Centre of attention: Series bigger & better

By John Kovach

Chevrolet CENTRE High School basketball Series

This year’s series will feature 33 different teams and 19 different games at the downtown arena.

YOUNGSTOWN — The second annual Chevrolet Centre High School Basketball Series will be expanded this year to include seven dates, 31 different high schools, 33 different teams and 19 games, including three girls contests, all slated in January and February.

Last year, the Series was launched with two dates, eight different schools and four boys doubleheaders that attracted about 3,000 fans, thanks to the founding Chevrolet Centre High School Basketball Committee, philanthropist Tony Lariccia plus a host of other sponsors.

It was Lariccia, a Struthers High and Youngstown State graduate and stockbroker from Boardman, who provided a $5,000 grant for seed money to launch the Series.

This year’s dates for Series games are Jan. 6-16-19-28-30 and Feb. 4-11. Returning sponsors are the Lariccia family, Wendy’s restaurants, Home Savings bank and National City bank, in addition to newcomers Youngstown Swish (ABA basketball franchise) and Pizza Hut restaurants. Wendy’s sponsors the tickets with coupons.

All home teams who agreed to switch their regular season games to the Chevrolet Centre for the Series are guaranteed a $1,500 payment and 40 percent of ticket presales to compensate for losing a home game. The home teams also may sell their game programs and keep the receipts.

The visiting team receives 40 percent of ticket presales.

And by a formula set up by the Committee, both the home and visiting teams can receive a share of the profits if attendance reaches a certain level.

This year, four different kinds of schedules are being tried, highlighted by a six-game Martin Luther King Day program on Jan. 19. There also will be a girls doubleheader on Jan. 28, a combination boys and girls Wednesday slate on Feb. 4, and a Wednesday boys doubleheader Feb. 11.

The 31 high schools involved in the Series represent four area leagues — Steel Valley Conference, All-American Conference, Inter Tri-County League and the Northeastern Athletic Conference.

The purpose of the Series is give area high school teams an opportunity to play in a state-of-the art facility and to attract more people from the surrounding areas to the arena and the downtown to help both prosper.

Paul Andraso, administrator-treasurer of the Series from Hubbard, believes that the program is growing in popularity because teams and fans alike enjoy watching basketball at the Chevrolet Centre.

“I think the most important thing is that we are trying to give basketball in the area some place to showcase high school teams and create more interest in local basketball,” said Andraso, commissioner of the Inter-Tri-County League and a retired Hubbard High basketball coach and athletic director.

“Basketball in the area is not drawing as well as in past years, and this is an opportunity for kids to come to the Chevrolet Centre and showcase their skills and talent, and for people in the community to come out and see the teams play in the best venue in the area.”

He also said that the Series is a good public relations tool for high school teams.

“The teams will be exposing their program in a bigger setting to show the surrounding community what their program is about,” said Andraso, a Chaney High graduate who used to play basketball for the Cowboys in the South High tripleheaders.

Andraso said the teams also are well-rewarded for their participation.

“The teams are offered an attractive compensation package and the novelty of playing in an outstanding arena which gives their players additional experience playing in a bigger setting,” he said.

“Some of the teams will be playing in tournaments in bigger arenas and with bigger floors, so playing in a larger venue like the Chevrolet Centre gives them valuable experience.”

He also said that, “The Martin Luther King Day schedule is great and something that we also can grow and expand to bring in more teams.”

The Series will open Jan. 6 with a doubleheader between Lowellville and Leetonia at 6 p.m. and Champion and Lakeview at 7:45.

Tickets are available at the participating schools for $4 for students and $6 for adults. Tickets also may be purchased before each game at the Chevrolet Centre gate for $7 each. Parking is free in the Centre’s lots.

kovach@vindy.com