Klebon goes for win #500 tonight!

Photo courtesy of Matt Hopper

Shamokin Area head basketball coach Joe Klebon goes for his 500th win tonight in the first round of the Knights of Columbus Tournament in Shamokin against Southern Columbia. It will be a family affair tonight with Klebon's son Joe and nephew Colin on the Tiger roster. Colin Klebon will be out of the line up with a broken wrist.

Klebon's best teams to date were the 1997 and 1998 teams. The 1997 went undefeated through the regular season. Their only loss was to Valley View in the Eastern AAA quarter finals. In 1998, the Indians went down in the Eastern semi's to Steel-High. The Indians trailed by more than 20, took a lead with under 10 seconds left only to see Scott Ativo of Steel-High put in an air ball as time expired. Even with the loss, it may have been Shamokin's greatest game since their merger with Coal Township.

All-State

Great job to the fallowing players who made first team "A" All-State

Southern Area - Colby Snyder

Lourdes Regional - David Schweitzer

Line Mountain - Coty Rusinko

2nd Team

Line Mountain - Jon Fausey

Southern Area - Justin Knoebel

A couple of interesting observations about the selections. Justin Knoebel played hurt most of the year to make the team and wasn't 100 percent most of the season. Rusinko, a senior, spent his first three years at Lourdes Regional. His play against Southern Columbia probably paved his way for his selection. Hat's off to line coach Randy Kehler of Lourdes Regional.