Scholastic Notebook – 01/09/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, January 9, 2015 | 3:10 PM

New Castle High School’s Malik Hooker apparently isn’t the only one who wears the athletic “genes” in the family.

Hooker was one of the best two-sport athletes in the state the past two years, standing out in football and basketball. He now is a freshman football player at Ohio State, but is being redshirted this year.

Two of Hooker’s younger brothers are now playing on the New Castle basketball. One of them is the team’s leading scorer in his first year as a starter.

Marquel Hooker, a 5-foot-10 junior, is averaging 16.4 points a game. He never saw regular varsity time before this season.

Marcus Hooker is a 5-10 freshman and has scored in double figures in a few games this season. He also was on New Castle’s varsity football team and scored three touchdowns.

The Hookers will be in action tonight when New Castle plays host to Beaver Falls in one of the big games in the WPIAL.

Action Jackson in Two Sports

Speaking of two-sport stars, it’s clear now that Dane Jackson is one of the tops this school year.

Jackson attends Cornell High School, but played football for Quaker Valley under a cooperative sponsorship agreement. Cornell does not have a football team. Jackson was a quarterback-defensive back and has accepted a scholarship to Pitt. He missed half of his senior season with a knee injury, but still came back and showed plenty of promise.

Now on the hardwood, Jackson is showing supreme talent. Jackson is the second-leading scorer in the WPIAL at 28.4 points a game.

Kalin Two-Sport Star

Speaking more of two-sport stars, Amanda Kalin is already one as a sophomore at Pine-Richland.

Kalin has been one of the best guards in WPIAL girls basketball this season. She averages 21 points a game and scored 32 of Pine-Richland’s 52 points in a 52-40 victory against North Hills Thursday. She was an all-section pick a year ago.

But Kalin also is an outstanding soccer player, and even plays the sport some during basketball season. She plays on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy team and over the holiday break, she played with the team and helped it capture a tournament in Florida.

Games Moved to North Allegheny

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic was supposed to play at Vincentian in girls and boys basketball on consecutive nights Monday and Tuesday. But because Vincentian’s gym is so small and the games are always big, Vincentian has decided to move both games to North Allegheny on Monday.

The girls game will be at 6 p.m. and the boys game at 7:30.

One-Two Punches

The Trinity girls basketball team has two players close to averaging 20 points apiece.

Sierra Kotchman averages 20.2 points while Mary Dunn averages 19.4. Dunn is the daughter of former Trinity boys coach Joe Dunn.

Burrell also has quite a one-two scoring punch. Sydney Bordonaro averages 21.5 and Natalie Myers 18.0.

On the boys side, Chartiers-Houston’s Alec Ferrari averages 22.8 and A.J. Myers 18.1.

Another Honor for Schwartz

Shaler’s Brianna Schwartz, considered the best distance runner in WPIAL history, was honored this week as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Cross Country Runner of the Year. Schwartz won WPIAL and PIAA championships during cross country and set records on both courses.

LeDonne Resigns

Another WPIAL football coaching position is open.

Mike LeDonne has resigned as Elizabeth Forward’s coach. He was 17-22 in four years with the Warriors and guided the team to the WPIAL playoffs twice. It was his second stint at Elizabeth Forward. He also coached the team from 2000-02 and was South Allegheny’s coach from 2006-07.

LeDonne will become the defensive coordinator at Gateway for coach Tom Nola.

Big Things for Little Indians

This is turning into quite the winter at Indiana High School.

The boys and girls basketball teams are excellent. The boys team is 10-0 and one of the best since the Little Indians joined the WPIAL in the 1980s.

The girls team is 9-1.

Tags: Burrell, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Chartiers-Houston, Elizabeth Forward, Gateway, Indiana, North Catholic, Vincentian Academy