A Garden in the winter: Centre Series set to start

By John Kovach

The 2nd Chevrolet Centre High School Basketball Series will begin Tuesday.

YOUNGSTOWN — Tony Lariccia likened the Chevrolet Centre to New York’s Madison Square Garden — and even better.

That’s why the Canfield stockbroker and Boardman philanthropist believes players like to play at the Centre and fans like to watch games there — because of the wonderful and professional setting.

“What a place to play basketball. The Chevrolet Centre seats almost 6,000 spectators. And I think it’s better than Madison Square Garden,” said Lariccia during a press conference Tuesday afternoon in the Community Room of Chevrolet Centre to announce the upcoming second annual Chevrolet Centre High School Basketball Series that will begin Tuesday.

“I talked to players who came here last year to play and they thought they were playing at Madison Square Garden. Ben Umbel of Poland told me that he loved playing here. He said he likened it to playing in the pros.”

Lariccia, a Struthers High and Youngstown State graduate who provided a $5,000 grant for seed money for the series, said the local arena’s atmosphere is a big reason the series is expanding this year.

The Series has grown from two dates and eight teams last year to seven dates and 33 teams this year.

“We are growing and we are [four] times bigger than last year. That is unbelievable,” said Lariccia.

Paul Andraso, administrator-treasurer of the series committee from Hubbard, said this will be an experimental year for the series.

“We are trying different things to see which works the best,” he said.

He said 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.

“We hope that basketball will expand here in the future,” said Andraso, adding, “We hope to do something with the Pennsylvania schools [coming here to play] in the future.”

Eric Ryan, executive director of the Chevrolet Centre, said the series is a perfect fit.

“This is truly what the Centre is about — to improve the quality of life in the area and to bring people downtown,” said Ryan, who noted the event wouldn’t be possible without Lariccia. “The public is interested in the concept and teams like playing on the big stage. Hopefully, we also can get sectional and regional tournaments.”

Campbell athletic director Frank Pincaro, whose boys team returns to the series this year, said the event “is a great opportunity for our school. It is attractive to us to come here and play, and that we can have tickets available for the fans [at our school],”

Greg Cooper, Canfield High athletic director whose boys teams played in the Series last year, said his school “feels fortunate to play here. It is a first-class venue. Our girls are playing [this year] and Howland jumped at the opportunity to play us.”

Liberty boys coach Dan Gorski, whose team also returns to play this year, said it’s a tremendous opportunity to play in a venue like the Chevrolet Centre.

“We certainly appreciate all of the efforts of Mr. Lariccia to promote high school sports in the area, and this is another example of his philanthropy,” he said. “And we also appreciate the efforts of Paul Andraso to put this together. “

Other returning sponsors are 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.

The most valuable player selected on the six-game Martin Luther King Day schedule will receive the George Burich Most Valuable Player Award, which will be sponsored annually by Joe Reinthaler of Reinthaler’s Auto Village in Canfield.

Burich, who died recently, coached boys varsity basketball teams at four city schools — North, South, Chaney and Wilson.

kovach@vindy.com