Kegger Awards: A season of pluses

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The Keggers column is one of my favorite columns of the year. But I admit it's coming a little too soon this year.

Since I generally wait until the boys basketball season is over, I was hoping this could wait until next week, maybe even after the state championship games are played at Penn State the weekend of the 25th and 26th.

But it has been a tough week for our teams, and the season came to a shocking end Wednesday night at Council Rock South.

Without getting into it again, let's just say I've never heard the phrase, "It was the worst call I've ever seen in my life," used more than in the last two days.

It will be a lasting image from this season, but there were many other, much more positive moments over the past three months that should be remembered from 2010-11.

This was a special season filled with some very special players and other people.

Besides appreciating the talents of Liberty's Darrun Hilliard, I came to know him as a hard-working, dedicated young man.

The same is true of the Allen guys, terrific young men like Daquan Holiday, Robert Rodriguez and D.J. Brown.

There was not a finer young man in local basketball than Saucon Valley's Eric Frans or a more engaging, enthusiastic kid than Central Catholic freshman Jean Lee Baez.

So it was a lot of fun while it lasted.

We'll salute the top team, coach and players on the radio on Saturday morning and in this section on April 1.

For now, though, we'll salute one person's opinion of the best of the boys season here with our 17th annual Kegger Awards recap:

Best game — Liberty rallying from five points down in the last 10 seconds to beat Allen, 50-49, on back-to-back bombs by Hilliard on Jan. 14. This wouldn't be the last late collapse by the Canaries, unfortunately for them.

Best ceremony — The one at Salisbury to name the floor in honor of legendary coach Bill Paulik — a long overdue but still wonderful tribute.

Best performance — Becahi's Jake Hungarter cranking out a league-record 40 points against Whitehall, a performance that saw him make seven shots in a row — five straight from 3-point range.

Best district playoff performance — Allen's Jalen Cannon, nearly unstoppable with 22 points and 20 rebounds against Liberty in the 4A final.

Best league playoff performance — Nazareth's Chuck Dibilio coming up with a 24-point, 9-steal, 6-rebound effort in the LVC semis.

Biggest surprise — Karl Keglovits playing for the first time all season in the LVC semifinal against Allen and delivering 12 points.

Biggest surprise, Part 2 — Liberty's Patrick Donnelly erupting for 13 points in the LVC title game.

Biggest surprise, Part 3 — Salisbury freshman Justin Aungst, who had scored just 13 points all season, tallying 10 in the Falcons' win over Bangor in the Colonial League semis.

Biggest disappointment — Seeing Keglovits reinjure his knee during the LVC finals against Liberty.

Biggest upset — Salisbury beating Bangor, 72-68, in the league semis after the Slaters were a perfect 16-0 during the Colonial's regular season.

Best interview, Colonial League — Hands down, it's Saucon Valley's Eric Frans. After interviewing him for a feature, I didn't know if I had just spoken with a Wall Street CEO or a high school basketball player.

Best interview, LVC — Allen's D.J. Brown. I like a kid who speaks strong, clear and doesn't make me rewind the tape recorder five times to hear what he said. Also appreciate kids who offer more than "We just had to step up."

Best interview, coach — Allen's Doug Snyder, who was fuming inside, having the composure Wednesday night to articulate the reasons his team lost to La Salle without ever using the controversial call as an excuse.

Toughest interview — Having to talk to Bangor's Bron Holland after that crushing loss to Salisbury in the Colonial semis, especially since the Slaters had pointed toward the league championship all season.

Most controversial interview — Easton's Jim Hutnik unloading on the officials after his team lost to Liberty in the LVC semis. It probably got Hutnik in some trouble, but he didn't hold back and had no regrets about it when I asked him about it later.

Weirdest place for an interview — A church social hall where Wilson's Bob Frankenfield and players headed for a party immediately after a big win over Northern Lehigh.

Most appreciative coach — Lehighton coach Mike O'Brien calling to thank me for writing a little blurb on his team ending a long losing streak by beating Catasauqua.

Strangest situation — Whatever went on in Palmerton that resulted in the removal of Mike Snyder as coach.

Best singing of the anthem — Whitehall's Kim Bydlon still could be an American Idol one day.

Best singing by team — The Allen kids, especially the vocal style of Daquan Holiday, when they sang "Happy Birthday" to me after winning the district championship.

Best gesture — Hilliard, making a stop at the press table to say "Happy Birthday, Mr. Groller" before the district title game.

Best new coach — I really like the way Northern Lehigh's Jeff Miller handled himself in his first season at Northern Lehigh.

Best new broadcaster — Tom Stoudt may have found his niche at RCN.

Best old broadcaster — Blue Ridge's Bob Mlkvy. Happy to see "Mr. Palmerton" back on the scene after some health issues in the fall.

Best official — Terry Stoudt. He reminds me of this every time I get my hair cut at his barbershop at 11th and Linden.

Best referee I used to go to school with — Kirk Gildner.

Best fan — Allen's Brian Deppe. Somehow he keeps the stats, too, while rooting hard for his alma mater.

Best student fans — Zephyr Nation, but it's time to ditch that poster of me.

Best press row duo — Whitehall PA man Mike Yadush and timer Rick Garger. Remember, it's hot dogs with just mustard, Yadush.

Best website — Liberty's, which is maintained by scorekeeper Greg DeStasio.

Best ticket taker — Nazareth's Andy Weaver.

Best scorekeeper pairing — When Allen meets Pocono Mountain West and Glenn Grigg and Bill Pensyl regale me with tales of Bangor's proud past, including legends like Cheesy Egbert.

Best scorekeeper, Colonial — Tie between Northern Lehigh's Jim Yadush and Southern Lehigh's Stan (the Man) Swartz.

Best doughnut man — Bill Apgar, who serves up those chocolate and vanilla-covered beauties from Mary Ann's at Allen games.

Best scorekeeper, LVC — Dieruff's Roy Arlotto. Hey, have to get the Huskies in here somewhere.

Best scorekeeper, all seasons — Central's Bob Trinkle. He makes the Stellar tourney four of my favorite summer days.

Best timer — Freedom's Tim Fisher. Let's just say he and Karl Gilbert deserve one another.

Best AD — Too close to call. Everyone was kind and considerate this season.

Most prepared AD — Northern Lehigh's Bryan Geist, who prepared a seating chart for the media for a district doubleheader.

Best retired AD — Parkland's Mike Dobil. Not a nicer guy in local sports.

Best PA announcer — Bangor's Pete Nell. He's one of the few who include the writers in announcing who's there to cover the game.

Best guy I never met before — The maintenance guy at Council Rock South, who let me finish my story before locking up on Wednesday night.

Best bets for 2011-12 — Northern Lehigh in the Colonial, Easton in the LVC, and the anonymous know-it-all who calls himself Bucha will still be taking shots at me and Catty's Eric Snyder in the Groller's Corner blog.

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