Together again: Hollidaysburg boys get to extend season
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The 17th annual Altoona Mirror Classic boys basketball game will have a Hollidaysburg flair to it tonight at Penn State Altoona.
Blair County coach Brad Lear will coach four of his Hollidaysburg seniors -- Mason Goodman, Cole Walters, Leyton Weimert and Jake Hileman -- one last time when the boys game tips off at 8:30 p.m. The girls game precedes it at 6:30 p.m.
"It's going to be great," Lear said. "We had our banquet on Sunday, and we talked a little about it. We tried to generate some interest with our parents and returning players. I spoke at the banquet how much these seniors meant to the program. It's going to be great to get another opportunity to be part of the staff that's coaching them. They have been a big part of my life and a big part of the school the last four years. We're looking forward to it."
Hollidaysburg won 19 games and reached the District 4-6 Class 5A championship game before losing by two to Selinsgrove.
"It's awesome having one last ride," Goodman said. "To be playing with other players of this caliber is great. It's awesome to have this game to end the season. It's fun to have Brad as our coach one last time."
In addition to the core of this year's Hollidaysburg seniors getting a lot of playing time since their freshman year, the players have spent the last four offseasons playing in tournaments across the state and in summer leagues.
"Not just the seasons, but we've been together through all the falls, summers and springs the last four years together," Goodman said. "We have really bonded through all that and become really close. It will be a fun game, and we'll see what happens."
All four players averaged 10 points per game on a team that had a different leading scorer almost every night.
"It's awesome having one last ride," Goodman said. "To be playing with other players of this caliber is great. It's awesome to have this game to end the season. It's fun to have Brad as our coach one last time."
Lear, his Hollidaysburg players and the rest of the Blair County squad face a big challenge in a loaded Central PA team that includes Berlin Brothersvalley teammates Pace Prosser and Craig Jarvis III, who just played in the Class 1A state title game for the second year in a row.
"The roster that they have is loaded with scoring," Lear said. "We have played against a lot of the kids that are playing on there. We have a lot of competitors. We have a lot of kids that will get down and guard, but in these kind of games, they usually don't go that way. We'll see. There's a lot of talent on both rosters. Blair County, every year we go into it, we're just here in this one little area. It's definitely a challenge every year, and I have gone to every one of them since I have been here. They are always a good time, both boys and girls, so we're looking forward to seeing what we can do."
In addition to players who can put up points -- Harmony's Jack Bracken comes into the game averaging 30.5 points per game -- Central PA has clutch shooters.
River Valley's Dom Speal, a 1,000-point scorer, drilled the game-winning 3-pointer in the Heritage Conference championship game to down Conemaugh Township.
"Just about every conversation I had was about that for like a week," Speal said. "It was definitely coming up a lot, and it was surreal to relieve the moment and keep talking about it throughout the day. We had a rough go starting the season out. We picked it up, and to get there was one of our goals, and finishing it was pretty awesome for all of us."
Central PA teammate Jon Updyke of Conemaugh Township was Speal's opponent that night.
"I think we're cool," Speal said. "I don't think there's any bad blood between us. Jon is a heck of a player, and I'm happy to have him on our team. This is such a cool experience to play with a lot of the best players in the area."
Another Central PA player who played relatively recently is Bishop Carroll's Luke Repko. The Huskies made it to the PIAA Class 1A semifinals, and thanks to an intense training program from coach Cosie Aliquo, Repko will likely be running the floor quicker than most tonight.
"It's all running," Repko said. "It definitely gets us ready for the season. Even in the season, we run a lot. It gets us prepared for games where we do a lot of pressing. Nothing compares to our practices during the season and offseason. Cosie always gives us a tough practice."
Mirror Classic
What: 17th annual Altoona Mirror Basketball Classic
Who: Blair County vs. Central PA
When: Tonight
Where: Adler Sports Complex, Penn State Altoona
Tipoff: Girls at 6:30, Boys 8:30
Tickets: $5 for doubleheader. Available today before 4 p.m. at the Mirror and after 5:30 p.m. at the Adler Gym.
Team rates: 15 tickets for $45. See Autumn Feather at the Mirror before 4 p.m. today.
Benefit: The Big John Riley Scholarship Fund
Title sponsor: Guy Landolfi CPA