Sports stocking with little nuggets to ponder
Well, it’s that time of year again. With Christmas just days away, I thought I would leave you with a little holiday gift to pour over in between sitting around the tree, filling up on turkey and Christmas cookies and dreading the inevitable return to work or school.
However, instead of a big flashy gift from Santa, I thought I would fill your sports stocking with little nuggets to ponder. Enjoy.
On Friday, Dec. 13, Jefferson-Morgan senior wrestler Jason Miller put on a fantastic performance in front of hundreds of fans gathered at Waynesburg University’s Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
The senior didn’t seem bothered by the riotous crowd as he squared off with one of the best Class AAA wrestlers in the state in Waynesburg Central junior A.C. Headlee. Miller not only hung with the Raider star, but built a 4-1 lead after the first period, before eventually dropping an 8-6 overtime decision. Miller, who has always been a solid, to very good grappler for Jefferson-Morgan, appears ready to take the big step to Hershey during his final season with the Rockets.
— Those who follow the Carmichaels boys basketball team always knew senior Brandon Lawless was good. I doubt if anyone knew he would be this good. The leader of the 4-0 Mikes has been amongst the prolific scorers in the Class A ranks of the WPIAL.
He is coming off an eye-popping 48-point night in an 80-43 win over Bentworth on Monday, Dec. 16. Let that sink in for a second … he scored 48 of his team’s 80 points. That offensive explosion catapulted his season scoring average over 30 points per game and as long as he his healthy, the Mikes have to be considered one of two favorites, Monessen being the other, to win a Section 3-A title.
— Speaking of teams in early contention for a section title, the West Greene girls have won their first three games of the season and, not surprisingly, the Raber sisters, Alyssa and Madison, have been the driving force behind the hot start, which included a 46-16 rout of Beth-Center back on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
However, don’t think the hot Pioneer start is just a two-star show. Credit should also be given to senior guard Emily Courtwright, who provides a very viable third option for head coach Jordan Watson.
— If you need definitive proof that the Pirates have truly arrived into the wide-spread Pittsburgh sports consciousness, just look at how much attention the Buccos are getting for their off-season moves, or lack thereof.
With the St. Louis Cardinals reloading for another run at a National League Central crown, the Pirates haven’t done much, if anything, to really fill big needs at first base, starting pitcher and, according to some people, shortstop. Over the 20 years prior to the Pittsburgh baseball renaissance of 2013, any sort of Pirate headline was buried under the latest Penguin score or over analyzed Steeler result.
Fans don’t want the magic of this past spring, summer and early autumn to fade away after just one season. Hopefully, the Bucco brass have not forgotten the unbridled passion and joy this team provided its loyal fan base and moves will be made to stave off another 20 years of playoff absences.
— Finally, Steeler fans still have the slimmest of hopes to hold onto, when it comes to the Black and Gold making a miraculous appearance in the 2013 playoffs. However, to say Pittsburgh needs some outside help is a major understatement. Below is what has to happen for the Steelers to take a run at their seventh Super Bowl:
WEEK 16: Pittsburgh over Green Bay; Buffalo over Miami; New York Jets over Cleveland; New England over Baltimore; Oakland over San Diego
WEEK 17: Pittsburgh over Cleveland; Cincinnati over Baltimore; New York Jets over Miami; Kansas City over San Diego.
(Thanks to my good friend and Steeler nut Jason Tennant for untangling this web of wins and losses.)
It’s a good thing Christmas is the time of year for miracles, because that’s exactly what it will take for the franchise to avoid missing the playoffs for a second-straight season.