Kiski Battles Connellsville In Tonight’s Game of the Week

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In a matchup of size versus speed, the Connellsville Falcons host the Kiski Area Cavaliers in tonight’s MSA Sports and Quad-A Conference Boys’ Basketball Game of the Week. Off to their best start in three years, the Falcons have soared to a 5-3 start to the season and 1-1 mark in Section 1. One of Connellsville’s biggest assets is its size with six players standing taller than six feet. That inside presence is provided in a large way by 6-10 center Trent Bauer, 6-4 forward Jade Maher, and 6-4 forward Caleb Pittsment.  Senior guard Jimmy Leichlighter is a strong outside shooter who provides additional height at 6-4.  The only starter under six feet is senior Michael Parlak at 5-10.

In addition to size, Connellsville is well-experienced.  All five of the Falcons starters are back from last season and have turned the growing pains of recent years into victories in 2013-14. Connellsville has posted losing efforts the last two seasons, but is three years removed from a 20-3 campaign and Section 1 championship.  The Falcons are led by sixth-year head coach Dan Bosnic who comes from a family rich in athletic ability and coaching prowess. Amongst the many coaches in his family, Bosnic’s brother Mike is currently the head football coach of the Washington Little Prexies in Class AA.

Kiski has a first-year head coach in Joey Tutchstone, but he’s far from a newcomer to the Cavaliers successful basketball program. A former assistant under previous head coach Harry Rideout, Tutchstone has led Kiski to a 5-4 record and 3-0 mark in section play. The Cavaliers are the reigning co-section champions and are currently tied with the same team they shared the Section 1 crown with last year, the Hempfield Spartans.

To earn a win tonight, the Cavaliers will try to match Connellsville’s size with speed. Using a frenzied defense, Kiski has pressured opponents into mistakes and turned them into points. Two players leading the charge this season are junior guard Mike Simmons and senior forward Joey Brungo. Simmons is a solid shooter who has taken well to his new role as leader. Brungo, an All-Foothills Conference defensive back on the Kiski football team, is a small forward who is unafraid to muscle his way to the cylinder.

What will rule the night, the size of Connellsville or the quickness of Kiski?  Find out at 7:30 pm as Randy Gore and Nick Farrell bring you all the live action from Connellsville High School. Pre-game will get started at approximately 7:20 pm.  Listen to tonight’s game live or on archive by clicking here.

(photo courtesy of Kiski Athletics)