Dave Mackall stories, Page 7
Robert Morris gets back in win column with furious comeback vs. TowsonVideo
There were many heroes Tuesday night in Robert Morris’ epic, come-from-behind victory over Towson in men’s basketball at UPMC Events Center, a 68-67 decision that saw the Colonials enjoy the lead for a grand total of 73 seconds. What mattered was they led when the game was over after trailing...
Duquesne men’s basketball team defeats Towson in Akron
AKRON, Ohio — Duquesne’s success in Akron continues. Playing at coach Dru Joyce III’s high school alma mater for the fourth consecutive season and fifth time in the past seven years, the Dukes on Saturday made it 5 for 5 in victories at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Cam...
Penn-Trafford boys stage huge rally, earn victory in overtime vs. Franklin Regional
One by one, his players emerged from the home locker room at Penn-Trafford and paraded across the gym floor. Most, if not all, of coach Doug Kelly’s crew was in an unusually impulsive mood, laughing and conversing and seemingly feeling as good as can be. In fact, some hardly could...
Burrell girls pull away from Highlands to stay undefeated
Burrell has begun the girls basketball season with five lopsided victories, the latest a 51-25 decision behind 12 points each from Casey Brancato and McKenna Miller on Thursday night at Highlands in the WPIAL Section 1-4A opener for both schools. It is the most points scored so far against the...
Duquesne men’s basketball team loses at home to Maine
As the college basketball season sinks lower for the Duquesne Dukes, first-year coach Dru Joyce III reaffirmed Wednesday night a calm, cool and collective commitment to success in the wake of a 61-56 loss to Maine at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. “You’ve got to work through the kinks, learn to trust,”...
Slippery Rock avenges loss to Cal (Pa.) to earn spot in D-II football semifinals
Brayden Long sat inside a cramped, makeshift interview room high atop Cal (Pa.)’s Adamson Stadium quietly surveying his surroundings. As Slippery Rock’s record-setting quarterback swigged water from a bottle, his eyes darted back and forth as if to replay the day’s events. Thanks in large part to Long’s masterful approach,...
Duquesne defeats Delaware, earns 2nd win in past 3 games
A week-and-a-half ago, he secured his first college coaching victory at the Cayman Islands Classic. On Friday, Duquesne’s Dru Joyce III won his first game in the United States. Tre Dinkins III scored 18 points to lead five Duquesne players in double figures, and the Dukes, playing for the second...
Robert Morris men lose Horizon League opener to Youngstown State
Robert Morris was looking to match its best 10-game start to a men’s basketball season Wednesday night in a Horizon League opener against Youngstown State. The Penguins, however, had other ideas. With Horizon League commissioner Julie Roe Lach on hand, Juwan Maxey scored 16 points, including five 3-point shots, and...
Duquesne men drop to 1-7, losing at home to St. Peter’s
Seven losses in eight games, and it’s not yet time for the Atlantic 10 schedule to begin. Not before Duquesne plays against five more opponents in what has turned out to be a challenging nonconference men’s basketball schedule. At 1-7, there’s something a bit off with these Dukes. “We’re working...
Lure of arena football expansion team pulls coach Shawn Liotta away from Burrell job
One by one, the coaching jobs appear. Most times, Shawn Liotta answers the call. The Springdale native is on the move again, this time back to the professional ranks as coach of the expansion Wilkes-Barre franchise of the newly formed Arena Football One indoor league. He leaves Burrell High School...
Latrobe boys basketball team earns win over Mt. Pleasant in season-opening tournament
Latrobe christened its new gymnasium floor Friday night with first-round games of the Greater Latrobe Tipoff Classic, the first time in years that the school district has held the season-opening boys basketball event. The high school gym in September received an unplanned update to the floor after the wood surface...
Robert Morris beats Canisius to run winning streak to 6
If there’s one thing Andy Toole does quite often, it’s worry. From the time he wakes up until the time he turns in, Toole’s high-energy motor is running. “I worry about everything all the time,” said the longtime Robert Morris men’s basketball coach. Toole was quite a bit concerned going...
Duquesne takes down Old Dominion as Dru Joyce earns 1st victory
Dru Joyce III waited much longer than he’d have liked for his Gatorade shower. On Tuesday, Duquesne’s first-year men’s basketball coach finally got it. Junior forward Matus Hronsky tied his career high with 13 points to lead four Duquesne players in double figures as the Dukes defeated Old Dominion, 67-54,...
Southmoreland girls basketball seeks rebound season
For the past 18 years, Amber Cernuto has been helping little ones get started in life as a kindergarten teacher in the Southmoreland School District. On the basketball court, she continues to be a leader as coach of the high school girls team. You could say Cernuto enjoys teaching others....
Southmoreland boys return to Class 3A, expect to compete for section title
Southmoreland returns to Class 3A in boys basketball after four seasons in 4A, where the Scotties at times struggled. “Our section was brutal,” coach Frank Muccino said. While going 3-2 against section opponents last season in games decided by single digits, Southmoreland failed to build momentum after a 10-0 start...
Monessen girls basketball team sets sail under Schmidt
Jason Schmidt is following a legend. Jason F. Schmidt, that is. Schmidt — don’t call him a Junior — takes over as coach of the Monessen girls basketball team, succeeding Janine Vertacnik, who has retired after combining for 365 victories in a career that, in addition to her six seasons...
Monessen looks to extend playoff streak to 43 years despite graduation of top scorer
Forty-two and counting. Hopefully, there will be enough in the tank, Monessen boys basketball coach Dan Bosnic said, to reach the WPIAL playoffs for a 43rd consecutive season. “We always expect to be competitive and be right there,” said the Greyhounds’ high-energy bench boss, whose otherwise gentle demeanor steadily has...
Milwaukee keeps Duquesne coach Joyce winless in 1st season at helm
This is not how Duquesne drew up the start of this season after a long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament. This is not what the Dukes were expecting. After four games, Dru Joyce III was still looking for his first college basketball coaching victory, and his players were searching for...
Despite backcourt shakeup, Ligonier Valley girls enter season with optimism
Christy Hajjar’s second season as girls basketball coach at Ligonier Valley began with a thud after she learned of her starting backcourt duo’s departure from the team. Hoping for a more experienced squad after a 5-16 record a year ago, Hajjar instead will begin a new year without leading scorer...
Ligonier Valley boys hope to make strides with new coach, 5 returning starters
The idea of five returning starters is a basketball coach’s dream, even for a team that won just four games. Dante Porter hopes to lead that group to success this season as Ligonier Valley’s new boys coach. Senior guard Parker Hollick tops the list of returning players for the Rams,...
New coach, 10 1st-year players look to carry Pitt-Greensburg in AMCC play
It was a rough beginning for first-year coach Julie Bolden and her Pitt-Greensburg women’s basketball team. Despite the Bobcats’ 96-64 loss at Waynesburg on Nov 8, Franklin Regional graduate Sarah Penrod scored a career-high 20 points for UPG, which was scheduled to play twice more last week, including the home...
Robert Morris staves off New Orleans for men’s basketball win
The tiring effects of playing three games in four days seemingly showed up Sunday for the field of four teams in the Urban-Bennett Invitational at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center, where the hometown Colonials capped off a perfect record with a 73-62 victory over New Orleans. D.J. Smith scored 20...
2nd-half run carries Robert Morris past Lindenwood for 3rd straight win
Two down, one to go for the Robert Morris men’s basketball team. Josh Omojafo’s 17 points led four players in double figures as the Colonials ran past Lindenwood, 67-53, Friday night in the Urban-Bennett Invitational at UPMC Events Center, their second win in the three-day, round-robin tournament and third straight...
Women in Western Pennsylvania sports gather to recognize impact of Title IX
Whether referring to it by its long title or its nickname, nationwide advocates of Title IX — the landmark civil rights law enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 — recognize its impact. Closer to home, the birth of Title IX some 52 years ago, as well as...
Chicago State transfer making immediate impact at Duquesne
Almost immediately after Jahsean Corbett entered the NCAA transfer portal during college basketball’s latest offseason, Duquesne came calling. “They actually hit me up 5 minutes after I entered,” Corbett said. Luckily for the Dukes, the versatile, 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward, who played three seasons at Chicago State, was receptive and eventually...
