One of the more frustrating parts of being a sportswriter during the PIAA basketball tournament is that you can only be in one gymnasium at a time, and even with staggered start times during some of the weekend games, it’s impossible not to miss some classic games or some sad goodbyes. ...
During a recent visit to Bellwood-Antis High School to cover a basketball game, I noticed a banner honoring the 2019-2020 girls basketball team for making the Elite 8 in a season that was never completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hanging next to the Lady Blue Devils’ two state championship banners from the two previous seasons and the same size and just as prominent. Obviously not all the teams that were still playing when the PIAA shut down the season in 2020 would have won a PIAA championship, but I would like to see all of them honored the way B-A and some other ...
By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — Alli Campbell finally lived out a childhood dream she’s had since watching Maggie Lucas play for Penn State when she checked into the Lady Lions’ opener against Norfolk State with 4:25 to play in the first quarter ...
By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com Area high school football fans have grown accustomed to deep PIAA playoff runs for at least one or two teams each season lately, but that will be more of a challenge this season. While the winner of the District 6 Class 3A crown will have a similar road as years past, the District 6 Class 1A champion will have to win two PIAA playoff games to make the state final instead of one, and the District 5 Class 1A champion would have to win three. Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic will be a threat to win the District 6 Class 2A title this year after ...
JOHNSTOWN — Veteran Central coach Dave Baker shared a laugh with one of his fellow coaches Wednesday at the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference media day. Upon further prodding, Baker mentioned he was laughing about being contacted in February by the Mirror to discuss the 2022 high school football season. In this case, the coach wasn’t exaggerating. Blitz magazine, now in its 10th year, is a massive project that exhausts every extra hour in many departments of the Mirror. It could never be completed without the help of area coaches, like Baker, who answer our questions about ...
By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com The PIAA held its summer meeting last week and plenty of news came out of it, but most of it is all unofficial for now, because a motion takes three readings and approvals to be accepted and each of the major topics are through just one accepted reading. While it’s best to wait until the proposed basketball qualifiers and upcoming state bracket reveal are official until after the third reading due to the possibility of things changing over the next couple meetings, it’s worth exploring three other topics that could result in seismic ...
