013 Allen, Parkland<\/a>, Emmaus, and Pocono Mountain West<\/a>.\u00a0 The games did not disappoint, the venue was spectacular, and the crowd was awesome.\u00a0 When I think back to my playing days (no snickering here, please), we had to travel to the State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg to handle the crowd for a Lehigh Valley District semifinals and finals. Going to the PPL Center may have been one of the best nights ever for Lehigh Valley basketball.\u00a0 It\u2019s my #1!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. How about Mississippi State<\/a> stopping the Connecticut <\/a>women\u2019s basketball winning streak at 111 games. Last year, UCONN beat Mississippi State 98-38.\u00a0 The tables were turned in overtime this year 66-64.\u00a0 UCONN was going for their fifth straight NCAA title. \u00a0They started their streak on December 23, 2014.\u00a0 Look at the recap:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        http:\/\/pmd.cdn.turner.com\/ncaa\/big\/2017\/04\/01\/1337884\/1491026111912-uconn-missst-v3-mov-1337884_960x540_2104.mp4<\/a><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        1. Sunday marked the 31st<\/sup> anniversary of the three-point shot (19\u2019 9\u201d) in college basketball. It is perhaps the most dramatic change in modern basketball.<\/li>\n
                        2. The Flyers <\/a>will not make the NHL playoffs. They were finally eliminated after losing on Sunday.<\/li>\n
                        3. The Dodgers<\/a> and the Indians<\/a> are the favorites to win the National and American League pennants with the Cubs<\/a> and the Red Sox<\/a> close behind.<\/li>\n
                        4. The Phillies<\/a> won 71 games last year. Manager Pete MacKanin<\/a> said he hopes to win ten more this season or one-half of the 162 games they play.\u00a0 Based on last year, 81 wins would have put them in third place in the NL East behind the Mets and the Nationals.\u00a0 A fan can only hope.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          The season of 2016-17 officially came to an end this past weekend with the VIA All-Star basketball games being played.\u00a0 Outstanding seniors donned their school\u2019s uniforms for the last time and Lehigh Valley basketball was officially over.\u00a0 There is no better time to reminisce\u2026\u00a0 Here are my top ten memories of this past season. 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