East Region all-star squad wins 2019 Junior Roundball Classic
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Offense was the name of the game at the Junior Roundball Classic held recently at Seton LaSalle.
The East Region all-star squad won the 2019 championship, defeating the South and North in the two-night event.
The two teams clicked for a total of 23 field goals from 3-point range East-North finale. The East squad eclipsed the century mark in both contests.
“This year’s Roundball Classic was a tremendous success,” Mark Walsh, tournament director, said. “The East team really shot the ball well. The boys who played showed great effort and tremendous team play.”
East Region team members consisted of Ethan Levy, Noah Mason, Dante DePante and Brady Sulinski from Sacred Heart; Ryan Edwards and Jacob Murray representing East Catholic; Cameron German and Jimmy Giannetta from Divine Mercy Academy; along with Vince Cugini (St. Raphael), C.J. Hamel (St. Maria Goretti), Patrick Newell (St. Bede) and Kellen McDonough (St. Joseph Verona).
Players on the runner-up North squad were Max Rottman, Matt Graper, Cross Vento, Erik Schneider, J.P. Byrnes and Tyler Cannon from Blessed Trinity Academy; Nick Robertson and Andrew Fontana representing Holy Cross Academy; along with Patrick Carter (Blessed Francis Seelos Academy) and Shamus Straub (Holy Seplucher).
Mike Denham, from Sacred Heart, and John McCarthy, from St. Raphael, coached the East all-stars.
“John and I agree that this was one of the most talented teams we’ve ever coached,” said Denham, after returning home from an NBA game between the Wizards and Spurs on April 5 in Washington, D.C. “These kids all work hard and it shows when they are on the court. They make my job so much fun. This was a very special group of kids and a great group of parents.
“This team was so talented. Whatever high schools these kids choose, those schools will be in good hands.”
McCarthy is a history professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Robert Morris.
“There was a lot of offensive talent on this year‘s team,” McCarthy said. “It’s always fun to coach these kids because they play against each other for many years, growing up through the Diocese grade schools, and they often become rivals. This game is the chance for the East kids to play together which, moving forward, they will learn how to do since many become teammates in high school.
“It was also great coaching with Mike, who I’ve known for a few years and respected, but never really worked with him before. In the process of coaching together, we realized we are the same age and played against each other as eighth-graders in the Catholic grade school league (in 1989), so we’ve come full circle.”
DePante and Cugini were the East’s leading scorers in the tournament, averaging 19 ppg. DePante and Cugini combined for nine triples in the championship game.
The 6-foot-4 McDonough was near-unstoppable in the paint area, averaging 14 ppg, and was complemented on the boards by Sulinski and Newell.
Levy and Mason both connected for three 3-pointers in the championship game; Levy ended up with 12 points. Mason, on the other hand, locked down the opposing team’s top players with staunch defensive pressure.
Edwards led the squad in assists from his point guard position.
DePante, Cugini, McDonough, Levy, Mason and Edwards all play on the same AAU team.
“So they are already friends and have a great chemistry on the court,” McCarthy said. ”I was Vinnie Cugini’s coach at St. Raphael’s in Morningside and he broke all of our school’s scoring records (if we’d kept them). He’s been playing on the varsity since the fifth grade, which is really incredible.”
DePante propelled Sacred Heart to the diocesan championship last year.
“He’s a point guard, and a total natural at the position,” McCarthy said. “He has great court vision, is fundamentally sound, and is easy to coach.”
McDonough led Saint Joseph’s to the diocesan B level title this year.
“Kellen is a great kid,” McCarthy said, “and his coordination and body control are very rare for a player of his size at that age.”
The North all-stars were coached Bill Brown, who wrapped up a long and distinguished career coaching at Blessed Trinity Academy. Brown racked up three diocesan championships, seven section titles and three trips to the state tournament.
Brown coached at St. Mary’s Glenshaw, which now is part of Blessed Trinity Academy.
The North defeated the West in the first round; the South won the consolation game versus the West.
South team members consisted of Dante More, Andrew Logan and Luke Masua from St. Anne; Joey Duttine and Logan O’Donnell representing St. Gabriel’s; Antonio Cordeiro and Colton Cramer from St. Thomas More; Anthony Phillips and Mark Banbury representing St. Louise deMarillac’s; along with Geno DeFrank (Our Lady of Grace), Joey DeMoss (Mary of Nazareth) and Carter Betz (St. Sylvester).
Pete Smith and Ian McNeill coached the squad.
West team members were Luca Michnowicz, Stephen Baker, Tyler Gaffney, Sam Gaffney and Mason Moore from Holy Trinity; Will Collins, Jordan Howe, Julian Lynch and David Farrell representing Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy; along with Gianni Messner (St. Phillip), Max Depner (St. James Sewickley), Cole Starrett (St. Therese Munhall), Michael Osekowski (St. Patrick) and Joey Cole (St. Malachy).
Gary Harbaugh and Steve Loeffert coached the squad.
“We received a lot of positive comments from the players and their families,” said Walsh, veteran head coach of the Seton LaSalle boys basketball program. “It is a lot of work, and we would like to recognize the men who coached and help coordinate the tryouts, as well as the Seton LaSalle administration for supporting it.
“And we must thank the parents from the Seton LaSalle Boys Basketball Boosters and players who helped out. Also a huge thank you to my assistant coaches. I am the director of the Roundball Classic, but truth be told, it’s a group effort.”
Denham, who is employed with F&G Painting Co., which works with Pitt, attended the NBA game with all of the eighth-graders on the Sacred Heart hoops team, along with his two youngest sons, Oscar and Andew.
“A couple of the parents put the trip together for the eighth-graders,” Denham said. “This group of boys together as a team won three diocesan championships in a row.”
Denham began his coaching career when he was just 20 years old.
“I’ve been coaching for 20-plus seasons,” he said, “and it gets better for me every season. I learn something new every day.
“I believe I was put on this earth to help kids; it is a passion of mine. I love coaching these kids and making them believe they can accomplish anything they want; keep working hard and good things will come.
“I love to win but it isn’t everything. It’s all about the relationships and lifetime bonds you make along your journey. Basketball has kids that play from all different kinds of backgrounds; it brings us all together. Basketball, in my opinion, is the greatest sport in the world.”