Basketball & Closings

Hello... apologies for not keeping up. I've been kinda sleepy since getting back from basketball championships in State College.

Great weekend. I did enjoy the time that the games were in Hershey... but the old barn and the Giant Centre aren't true basketball venues, they were built for hockey. The Jordan Center gave you a true basketball feel because you knew basketball was played there. I kept stats for TV, and had fans just about breathing down my necks the whole time.

The hospitality was excellent, and the guys I worked with were their usual crazy selves. I joked that I was the only guy from Schuylkill County there all weekend. Yes, I would have liked to see one of our area teams make it. Maybe next year.


Count me in among the saddened that Cardinal Brennan is finished at year's end. When CB had those excellent football seasons, I enjoyed driving up to Fountain Springs and the Kempsey complex to watch them play. Jerry Freiler, Mike Nieddu, and Fr. Maco always made me feel at home. The cheeseburgers and fries were excellent. I remember being there for a homecoming game. If I had known that the reigning queen had no escort, I would have dressed up more and been one. Oh well...

With CB's closure and Hafey's closure, there's no more regularly scheduled Saturday varsity football games within 30 miles or so. Looks like more trips to Pen Argyl, Wilson, Pius X, and Dallas.

This makes 5 or 6 closings in this area... Bishop Hafey, Bishop O'Reilly, and Bishop Hannan are all lost in the shuffle. CB kids will spread out to Nativity, Marian, Lourdes, or go to public schools. Hafey students will either go to Marian, the new Holy Redeemer (formerly Bishop Hoban in Wilkes-Barre), or to public schools. In Scranton, Hannan and Bishop O'Hara will combine to form Holy Cross High.

I under$tand why thi$ i$ being done. The writing ha$ been on the wall for quite $ome time. I've been wondering how long CB would last with its enrollment.

For some kids, last days of school are either joyous or sad. I think there will be a little more sadness come June in Fountain Springs, at Maple Manor, and the other schools.

Talk with you at 6, buckle up.
TS