Runnin' Red Hurricanes Report 12/24/01By Hurricanes Assistant Coach Ron DePorzio
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12/24/01
Merry Christmas Canes’ fans. The Canes are still undefeated at 11-0 and 3-0 in Section 3 play. The Canes are starting to get into full swing this season playing more than half their schedule before the New Year. With winning the first 11 games and playing 3 in the Blackhawk Christmas tournament, they will have 14 of 24 scheduled games played. The Red Hurricane defeated Erie Central, Franklin, North Hills, Shaler, and Penn Hills since the last report was posted. The team feels good about their accomplishments but still knows they need to improve to attain the goals they set at the beginning of the season.
The Canes defeated Erie Central 70-60 at the Ne-Ca-Hi Field House. The Canes performance was not a usual sight for fans. They had an off night and let Central stay in the game. But in the end their talent carried them to a victory. Although any win is a good win the coaching staff was concerned. We need to play hard all the time and not just when we need to, sooner or later it may come back to haunt us. That was the message displayed from the coaching staff over the next two weeks. Dom Joseph and Mark DeMonaco both scored 18 in the contest while Dante Spino had 10 and Hoover Gibson had 11.
The next night the Canes faced a hard-nosed Franklin team. The Canes were in a close hard fought game. And they came ready to play. This game was probably the hardest these guys have worked all season, but give credit to Franklin they really pushed the Canes. It was a close game throughout. But late in the fourth quarter the Canes were down by one when Hoover Gibson got an offensive rebound and kicked it to Mark DeMonaco who drained a huge three giving the Canes the final lead. A couple of free throws by Gibson and a lay-up by Spino and the Canes had a 58-52 victory. Dante Spino led the Canes with 17, Joseph had 15, and Gibson chipped in with 12.
Next the Canes hosted North Hills. In this game North Hills played tough, but was over matched by the powerful Red Hurricane. And still the Canes were not playing their best ball, but they worked hard and when you are not playing you best, working hard can overcome that and I feel they team is beginning to realize that. The Canes won 62-48. Hoover had 18 points, Dom had 16, and Marky finished with 13 and played an excellent floor game. North Hills has been defeated all 19 times by a John Sarandrea coached New Castle team.
Next it was off to Shaler to pay a under-manned Shaler team. And boy the Canes let them have it. They won 92-56 in a statement game. Shaler had defeated us five straight times and our guys wanted to send them a message and I believe they did. The Canes put six guys in double figures. Dom had 17, Leon Ward played his best game to date and had 15, Dante Spino gave his consistency and 12 points, Chris Cain popped in 12 and Mark Demonaco had 11. Vojtech Hybler got into double digits and showed what he could do and had 10 points and eight rebounds. Ralph Currie had seven assists.
The next night the Penn Hills Indians traveled to New Castle. The Canes defeated them 84-60. The Canes struggled in the first half, but came storming back in the second. The athletic Penn Hills team put some pressure on our guards but everyone stepped up to the challenge. Especially Dom Joseph who scored 31. Dom scored 31 and could have had over 40. This just shows you how talented this kid is and can be when he wants to. But the best part about Dom is the fact that he cared less about scoring the 31, he was more satisfied with the team accomplishment. And that mind set carries throughout the team. All tri-captains put team first, me second. That is why is team is so good; they have great chemistry and a passion for winning. Leon Ward also played very good. For a stretch in the 3rd quarter he took the game over and we went on a 10-0 run. He mad a steal, hit a three, stole another passed went hard to the hole and was fouled to complete the three point play. Joe Carter also played good chipping in with 10. And Hoover Gibson seems to get better every game and nobody out works this kid, he had 10 points.
The Canes head to Blackhawk for the Christmas tourney and face for the first time, Kennedy Catholic at 8:30pm on Dec. 26th.
From all the Canes players, staff, and organization we would like to wish all the fans a very Merry Christmas.
NOTES: Dom Joseph needs approximately 46 points to break 1000 for his career; in my expectations he should do so in the Christmas tourney.
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