:10—Let’s get to the real important stuff right off the bat. No, not the Steelers. No, not the Pens, not Pitt or Duquesne…Lord no not the Pirates, not yet anyway. Let’s roll the dice baby! If you missed the high school game of the year last week, you missed a goodie. A triple overtime crowd was treated to all guts and glory. The 71-70 final score only told half the story. The crowd, the energy, the intensity of the players. Fan – Tas – Tic! The second half leadership and scoring of Jahi Ogbonna was off the chart. (Not to mention something that went unnoticed by most…his between the legs lay up to end the game…Bam!) And the supporting cast came to play. Ice cold Tyler Williams 11 out of 12 at the line down the stretch complimented by his ball skills and ankle break moves, Jackson Blaufeld and Bobby Clifford not only gave you knife in the throat jumpers, but great hustle, rebounds and “Let’s Go!” The steady play of Lamar Todd and the inside presence of Shaun Morris gives this team every bit of a change to go the distance. Witness the back alley whoppin they put on Erie McDowell last week by 15 and it tells you to get ready to roll sevens with the dice! (Next game set to play Friday at Obama.)
:09—Speaking of important things, here’s something you may not know. Michaela Porter, daughter of Perry High School and Pitt great Darryl Porter, has been a part of and helped lead her Obama team to the City League title four consecutive years. Hoo-Ray!
:08—Announcing the 2017 induction class for the nationally recognized Connie Hawkins Summer Basketball League Hall of Fame: Hosea Champagne–Rankin Gangsters, Kevin Price–Rankin Gangster, Dave Burris–Big’s Storm, Eric Carter–Homewood Horses, Joe Barlow–The Dons, Jimmy Nichols–Heatwave, Brian Carroll–Future Stars, Mark Hassel–Fire/Cosmic Echoes, Cory Gadson–Clariton’s Finest, Vince Lackner–Lawyers Assoc. Gary Nelson–The Dons, Shawn Harvey–Heatwave, PosthumouslyDarryll Gissendanner, Leroy Freeman, John “Shanghi” Matthews Inductions–Armon Gilliam. Featuring this year, for the first time ever, Hall of Fame Inductions of members of the Pittsburgh Urban Officials Chapter.
:07—Oh yeah, here at the Pitt game. After an early tight first half, Pitt was giving the Tar Heels some work, but the star of Carolina, Justin Jackson, went to work. At 15 to 90 in the second half, the Panthers got the memo that a little “D” can go a long way. Down 10 to a very long and talented team, I’m still calling for the upset. Stay tuned.
:06—But just for the record so you don’t think I’m crazy, N.C. is substituting a 7 footer for a 7 footer. I’m just sayin’!!!
:05—By the way, lest you’ve been sleeping under a rock the past two weeks, you know pitchers and catchers reported. Your Pittsburgh Pirates are set for the annual 3rd or 4th place run in the division. Go Bucs!
:04—Speaking of the Connie Hawkins League, and I was a few minutes ago if you were paying attention, let’s go back, all the way back, back to East Hills when it was all the way live. About 1,000 people a night came to see these names on any given night. “The Hawk,” Kenny Durrett, Hosea Champagne, Larry Harris, Ron Carter, Clyde Vaughn, Leroy Freeman, Craig Prossor, Gary Nelson, John Marshall, Armon Gilliam, Norm Nixon, Kirk Bruce, Sam Clancy, Clarence Hopson just to name a few and a few more I’m probably forgetting. By the way, did I mention that everybody I mentioned here played professionally? That’s right. If you’re reading this and you’re too young to have been there, too bad. And if you’re old school and wasn’t there…what the hell were you thinking! That’s right. We had it like that. Not to mention all the other legendary players. Ricky Coleman, Jeep Kelly, Bobby Byrd, Mike Williams, Eric Carter, Jeff Baldwin, Rich Cotten, “Dr. Hook,” “Dr. Death,” Kevin Walk, Melvin Paul, Mike Goosby, “Junkhead,” Bobby Franklin…somebody stop me please! Yeah, it was like that…And – do – get – me – started – about – the – women!!! (Somebody text me if you know what I’m talkin’ about. 412-628-4856.
:03—Looking for a job? No, I mean something legal. Not that stuff you been doing. Call Achieving Greatness Inc. if you can sell a rope to a drowning man. Money right now. 412-628-4856. (Also, still looking for writers to tell their story in “Champions Quarterly.” Next issue out March 20.)
:02—The 16th Annual Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Public Service Awards are upcoming Friday, March 31 at the historic Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Recognizing and honoring our local heroes, those who protect and serve. If you know of anyone worthy of recognition, please submit their name and number to Achieving Greatness Inc. at 412-628-4856.
:01—About that Pitt upset forget about it.
~ GAME OVER ~
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Overtime
BILL NEAL