Cager Classic a family affair
Brian Sharick would probably say he's more of a basketball father than a basketball coach. But he never tried to pressure his daughter, Morgan, into playing college basketball -- even though he's coached her at Burrell for the past two years and will coach her one more time Saturday night.
"It was sort of an unwritten rule when I took the job," Sharick said. "When the car pulls into the garage, the basketball talk is over. For the most part, we've lived up to that. She's a busy kid and she is really into soccer."
In January of her junior year, Morgan accepted a partial scholarship to play soccer at Pitt.
Dad didn't say a word. Instead, he applauded his daughter's efforts.
"I think she was reluctant to tell me," Brian said. "But this is her dream. She went out and got it."
On Saturday night, the Sharicks will unite one more time as Brian coaches Morgan and the East girls in the 14th annual Cager Classic.
The senior all-star game will begin at 6 p.m. at Highlands High School. The boys game will follow at 8.
"I was so excited when he told me he was coaching," said Morgan, who plans to major in bio-medical engineering. "It was sad the way our season ended. The season flew by. My dad has taught me so much. It's a blessing to have him coach me one more time."
Burrell didn't make the playoffs out of a tough Section 1-AA, but the Sharicks, along with senior teammate Shea Liput, hope to put the final touches on the year this weekend.
Liput also will play for the East.
"Shea's been beside me for so many years," said Morgan, who led Burrell in scoring and assists this season. "We've been playing together since fourth grade."
Morgan also grew up playing against some of her Cager opponents.
"That's the other thing," Morgan said. "Some of my biggest competition growing up was the Fox Chapel girls like Jenny (Papich) and Sara (D'Amico). We played them in fourth and fifth grade. We would split games and go back and forth."
Papich is one of the top players for the West team.
The guard-heavy East also features Apollo-Ridge standout Hannah Shaffer and Riverview star Caty Kumar.
The West, coached by Freeport's Bill Burkart, has strong leaders such as Deer Lakes' Sara Katich and Knoch's Hannah Novotny.
Sharick and Liput will also take part in the annual players' skills competition at 7 p.m. Friday at Highlands.
Additional Information:
14th annual Cager Classic
senior all-star basketball games
Saturday -- Girls game, 6 p.m.; boys game, 8
Highlands High School, Harrison
Skills competition: 7 p.m. Friday
Game tickets: $3 students, $5 adults. Available at B&J Sporting Goods, Natrona Heights (724-226-2762).
Skills competition tickets are $1.
