June 19, 2013

Girls basketball: Elyria’s Mike Walsh resigns after 17 years

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For 17 years, Mike Walsh guided Elyria’s girls basketball program. “He’s all I’ve known for Elyria basketball,” athletic director Heather Beck said Wednesday. But all things must end sometime. Walsh turned in his resignation Wednesday. He didn’t leave out the possibility of returning to coaching, but his decision wasn’t based on another position elsewhere. “It [...]

Back where it began: John Rositano, former player and coach in Lorain system, to lead Titans

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LORAIN — As the Lorain boys basketball program looks to the future it is turning to a name from the past. John Rositano will be recommended to the board of education to replace Andy Bastock as the Titans’ coach at the May 14 board meeting. Rositano, an Admiral King graduate who has coached the Amherst [...]

High school basketball: Andy Bastock won’t return to Lorain

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Andy Bastock parlayed a successful high school playing career into a head coaching career, all in his native Lorain. He led the Lorain High varsity boys basketball team for the past three years, but was told that his coaching contract will not be renewed. Lorain City Schools, on the recommendation of athletic director Bryan Koury [...]

Phil Kuchta back as EC coach after year off for personal issues

ELYRIA — Phil Kuchta, who said the desire to coach never left him over the past year, will return to lead the Elyria Catholic boys basketball program, it was announced Tuesday. “We talked throughout the year and he kept me abreast of how things were going for him on a personal level,” Panthers athletic director [...]

Elyria’s Kody Bender 8th Pioneer to be named Lorain County Mr. Basketball

Elyria’s Kody Bender was named Lorain County Mr. Basketball Sunday as the season’s top senior. (CT photo by Ray Riedel.)

OBERLIN — Destiny can be an overused word in sports, but Elyria’s Kody Bender indeed seemed destined to be 2013 Lorain County Mr. Basketball once he decided to open-enroll four years ago and play for Pioneers coach Brett Larrick. Bender, a four-year letterwinner, was presented the award Sunday at the annual Gene Legeza Classic at [...]

Gene Legeza Classic: Oberlin standout scores 37 en route to West win

OBERLIN — Jason Moore brought something to the court rarely seen in all-star games Sunday night at the Gene Legeza Classic — intensity. The Oberlin standout scored 37 points, including five 3-pointers, to help lead his West squad to a 113-106 win over the East team in the annual gathering of Lorain County’s best seniors. [...]

Gene Legeza Classic: Underclassmen shine in slam dunk contest, 3-point shootout

Left: Midview junior Grant Overy eyes the basket en route to capturing the 3-point shootout. Right: RAY RIEDEL / CHRONICLE PHOTOS Lorain sophomore Devon Andrews prepares to dunk on his way  to winning the slam dunk contest. (CT photos by Ray Riedel.)

OBERLIN — Youth was served Sunday night at the Gene Legeza Classic. While the seniors had their time to shine in the All-Star Game, a pair of underclassmen stole the spotlight in the 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest prior to the game. Lorain’s Devon Andrews, a sophomore, outclassed a field of five to take [...]

A little faith goes a long way: Open Door reflects on ’03 trip to Columbus

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At 11 o’clock this morning, it will be 10 years to the minute since Open Door’s improbable Patriots took the floor at Value City Arena in Columbus while the pep band played “Onward Christian Soldiers.” The unheralded, unranked, unexpected and unknown Patriots. Open Door had never before won a district basketball game, let alone a [...]

Vermilion’s AuBree LaForce named Lorain County Miss Basketball

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ELYRIA — It didn’t hurt that her aunt was a veteran basketball coach. It definitely helped that she started playing the game in elementary school. And it was a big plus that she comes from a sports-focused family. All the assets — athletic ability, academic excellence and college basketball potential — came together for Vermilion’s [...]

Lots of good times at girls basketball all-star games

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ELYRIA — Lorain senior and Penn State recruit Alex Harris took one last shot at making history Tuesday at the Lorain County Girls Basketball Association Senior All-Star Games at Elyria High School. She tried to dunk. It was late in the night’s second game — a 67-48 Red team win over Black— when, with her [...]