Additional Kegger Awards for 2010-11

FROM KEITH GROLLER

We didn't have room in last Friday's column for all of the Kegger Awards we wanted to give for the soon-to-be completed 2010-11 Rothrock basketball season.

But here are 16 sweet additions of those that didn't make the print-version cut:

Teams that exceeded expecations -- Salisbury, Wilson, Palmerton.

Teams that usually make districts, but didn't -- Parkland, Whitehall, Freedom, Catasauqua, Southern Lehigh. Parkland and Whitehall each missed by one game, by the way, and Freedom had a shot until the final two games of the regular season.

League that went according to plan -- The Lehigh Valley Conference went almost exactly as everyone felt it would with Allen, Liberty, Easton and Nazareth turning out to be the "Big Four" as expected, and Central Catholic and Emmaus on the next rung.

Best rivalry -- Allen/Liberty is pretty good in the LVC, but I think Pocono East and Pocono West may have the edge because I don't think the coaching staffs even like one another when the Cards and Panthers play.

Best scoreboard -- Emmaus, at least on the one wall across from the benches. In the LVC's smallest gym, the large scoreboard stands out, offering updated fouls, point totals for each player and timeouts left. I've seen other schools that have a similar board, but often times they don't work.

Least favorite gym for a LVC opponent -- It's Emmaus, hands down. The smaller floor, the fact that the fans are on top of you make for a different atmosphere than at most other gyms.

Best regular season night, LVC -- The night that Liberty met Nazareth on Barry Boyer Court and tributes were made to both the late Todd Rothrock and Derek Kehoe. The place was packed, as both would have loved, and Mrs. Allison Rothrock gave a nice little speech, telling the players to: "Go out and make a memory." And they did.

Best regular season night, Colonial -- All of the nights that the Colonial coaches held for the "Coaches vs. Cancer" program. I was there when Saucon Valley held its special night and there was an extra festive atmosphere in the air. I commend all of the coaches for supporting this very worthy cause and devoting extra time from their very hectic schedules

Best assistant coach -- Bob Wootsick, Bethlehem Catholic. I am a little partial to Wootsick because I work with him at the Stellar Construction tournament every July and I know him much better than most other assistants, but this is a first class, terrific person who handled himself well through some difficult times at Becahi. When he had to pinch-hit for Al Blount as head coach, the Golden Hawks responded with one of their best efforts of the season.

Most valuable assistant -- Central Catholic's Toomey Anderson. No one is in tune with what's happening in local basketball better than Toomey.

Best addition to the District 11 committee -- Former Catasauqua girls basketball coach Dave Troxell Troxell(shown at right in his coaching days). I am so glad he's back involved with basketball. I thought he was a class act as a coach and he's going to bring the same care and concern to the district staff that he brought to Catty basketball. He offers great perspective as a parent and former coach about what people are looking for from athletics. Troxell volunteered to help his friend Jeff Jacksits do some scouting, going into some rough gyms in some rough locations during the postseason. He did it because he wanted to help, not because he was getting paid to do it. That's the kind of guy Troxell is.

I like most members of the District 11 committee. They do a lot of good work and get nothing in return but a lot of criticism. Don't agree with everything they do and I am sure they don't agree with everything I write, but I applaud them on trying to do the right things, including the vote on the Pacchioli transer case last week.

Best team that I never saw -- John Donmoyer's Moravian Academy team had a solid 15-win season. I never got to see the Lions play, but I heard 1,000-point Logan Bernard was a quality player and he hit a big shot in the district playoffs to beat Pius X. I hope that John Donmoyer(left) comes back next season. He has 590 career wins and it would be nice to see him reach 600, although it could be difficult in a rebuilding year.

And one day, I would love to see Allen name the floor at the Sewards Gym in honor of Donmoyer. He and Milo were very good friends and both of their names deserve to be attached to the home gym. I realize Allentown has many other things to worry about these days, but Donmoyer, as classy as any coach we've ever had, deserves to be recognized in the same way that Bill Paulik and Barry Boyer have been saluted.

Best courtside companion -- It was great to have my Morning Call colleague Andre Williams back with me, sitting alongside as we watched at least three Liberty playoff games together. Andre, as you know, had a major health setback last spring. He has made terrific progress and it was good to have him there at the games where he had the front row seat he was accustomed to while watching his son, Chevon Williams, play for the Hurricanes. Kudos to Parkland and District 11 for making sure Andre had a seat at the press table.

Best freshmen --Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Jean Lee Baez (both CCHS), Tyler Kohl (Notre Dame), Tyler Dibilio (Northern Lehigh), Justin Zajko (Parkland), K.J. Williams (Liberty).

All-Areabasketball2011 002 Best moments from the basketball show at Stooges -- Having the entire Central Catholic girls team there on a day that they were still playing in the state tournament. I know a lot of coaches would have said "Forget it. We're not showing up; we've got a game to play," and it would have been understandable. But Mike Kopp, his staff, and all of the girls were there to accept their award as Team of the Year. Class act.

And I would also like to salute Palmerton's Kelsey Hay. Not only did Hay show up despite having a long ride from Palmerton to Allentown, which was commendable in itself, but she also took the time to write a thank you note, expressing how much she appreciated being selected as an all-area player. That's class, and a nice reminder that kids are still being taught quality values. Just with that one gesture, Kelsey made a very positive impression.

Best bets for the PIAA boys championships this weekend - Chester in 4A, Neumann-Goretti in 3A, Imhotep Charter in 2A, Constitution in Class A -- giving District 12 three of the four state titles; plus probably Achbishop Carroll and Archbishop Wood on the girls side.

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