Fisher’s Files: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy players picked for Roundball Classic

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, April 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Three Sewickley area athletes have been named to participate in the annual Roundball Classic basketball games, set for May 22-26 at North Allegheny.

Top senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10 were selected to play in the all-star weekend.

Quaker Valley guard Joe Coyle was chosen to play on the Class 4A boys team, coached by Lincoln Park’s Mike Bariski. Coyle’s team will oppose the Class 3A all-stars May 25 at 5 p.m.

“I’m excited to play against some of the best competition in the WPIAL,” said Coyle, who will continue his basketball career at Allegheny College. “I think I deserved to be selected, and I’m glad I got the recognition I deserved.”

Sewickley Academy guard Alex Wang was named to play for the Class A/City/2A Silver team, coached by Imani Christian’s Khayree Wilson. Wang’s team will tip off against District 10 on May 25 at 3 p.m.

“If you would have asked me about playing in the Roundball Classic earlier this year, I couldn’t have even of imagined being in a position to be nominated for this event,” Wang said. “I’m extremely honored to have received the opportunity to play in one last event in my senior year with those top players in the area, many of which I know of from playing against them in previous years.

“I know that it’s also been a few years since Sewickley has had a male player nominated for the Roundball Classic, which means a lot in that I’m able to represent my school’s basketball program and all the progress we made during the season at this region-wide event.”

And Sewickley’s Libby Eannarino was selected for the Class 2A/District 10 girls team, coached by Greensburg Central Catholic’s Chris Skatell. Eannarino’s team will play against the Class 3A/A girls on May 26 at 2 p.m.

“I’m really excited to be able to have this chance to play alongside these talented seniors,” Eannarino. “It’s great to be able to represent Sewickley in this, and I’m looking forward to hitting the court one last time.”

As an event sponsor, KDKA will televise six of the games, organizer Allen Deep said. The senior players will practice May 22 at North Allegheny.

Playoff loss stings

The Quaker Valley hockey team rolled to a 16-3-0-1 regular season record to take first place in the PIHL Varsity A Gold Division.

The Quakers narrowly squeaked past Shaler (15-3-0-1-1), Indiana (15-3-0-1-1) and Mars (15-5) at the top of the standings.

QV won its first nine games of the season and was 15-1 through 16 games.

But the Quakers were upset by Greensburg Salem on March 4 in the quarterfinals of the PIHL playoffs.

One of QV’s senior team leaders was defenseman Will Watson, who scored two goals and led the team in assists with 24.

“I am disappointed with our overall performance for the year,” Watson said following the playoff loss. “It was great to win the division but an early exit from the playoffs was disappointing. We feel we worked hard in that game and all year and deserved more from it.

“Regarding next year, I will not be around as I am graduating. However, the team is still young and will come back with a strong group capable of going all the way.”

Watson also plays the attack position on the QV boys lacrosse team.

Family of athletes

Did you know Quaker Valley baseball coach Rich Garbee’s family includes four QV graduates with three who played multiple sports?

Garbee moved to Sewickley in 2004 and has been involved with QV sports at all levels for the past 16 years, whether coaching, running booster programs or sitting in the stands.

He was a three-sport athlete — including baseball — at Montclair High School in Montclair, N.J., and played two sports in college at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.

Garbee’s approach to high school baseball is foundational and basic.

“The team continues to work hard to improve, compete and build a winning foundation that carries forward for Quaker Valley baseball,” he said. “As coaches, we know it is not a one-year endeavor but happens over time and throughout the younger programs we have.”

Gavin Fallgren, a senior catcher/infielder for the Quakers, was named as a “player to watch” in Class 3A this season by Trib HSSN.

Youth wrestler medals

Quaker Valley School District student Dublin Parnell finished second in the girls 8U division at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Championships held March 23-24 at Petersen Events Center.

Other area girls who were medalists included Abby Hillman (8U), Breslyn Simmons (10U) and Ireland Parnell, and on the boys side included Maurice Simmons (8U) and Gabe Peace (10U).

Reese Brown also was a qualifier in the 8U girls competition.

Prior to that two-day event, Hillman placed second in her division at the Keystone State Wrestling Championships held March 15-17 at Santana Arena in Reading.

All three Parnell sisters, Simmons and Peace also were medalists.

Big-league ballpark

Did you know the Quaker Valley baseball team received a taste of major league baseball last season when they played Seneca Valley in mid-April at PNC Park, the home field of the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Tags: Quaker Valley