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McDonald’s Seitz reaches basketball milestone
By Ryan Buck
McDonald
McDonald boys basketball coach Jeff Rasile has been around the program he now guides, in one way or another, for 20 years now.
Shortly after he took over the head coaching duties, Rasile oversaw the youth programs as well in an effort to enhance continuity and, thus, long-term success for the high school program he looked to return to its winning ways.
He saw what looked to be a catalyst for that mission in a young Matt Seitz.
“I coached him when he was in fifth grade,” said Rasile, who left the program after the 2011 season only to return a year later. “Matt’s always been able to put the ball in the hoop. Even as a fifth grader, he would score 10, 12, 15 points a game, so he’s always had the offensive game.”
Seitz, now a senior forward for the Blue Devils, has more than fulfilled his coach’s expectations.
In Wednesday’s 93-45 win at Leetonia, Seitz scored 25 points and became the sixth Blue Devil in school history to surpass 1,000 points.
“It was bound to happen, I guess,” said Seitz, a 6-foot-3 forward who can both drive to the basket and consistently make outside jump shots. “[Rasile] told me, ‘Don’t worry about it. Worry about winning and it’s all going to come.’”
Like Rasile, Seitz has a lifetime connection to the McDonald program. He dreamed of taking the court for the Blue Devils and watched closely as 2011 Vindicator Spring Athlete of the Year Matthias Tayala reached 1,000 career points.
Through three seasons as a varsity starter, the numbers continued to pile up.
Tayala’s portrait, and those of the four other 1,000-point scorers, adorn the walls leading into the school’s gymnasium; constant reminders.
“I looked forward to it at the beginning of the year,” Seitz said. “I always wanted to score 1,000 points. I’ve always walked through this gym since I was young and I always wanted to have my name up on the wall and be remembered, so it’s pretty big for me.
“I kind of forgot about it and then my dad [Scott] came up to me and said, ‘Hey son, you’re 30 points away from it.’
“We had a game at Brookfield and I got in foul trouble and only scored 11, but I knew I was going to get it.”
In his team’s victory over the overmatched Bears, a familiar sound signaled his accomplishment.
“Before I knew it, I heard my dad whistle from the crowd,” Seitz said. “I knew I had 1,000.”
Rasile’s star took the achievement in stride and came back to work the following day as the Blue Devils (7-2) prepare to take on the only two teams that beaten them this season in Wellsville and Mineral Ridge.
“He’s if not our hardest working kid in practice, he’s one of them,” Rasile said.
Seitz and his coach, well-known for both his success and courtside animation, have another goal ahead of them.
“From an offensive standpoint, he’s the best that I’ve seen at McDonald and obviously, barring an injury, he’s going to break the scoring record, knock on wood,” Rasile said.
“That just speaks volumes about his offensive ability.”
Little changed for Seitz, who says winning is the ultimate motivation, along with earning a college scholarship.
“It took a little bit of pressure off my shoulders, but I just want to win overall,” he said. “One thousand points, it’s just scoring. It’s about getting the ‘W.’”