POTTSTOWN >> They were on top of Pennsylvania’s high school basketball … literally.
The Pottstown boys team made area history in 1993, winning a state championship in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class-AAA bracket. An 85-66 victory over Valley High at Hersheypark Arena on Friday, April 2, was the high point for a program that reached the AAA title game three times in a five-year span of the early 1990s.
That date also marked the last time all the players and coaches were together on a basketball court.
“It’s been over 22 years,” Ken Davis, the head coach of that championship squad, said Friday. “I’ve seen Howard (Brown), and I’ve talked to Mike (Perate) on occasion.”
So it was a veritable reunion at Pottstown High’s Strom Gymnasium, where the largest gathering of the 1993 titlists took place. It was staged in conjunction with a fundraiser basketball game pitting the champions – along with teachers and administrators from all the district’s schools – against the Harlem Wizards, a show-basketball program mixing on-court skills and comedy in the style of the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters.
Brown and Perate, underclassmen stars on a 1992-93 team that finished 26-7 off a season-capping 13-game win streak, were joined by former teammates Dave Auman and Jesse Scott (Class of 1993); and David Charles, Bob Heagy, Brad Neiman and Mickey Yonas (Class of 1994). Dave Bennett and John Iswalt, assistant coaches on that squad, were also in attendance for a night of remembrance and entertainment … all for the Foundation for Pottstown Education and district students, who will see the night’s proceeds go toward funding field trips and purchasing school supplies.
“It was great to see the gym packed with people in support of education,” Brown, a 1995 Pottstown graduate and member of the FPE board, said afterward. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
A special presentation added even more luster to the proceedings. Davis presented the school a framed picture of the 1993 championship team, which is slated to be hung on the Strom Gymnasium wall adjacent to the state-title banner.
“This is way too long in coming,” Davis said. “It should be savored by everyone, particularly for the teams who preceded that (state title). They’re the ones who set the groundwork.”
Davis was assisted in the project by Dr. Myra Forrest, FPE Executive Director, and Mercury photographer Kevin Hoffman.
“Myra and Kevin did the whole deal,” he said. “I thought it had to be done for the kids, and the guys who laid the groundwork.
“It was like in the movie ‘Hoosiers,’ where at the end there was a picture of the team in the gym. That’s what we’ll have here.”
Along with all the other activities, the event provided the ’93 champions the opportunity to renew acquaintances, reminisce about their past achievements and the team’s glories, and interface with the sellout crowd.
“I don’t get back here that often,” Perate said. “It was great to get together with the guys.”
“It was fun,” Scott added. “It’s one of the first times we’ve been together since 1993. It was nice to see the other guys.”
They also played a bit of basketball as well. The champs were on the floor in the third quarter against the Wizards, who are based out of Secaucus, N.J. and in their 53rd year of existence. The organization’s website describes itself as “creating awe-inspiring fundraiser events for schools and nonprofits … last season alone playing in over 400 communities across the U.S. while raising over $2 million for schools, charities and nonprofits.”
“Howard called me Tuesday about this,” Perate said. “It’s a good way to raise money for the school, and a good show for the kids.”
The Wizard players – road manager Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson, James “Road Runner” Tyndal III, Lloyd “Loonatik” Clinton, John “Big J” Smith, Roscoe “Sarge” Johnson, Gerald “Sky Walker” Warrick III – impressed the former Trojan champs with their athleticism, ball-handling prowess and thundering dunks. Many of the “slams” were punctuated by the dunking player hanging from the rim for several seconds, twisting and turning to the delight of the crowd.
“Those guys are out of control,” Scott, who came up from his home in Charlotte, N.C. for the event, said. “They’re like gazelles with their athleticism. I don’t think we could have beaten them 20 years ago.”
The Wizards’ comedic talents were displayed in skits like an impromptu “baseball game” at the end of the night, and “Swoop” conducting a passing game with a number of fans of varying ages, exhorting the crowd to chant “You’ve been tricked” when one of the contestants dropped one of his trick tosses. “Swoop” also drew several well-known coaches into his routines, intimating Pottsgrove boys coach and “referee” Scott Palladino worked for Foot Locker and engaging former Hill coach Marty Vollmuth in a dance routine.
The Wizards also pleased the crowd by remaining in the gym, signing autographs well after the game had ended.
“Myra did an awesome job running this,” Brown said. “When she told me this was taking place, I told her I’d do whatever I could to help.”
Current Pottstown players London Gregory, Jarren Lacey and Brandon Tinson – all members of the Class of 2016 – were listed along with the ’93 champs. Representing the teams from other district schools were:
Barth Elementary – Sarah Bennett (assistant), Ted Freese (librarian), Mindy Inman (Kindergarten), Ryan Oxenford (principal) and Meghan Walsh (Grade 3).
Franklin Elementary – Bridget Baldwin (Grade 4), Julie Cohen (Grades 1-2), Nicole Ewing (Grade 4), Corrie Speakman (English as a Second Language) and Jennifer Swenk (Grade 4).
Lincoln Elementary – Calista Boyer (principal), Matt Cohen (Grades 3-4), Jenn Groff (Grade 3), Diane Hahn (Grade 3) and Mindy Wojton (OT).
Rupert Elementary – Allen Ferster (Grade 4), Zach Hill (assistant), Matt Moyer (principal), Rine Strohecker (Grade 1) and Niki Valenti (assistant).
Pottstown Middle School – Mike DiDonato (Grade 5), Jared Leimeister (Grade 8), John Martin (Grade 7), Nick Mitchell (Grade 7) and Tom Simpson (Grade 5).
Pottstown High School – Justin Baker (athletic trainer), Jackie Harner (Life Skills), Dot McCrone (Special Education) and Jaime Parris (VLN/Alternate Education).
A number of Pottstown alumnae served as cheerleaders for the game: Kathy Eagle (Class of ’93), Jenna Armato (Class of ’94), Misty Laboy (Class of ’95), Nikki McKim and Janelle Mayes (Class of ’96) and Amy Skarbek (Class of ’97). Megan Keeney served as the cheerleaders’ coach.
NOTES >> During a break in the game, the FPE presented checks to elementary and secondary schools with the highest ticket sales. The winners were Lincoln Elementary and Pottstown Middle School. … Brown indicated he will be back in the Pottstown area for iBall United’s 2015 Pro Combine, which will be held May 30-31 in Strom Gymnasium. Conducted in partnership with Maxout Strength Studio, the combine will offer a tournament, drills and athletic tests to help registered players improve their exposure at the game’s professional levels.
