A look back at the Cager Classic
The Cager Classic is celebrating its 15th year. Here's a breakdown of the event's first seven years:
1997
Results: Boys — West 78, East 65; Girls — East 72, West 68
MVPs: Boys — John Hart, Fox Chapel (East)/Breyon Chambers, Cheswick Christian (West); Girls — Stephanie Pencak, Kiski Area (East)/ Daashia Fish, Freeport (West)
Coaches: Boys — Jack Schmitt, Riverview (East)/Rich Falter, Highlands (West); Girls — Ray Bartha, Apollo-Ridge (East)/Lisa Wheeler, Hampton (West)
Highlights: A slam-dunk contest, which later fizzled out for insurance reasons, was won by Cheswick Christian's Breyon Chambers. The 6-foot-3 guard-forward had 18 points and 19 rebounds in the game to garner MVP honors for the West team. ... More than 1,500 fans attended the inaugural games.
1998
Results: Boys — East 88, West 87; Girls — West 71, East 68.
MVPs: Boys — Justin Miller, Plum (East)/Aaron Faulx, Knoch (West); Girls — Mindy Valdiserri, Apollo-Ridge (East)/Meg Garrison, Fox Chapel (West).
Coaches: Boys — Larry Ondako, Leechburg (East)/Garrie Davies, Freeport (West); Girls — Pam Hobaugh, Ford City (East)/Todd Durand, Knoch (West).
Highlights: The Fox Chapel duo of Meg Garrison and Meg Babst combined for 27 points to lead the West girls. ... Hampton's Neill Feather, thought to be out for the year with a knee injury, made a surprise appearance and scored six points for the West in a losing effort. Knoch's Aaron Faulx had 20 points for the West. ... Kittanning guard Kate Costanzo, who played for the East, later became the women's head coach at Allegheny College.
1999
Results: Boys — West 100, East 89; Girls — East 83, West 72.
MVPs: Boys — Walt Hill, Burrell (East)/Quincy Curry, Shady Side Academy (West); Girls — Michelle Sodini, Fox Chapel (East)/Stephanie Stewart, Highlands (West)
Coaches: Boys — Ron McNabb, Burrell (East)/Les Shoop, Knoch (West); Girls — Dan Ross, Fox Chapel (East)/Deanna Riddle, Springdale (West)
Highlights: East girls coach Dan Ross and two of his players, Michelle Sodini and Chrissy Brunk, were in a state playoff game one night and the Cager the next. ... West 6-5 forward Quincy Curry, of Shady Side Academy, had 19 points and 11 rebounds. ... Springdale's Deanna Riddle, who coached the West girls and was respected throughout the A-K basketball community, died of leukemia in 2006. She was 58.
2000
Results: Boys — East 99, West 79; Girls — West 93, East 67
MVPs: Boys — Justin Robinson, St. Joseph (West)/Carlo Dorazio, Plum (East); Girls — Valerie Rodgers, Mars (West)/Jessica Kankowski, Fox Chapel (East)
Coaches: Boys — Tom Myers, Valley (East)/Joe Lafko, Hampton (West); Girls — Don Favero, Leechburg (East)/Chris Scherer, Pine-Richland (West)
Highlights: Future Pitt walk-on and Plum standout Carlo Dorazio hit a 3-pointer and made several key steals to help the East prevail after a 17-point lead was cut to five with 11 minutes left. Dorazio finished with 24 points. ... In the girls game, Fox Chapel's all-time leading scorer, Jessica Kankoski, scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
2001
Results: Boys — West 110, East 87; Girls — West 69, East 62
MVPs: Boys — Jason Kerr, Ford City (East)/John Driscoll, Deer Lakes (West); Girls — Tera Stewart, Ford City (East)/ Kelly Quigley, Hampton (West)
Coaches: Boys — Brian Kovolovsky, Ford City (East)/Kelly Robinson, St. Joseph (West); Girls — Mark Ziemianski, Burrell (East)/Tom Saulle, Freeport (West)
Highlights: John Driscoll of Deer Lakes set a Cager scoring record with 26 points. The West scored 62 points in the second half. Freeport's Bobby Woods added 19. ... Akron softball recruit Kelly Quigley of Hampton took MVP honors for the West girls with 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Tera Stewart of Ford City had 19 points for the East.
2002
Results: Boys — West 101, East 93; Girls — East 64, West 61
MVPs: Boys — Corey Smith, Kiski Area (East)/Matt Bonislawski, Highlands (West); Girls — Marissa Smith, Valley (East)/Caitlin Ward, Hampton (West)
Coaches: Boys — Larry Rupert, Kiski Area (East)/Harry Jenkins, Fox Chapel (West); Girls — John Cope, Valley (East)/Dana Petruska, Mars (West)
Highlights: Future Highlands athletic director and Connecticut quarterback Matt Bonislawski's double-double powered the West to its fourth win in six years. Bonislawski had 10 points and pulled down 16 rebounds. The East's Corey Smith, of Kiski Area, had a game-high 19 points. ... Valley's Marisa Smith scored 14 points to lead the East before heading off to play at Bowling Green and Duquesne. Twin sisters Jaime and Jodie Vick also played for the East. ... West boys coach Harry Jenkins later became the coach at La Roche.
2003
Results: Boys — East 101, West 95; Girls — East 71, West 55
MVPs: Boys — Jon Koch, Plum (East)/Ryan Hauck, Hampton (West); Girls — Gerria Ballard, Valley (East)/Constance Dorzak, Pine-Richland (West)
Coaches: Boys — Greg Fox, Apollo-Ridge (East)/Rob Carmondy, Mars (West); Girls — Paul Sylba, Riverview (East)/Tim Kazmarek, Deer Lakes (West)
Highlights: Future Washington & Jefferson star Jon Koch (Plum) had a team-high 15 points for the East. Hampton's Ryan Hauck scored 21 for the West. ... In her final organized game, Valley point guard Gerria Ballard scored 17 points to earn MVP honors for the East. Riverview's all-time leading scorer, Emily Alcorn, added 16 and swept the skills contests.
Additional Information:
At a glance
15th annual Cager Classic
⢠When: Saturday
⢠Where: Highlands High School
⢠Times: 6 p.m. girls, 8 p.m. boys
⢠Tickets: $4 students and $6 adults, available at B&J Sports in Natrona Heights (724-226-2762)
⢠Skills competition: 7 p.m. Friday
