Lincoln Park basketball preview: Keys to the season

Tigers are busy roaming in the fields. Lions are busy prowling the jungle. And Lincoln Park’s Leopards are busy in the gym preparing for their upcoming basketball season!

Last season the Leopards came up against a few setbacks, including their one-point loss and season-ending game against Clarion. But after speaking with athletic director/new head coach Mike Bariski and a few of the players, it’s clear they don’t plan to let anything or anyone get in their way this year.

With the start of the season just a few weeks away, we wanted to be filled in on what the team thought would be the keys to this year’s success and obstacles:

Key newcomers and departures: With three integral players — David McCauley, Marcus Brown, and Justin Hosack – graduating last June, the Leopards felt sort of in a rut. But not long after these players’ departure, the coaches and remaining teammates realized they had a lot to look forward to in the arriving year.

“It’s close to impossible to replace David McCauley, but for the most part his scoring and ability will be split between three guys, and that will be Sean Shirley, Devontae Watson, and Kyle Taylor,” said Bariski.

With the newest additions — Jalen Katrell; freshmen from Midland, junior Kyle Taylor of Quaker Valley; and junior Seth Davis of Cornell all joining the Leopard family this year, the players and coaches suggest that they are at no disadvantage from the departures of last year. Another newcomer they were able to welcome is assistant head coach Mark Javens.

Key injuries: Through the duration of the season preparation, the Leopards thought everything was in place. However, a few weeks ago, point guard Kyle Taylor was injured during practice. When asked about the incident, Bariski expressed his determination for nursing Taylor back to health as soon as possible and not letting it take much of a toll on the jump of the season.

Taylor seems to agree. “I’m rehabbing right now and working on seeing doctors. I plan to wear a brace during the season to help, but overall I don’t think it will have a big effect on my playing because I always go hard.”

Key rivalries: At the end of last year, rumor was that the Leopards had formed many rivalries. After speaking with a few of the players, the rumor was primarily proven true. Sean Shirley, a senior from Midland and also team captain, said, “I’m thinking the season-opener against Blackhawk will be somewhat of a challenge because they’re Triple A and we’re Single A. In the past we haven’t had much success against them and I’m hoping we might have it this time.”

As the interviews progressed, there seemed to be a pattern. Each player felt their previous high school would be their biggest challenge. “In relation to our old schools, we like to think of it as more of a friendly rivalry,” said Keith Hutchins, a junior from Midland.

Key improvements and advantages: In a recent interview with Coach Bariski, there seemed to be a lot said about the newest players and their advantages, one of these being “the tremendous amount of size.” The tallest players on the team are Jalen Katrell, a freshman who stands at 6’4”; Seth Davis, a junior who stands 6’6” and the tallest, Devontae Watson, a towering sophomore standing six foot nine. Bariski said that of these three players, Watson “has the wingspan of a seven-and-a-half footer and for his size, has adequate leaping ability”; Davis “is a basketball player in a football player’s body, who is more of a physical player and will rely on his strength”; and Katrell, who “is big and young, has unlimited potential and is expected to be the next great basketball player out of Midland in the years to come.”

Key Dates: The Leopards kick off the season Dec. 11 and 12 by hosting the Midland Tip-Off Tournament. Teams participating include New Brighton, Blackhawk and Center.

Until then, each individual player with the Leopards is hard at work, and they have made it clear they think this year is there for the taking. “Our future looks so bright, one of the more appropriate reasons being that were so young,” said Bariksi. “There’s Dante Hutchins and Sean Shirley that are seniors, and once they’re gone the other 14 that are left are all juniors and down. We anticipate being competitive and quite good this year.”

After all the struggles the Lincoln Park Leopards basketball team dealt with last season, they are more than ready to start over again. And with many new players and coaches, they’re ready and back in action.

After losing multiple seniors at the end of last year, they nonetheless have gained three new players in place of the graduates. In addition to the new players, they also have a new coaching staff. The new coaching staff happens to include our very own Athletic Director Mike Bariski as the head coach, Mark Javens as assistant head coach, and Bob Rizzo, who’s also serving as an assistant head coach.

Former coach Chris Raso “did a great job with the team, winning two section championships,” says Bariski. However, Bariksi was offered the chance to coach the team this year and accepted.

Coach Javens, who is in charge of the offenses, defenses, and the game management, spent four years coaching the Hopewell boys basketball team. In addition to that, he also spent 14 years coaching at the Community College of Beaver County, where he won two national championships.

He seems to be adding more perspective to the team. “I personally think he brings a different look and personality to the team. He’s more of a player’s coach, and he seems to know what young men need and want at this age to be successful not only on the court but off of it as well. Plus he has nice hair!” says Bariski, chuckling.

Both Bariski and Javens seem to hold characteristics that appeal to everyone, including one of their very own players, senior Dante Hutchins of Midland. “I think they are two really good coaches. Although they can be hard on us sometimes. I think Mr. B and Coach J together, both have really good people skills. Mr. B is a great instructor. I feel like he does his best to provide us with first class things.”

With the season just a few months away, the Leopards have no doubt that all their hard work will soon pay off. For information concerning the season schedule and events, please visit the LPPACS main office.

–Fawn Rawl

After speaking with the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School athletic director, Mike Bariski, we were lucky enough to get the inside scoop on the newest major at LPPACS: Health Sciences and the Arts.

One of the most obvious questions concerning the new major is, “What is it?” Health Sciences and the Arts is a new addition that became available during the 2008-2009 school year. Although the name is kind of a dead giveaway, it’s not as specific as it may seem. It currently has four branches of study consisting of Movement Dynamics; First Aid Safety, CPR, and First Responder courses; Anatomy and Physiology; and Sports and Art Psychology.

“It consists of courses that are related to general health aspects of life, and we also try to coordinate health as it is related to the arts,” stated Bariski.

There were 12 to 14 students who participated during the 08-09 school year, and there’s an expected number of 25-30 participants for the next school year, Bariksi said.

Health Sciences and the Arts is going to be a four year progressive major, meaning each year a student is in it, it will get more detailed and advance. According to Bariski, “If you join as a freshman, it can be adjusted to fit your class, so they can get the full benefit of the class. The same goes with the sophomores and juniors.”

In the fall there are supposed to be a few more additional choices within the major, as well. Being added to the existing selection of classes is Personal Fitness; Nutrition, which will incorporate Chemistry and Biology classes too; Physical Conditioning, plus a few more. They will be available first and second block Monday-Friday.

It is not just for anyone with interest with a future in the health, medical, and sports and entertainment fields. It’s open to anyone interested, Bariksi told me.

“After all, there are only three of the 16 basketball players who are going to be in it next year,” said Bariski.

Although these classes are quite different from the other majors at Lincoln Park, Health Science and the Arts is still expected to be taken seriously. When questioned about the overall seriousness that is expected, Bariski with no hesitation said, “Let it be known, its not going to be an easy course.”

–Fawn Rawl

Beginning this week we will be talking with the three seniors who were part of the Lincoln Park Leopards basketball team.  I’ll be asking them about the season and also future plans to come.

One of the seniors, Justin Hosack, experienced something none of the other players have come up against: a fight for eligibility, preventing him from participating in the games.  The battle started at the beginning of the season and lasted until the end, forcing him to miss most of the season and also the playoffs.

Fawn Rawl: How did you cope with being the only player sitting out?

Justin Hosack: For a while I didn’t really look at it as me being the only player sitting out because there are other players sitting out on the bench at times.  I just looked at it as my playing time being taken away by a higher power and out of my control, but of course there were plenty of times where it bothered me that they all got to play but me.

FR: Were there times where you thought “Man, imma be out the whole season because of this?”

JH: Yeah, because week after week you keep hearing, “You should be able to play next week,” but you never actually get to do it.  After hearing that for so long I’m pretty sure any player would have the mindset where they think it’s never going to happen.

FR: What do you think were some of the high points this season?

JH: Probably the team playing and winning section title.

FR: What do you see as some of the low points?

JH: Well the lowest point for me was sitting out and watching us get eliminated from the playoffs and just basically knowing I couldn’t contribute.

FR: What are your plans for after you graduate?

JH: I would like to get into a four-year college and hopefully play basketball. I’m still in the process of deciding on a major.

FR: How do you personally think the Leopards season went?

JH: I think it was disappointing at times because I knew our team’s capability and we didn’t always put it to use, but in a lot of ways I think it was still successful.

FR: What do you think is expected of next year’s players?

JH: I think Coach Raso will instill hard work and discipline in the players the same tough way he did us. I do expect them to play their hardest and hopefully do well.

FR: Is there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

JH: Yeah, PLAY!!!

Coming up the next time around is a talk with the other seniors, David McCauley and Marcus Brown.  I plan to find out their opinions on the season, and their future plans for when they graduate. 

– Fawn Rawl

After a long, hard drag through the season, the Lincoln Park Leopards finally reached their last game of the 2008-2009 basketball season.  Their season being a consistent battle, it was finally put to rest after a one point, 51-50 playoff loss against Clairton at Northgate High School, leaving the Leopards with a 14-8 record.  

Athletic Director of Lincoln Park, Mike Bariski, spoke with me after the season and said, “I actually think it went well. It was pretty disappointing in the end losing the playoffs the same way as we did our first year.” 

A controversial eligibility dispute prevented senior Justin Hosack from participating in many games this past season.  “The loss of Justin Hosack due to ineligibility, I think, is what stopped them from pushing farther, but I’m proud of the guys who hung in there and fought through the whole season,” Bariski said. 

After two years of winning section champs, which is unheard of in a school’s first year, Lincoln Park’s boys just couldn’t seem to push ahead.  Three of their victories throughout the season were by three points or less.  It’s obvious they didn’t panic when push came to shove, and they know it’s now time to put in work. 

For the next year, there seems to be more hope.  There are three spots to be filled with seniors Hosak, leading scorer David McCauley and Marcus Brown leaving.  Bariski said that there is a good group of kids coming in from Midland, as well as a few additional players from surrounding areas.  

In the near future the Leopards hope to win the WPIAL Championship.  “This is every team’s goal in the beginning of every year.  We’re no different from any other team.  We just hope to stay consistent and most of all get better,” commented Bariski. 

Volleyball and golf, the other two sports Lincoln Park offers, didn’t seem quite as successful this year as the basketball team.  Out of the three existing sports, basketball seems to be the “big dog,” Bariski said.  “Because of Midland tradition, it has spilled over to Lincoln Park.  There’s just so much support, and interest, and fire towards it.”