Blackhawk battles back from slow start this season

ASSOCIATED PRESS
An already unusual season for coach John Miller and the Blackhawk Cougars has taken yet another turn.
A perennial challenger for the PIAA Class AAA basketball title, Blackhawk was hit hard by graduation and defections after finishing 21-2 and winning the District 7 (WPIAL) championship last year. The result was a 3-11 start this season.
It looked for a while as if the Cougars would not qualify for the district playoffs. But after winning four consecutive games and five of its past six, Blackhawk has a pulse.
"I haven't even thought about the playoffs, but now it looks like we might have a chance," said Miller, whose teams have won four PIAA titles and eight WPIAL titles. "We're not turning the ball over as much as we did and we're playing better defense."
Miller came into the season with a 546-210 record at Blackhawk, located in Beaver County. He has had some lean years at the school, however, just not many lately.
"People have asked me how I've been holding up," he said. "Hey, we won just one game the first year I was here. It's not like I haven't been through a down year."
With just two seniors -- 6-foot-1 Zach Feltrop and 6-2 Matt Franitti -- things look bright for Blackhawk next season. Four of the top six players will return along with guard Joe Marzullo, who was ruled ineligible by the District 7 board after transferring from Burrell.
Franitti and 6-3 junior John Navage have led Blackhawk in scoring, averaging close to 18 points a game apiece.