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Lariccia’s See Them Rise Basketball Showcase this weekend
By STEVE WILAJ
youngstown
This weekend, the Covelli Centre will host the fifth annual Lariccia’s See Them Rise High School Basketball Showcase, featuring a slate of seven games Saturday and Sunday.
A Special Olympics game kicks off the event on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Two girls games follow — South Range vs. Shenango at 5 p.m. and Western Reserve vs. Crestview at 6:45 p.m. — before a boys matchup, Warren JFK vs. West Middlesex, caps the first day at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday then features three more boys games.
East matches up with Struthers to open the day at 4 p.m., Tallmadge vs. Erie (Pa.) Strong Vincent tips at 5:45 p.m. and LaBrae vs. Neshannock closes the event at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s nice to be picked for something like this,” said South Range girls coach Tony Matisi, whose Raiders are 14-2 and participating in the event for the first time. “I think all teams eventually want to be. So it’s nice to be recognized and I regard it as a privilege.
“It’s gonna be great for us. I love the fact that we’re playing a team outside the area. We’re gonna regard it as a tournament game — something to prepare us for the tournaments.”
Pre-sale tickets are $4 for students and $7 for adults, while all tickets are $8 at the door and all parking is free.
The Vindicator will present the John Kovach Award to the showcase’s top player.
A special presentation is scheduled after the East vs. Struthers game.
Aundra Brown — a three-year starter for the Youngstown State men’s basketball team in the late 1980’s — will be honored with the Mahoning Valley High School Basketball Excellence Award for his efforts while at East from 1984-87.
Brown was a three-year starter for the Panthers, averaging 14.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game in 1986 and 17.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in 1987. He earned second team all-Ohio honors in 1987, as well as second team all-Northeast Ohio and first team all-City series in 1986 and 1987.