Jim Roth inches his way to 300

Jim Roth is closing in on win number 300 in his career with win 297 over Line Mountain on Friday night. The News-Item documents some of the impressive winning streaks Roth has had over his 25 seasons. A trip to the state finals may never be sweeter, but the hardest and toughest football is ahead.

The one thing about Roth is his relative youth when you look at other coaches either approaching 300 or his 25 seasons as a head coach. He still has plenty of coaching of sometime in his gas tank.

The Heartland Conference released a copy of their football all-star teams this past week. Where is Shamokin Area? The Indians (4-5) deserved some consideration for players like Brent Forbes with over 1000 yards and force at defensive end and Tyler Scicchitano who was a tackling machine and later made big contributions at running back and kicker on special teams.

Former Mount Carmel Area and Susquehanna University graduate Ron Miller has guided the West York Bulldogs into the District 3 Semifinals. Check out their performance in the quarters against Conrad Weiser. Good luck to Ron and the rest of West York against Garden Spot.

Sad Day for District 3 Basketball

Hoops official dies after overtime playoff
by FRANK COZZOLI, Of The Patriot-News
Friday February 15, 2008, 9:47 AM
District 3 basketball referees are mourning the death of one of their own.

Veteran ref Timothy M. Bartholomew, 50, of Akron died last night after suffering an apparent heart attack after he officiated the overtime playoff boys' game between Hershey and Boiling Springs at Red Land High School, officials said.


Rich Czarnecki, men's officials' representative for District 3, said Bartholomew was seated on a chair in a locker room after the 6 p.m. game when he slumped over and was unresponsive.

Czarnecki said Bartholomew's fellow officials called for Red Land athletic director Brian McNamara, who summoned an ambulance and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Bartholomew was taken to Harrisburg Hospital, Czarnecki said.

Czarnecki was shocked. He said he had met with Bartholomew at halftime of the game when the two shook hands and embraced before Czarnecki left to attend another game.

"You're always under the realization that this could happen to you,'' Czarnecki said. "And I've been in situations where this happened to other brother officials of mine.''

Officials across the district were notified of the death by e-mail. Bartholomew worked out of the Lancaster Chapter of PIAA basketball officials and primarily called games in the Lancaster/Lebanon League, Czarnecki said.

"He was a super guy,'' Czarnecki said. "He did anything for me. Anytime I needed anything, he was always there.''

Czarnecki said officiating isn't just strenuous, it's stressful, with unhappy fans and coaches chirping in officials' ears.

"It's not the exercise and the cardio, it's the stress,'' Czarnecki said. "And you're talking about a playoff situation. Being an official is very stressful.''

"He was one of my veteran guys, and he worked all the time,'' Czarnecki said. "He was in good shape, too. That's the sad part about it.''