Memorable Moments
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    This is YOUR page. Whether you're a player, coach, fan or parent, or were formerly one of those, we'd like to receive your stories about Memorable Moments you've witnessed, or were part of, and publish them here. Send your submissions to silaryt@phillynews.com. One favor, please: Don't write in all capital letters. And include a phone number in case we need to cross-check information and/or your identity. This has become a tremendous addition to www.tedsilary.com. Thank you, Ted. (Thomas "Hockey Puck" McKenna now wants to keep a low profile.)

RESPONSES . . .

    My most memorable moment in my four years at Cardinal Dougherty would
have to be when we beat Judge in the playoffs at the Tom Gola arena.This
win was really special to me because of two reasons. The first would
have to be that i watched the cardinals play just about every season
from about 1992 because my brother also played for us. And even though i
was young, I still knew that whenever we played Judge it was gonna be a
game for the ages.The second reason was because i had never beaten Judge
in my four years here. Although we beat them in 2000 i felt that it
wasn't my win, but the guys who went out and got the job done. all i did
was cheer them on. But since i started freshman year we could only come
close. Just look at the two overtime games we had against them in the
regular season. Judge was a great team this year and to pull off an
upset like that is just something i will never forget. I would also like
to thank my teammates and my coaches for making a dream like this to
come true. And to my fellow seniors Bryan, Donnell, and Mark, good luck
next year and keep up the hard work. Thank you for letting me speak my
mind Mr.Silary.
---- Bryan `Reds` Cole `01
    (Ted's note: Bryan was nominated as a "Best Teammate 2001." It didn't
surprise me at all. In fact, I would have been surprised if he had NOT been
nominated.)

    This is what Father Judge has meant to me , I had a good career at Judge, I suited Varsity as a Soph and that doesnt happen alot at Judge, I was on the bench during the championship game and I got to go to the prestigious Alhambra Tournament. I was 6th man as a junior getting valuble minutes for a great team, and almost upsetting Roman in the semi-finals with the number 1 junior in the country Eddie Griffin and as a senior not making the playoffs. I have learned so much through my career at Judge to take with me into the real world. All of the up and downs, the wins and the losses, the demanding practices,  being disciplined when i did something wrong and learning how to live through tough times. I have met so many good people because of playing basketball at Father Judge, that I now will have friendships for the rest of my life.I went to North as a freshman( for a week) but missed my friends did not want to make new ones, part of the reason I went was because my good friend Mike Wild was supposed to go but got an offer from Roman no white kid from the NE would turn down. So throughout my career I always wanted to kill North, so here we go last game of the year, we had a tough year, we finished 7-7, but we lost 4 games by a total of 5 points.We had a first year Head Coach in Rich Miller, we played hard but always for some reason came up short, anyway it was the last game of the year we needed a win to force a 1 game playoff with Mcdevitt, so it was a packed house with former Judge grads, but we did not have the Abyss, which could have helped us big time. It was a great game from the start North was killing our press and zone and hitting
three`s like crazy but we stayed close. Then in the second half we went man to man and got into the game and were even winning at one point but could never break it open. It was all tied up and Albany hit a three to put them three points. So with 4 seconds We set up a play for me to run and I got the in bound and I like going right even though im left handed. I decide i see an opening to my left and blow by North`s Steve Szychulski. I was kinda off balance as I got by and he clipped my leg right when I was about to pull up, so as I was falling to the ground I threw up a prayer and looked real good but fell an inch short. And with that missed shot it was the second time (since 1964) that a Father Judge basketbal team didnt make the playoffs. People dont know what kind of pressure that we were  going up against, that was the worst day of my life, to this day I still hear about it not making the playoffs. it is a big deal, people say well its the weak Northern Division, well how come no other teams can say that they only missed the playoffs 2 times in so long a period of time. I worked my butt off to be in that position to take the last shot, I would not have it any different, I would not change a thing about me career at Judge, even missing the playoffs, it taught me an unbeliveable lesson, I had 4 goals at the begining of the season, First and most important was making the playoffs, second was to get All Catholic, third was Markward award and fourth and article by Ted, I got all of them but one. Missing the last shot taught me something about myself that even though we lost the sun still came up on monday and that the world wasnt over and there was more to accomplish for me and my teammates. We had great careers and learned alot by going through Father Judge,I have learned the most in my life by playing basketball, and I wouldnt change a thing in my 4 years of going through Judge!!!
---- Kev Hanlon Judge 00`
    (Ted: i know you're disappointed so i thought i would share one of my many memories and if people dont start sending them in we are going to see a ton of my memories. Believe me, i have a lot!!!)
    (Ted's note: Thanks for this heartfelt contribution, Kev. Maybe more will follow. They don't have to be anything exotic, folks.)

    Watching my first ever high school basketball game in 1995.  I was at Cardinal O'hara watching my brother play.  We never like the guys from West Catholic so you could imagine the hartbreak and frustration we suffered in that loss.  I believe the name was Kevin Haney; the player who put the dagger deep in our hearts.  We were winning by 5 points with roughly 15 seconds left, and he hits two "threes" - one was at the buzzer.  Although I was bitter, I really enjoyed that game!!
---- Pheonix R.
    (Ted's note: Kevin Haney was a tall, skinny shooter. Couldn't be left alone.)

    As march draws near It brings memories of one of the finest group of kids that I have ever been associated with The 1997 Catholic League Basketball Champions, The St. John Neumann Pirates. What I remember most about that team was their unselfishness. That team was certainly special in my heart because they worked hard all summer long . The seniors just refused to lose: James Fowler, Victor Thomas, Mark DelBrocco, and Mark Moritz. As most coaches, I think of these guys all the time. I hope they realize what impacts they had on "SouthCatholic ,Bishop Neumann, and St. John Neumann" and everyone ever associated with the program. The title game win over Carroll  was a classic before a soldout crowd at the Palestra. Thanks for letting me be part of your lives. May the memories live forever in your hearts.
---- Tom Dougherty, Head Coach, '97 CL Champs, NEUMANN!!

    My memorable moment is my whole high school career at Father Judge.  I played for great coaches and played with great teammates.  I graduated in 1999 and the guys I played with all four years, I would go into battle with those guys anytime.  We never gave up ever.  In my senior year we never gave up; including the two juniors on our team.  I remember comin' back from 25 down at Penn Charter. We scored 15 points in the first half.  At halftime we knew we were better and we had to go out and prove it, and we did.  We scored 51 points in the second half while they scored 10. No matter who the opponent was I knew we were gonna win just because of the guys on my team and the coaches we had we were ready and I knew we were the best. We had great players, but  more importantly we had great people who are doin great things now.  Brian Fox -- Soph at Penn and playing JV ball.  Brian Bond -- soph at Lycoming playing defensive back. Dennis Hiller -- Enlisted in the Navy to be a Navy seal, currently in Japan.  Mike Pidhirsky -- soph at La Salle (played b-ball last year). Chris Roantree -- soph  at Lycoming, starting defensive tackle. Brian Kearney -- soph at Towson playing baseball.  Steve Pidhirsky -- freshman at Albright playing basketball. And Kevin Hanlon -- freshman at Beaver playing basketball. Then there's me, Kevin Huckel -- soph at Temple, football manager.  I love all these guys and was proud to be their teammate and play and practice on the same court with them.
---- Kevin Huckel, Judge '99

    In the 1967-68 season, I was a sophomore playing JV for Judge against North Catholic. We were at 'The Pit' for a Friday night game. The J.V. game started at 7:00. The doors opened at 5:00 and were closed at 6:00 because no more fans could fit inside. Both stairwells and back to the locker room hallway were packed.  The JV game started and, per usual, it was a great game. At halftime, the two teams were called to the middle of the floor. Then it was announced that everyone had to leave the building. We were instructed to stay on the floor.  No problem, everyone knew everyone else anyway. We watched from midcourt as police came in and began searching under the stands and up in the locker rooms. We found out that there was a report of a bomb in the building. We laughed about how concerned everyone was for the JV's, since we were left there with no instructions. Just another C.L.
basketball moment.
---- GJS, Judge '70

    My memorable moment started as a very sad one. I was a senior for Olney High without any real direction. I did not have any clue on what I was going to do as far as going to college. I did not think I was good enough to play basketball after high school. I had a talk with my high school coach, Mr. John Rech, about my future. He told me, "Son, I think, in fact I know, there is a place for you after high school." He told me that I would play college basketball. On my team I had some great basketball players: Alex Thompson, Solomon Harris, Kenny Neal and David Bell, now one of the top seniors in the city. I could have scored just as much as any of the three, but I did whatever the job was to make us better and that was to be a point guard. I sort of got overshadowed that way.One day I looked in the paper to see what team Alex had made for the coaches' All-Public list and at the very bottom I
saw Edwin Braswell, third team. That meant I could play in the coaches' all-star game. In the Senior game I had 14 points. Most of all I was noticed by a coach from Manor College, where I currently attend. I am a returning all-state basketball performer. I am mostly proud of being on the dean's list (3.8 GPA). I plan on returning to the title game to win my school's first men's championship. I plan on attending one of the state schools (PSAC) on a full basketball scholarship. I would like to thank
you and all of your Daily News staff buddies for helping me get into college by putting me on the list of prospects you reveal every year. (Even though I was not on your final All-Public team).
---- Edwin Braswell, Olney '99
    (Ted's note: Good story. The next time I make the correct call on every kid will be the first. I wish more young men had the good sense, and the necessary support, to make the best of their opportunities.)

    My most memorable moment was the 1998-99 basketball seaon at Ben Franklin. I was a sophmore, who didn't get any playing time, but was very patient. Why worry about playing time when you have guys like Calvin Johnson, Jason "Smooth" Dunham, Denelle Holly, Gary Palmer, and Hanif "Julio" Styles. We were a great team. In the Quarterfinals against Frankford at Ben Franklin, Frankford surely came with a lot of heart led by Gerald "Moosha" Redding. He had the best game of his life. The game was down to the wire. Frankford was up one point with 3 seconds left and Franklin's ball. Every Franklin fan and player's heart was beating extremely fast. Gary inbounded the ball and tried to throw an ally-oop to "Smooth" but the ball got tipped. Denelle Holly caught it and threw it up falling backwards without traveling. It went in. Franklin won! That had to be the best ending game in the Public League history. In the next game against E&S, Calvin Johnson also hit a buzzer beater. Franklin went on to win the championship. It was a great way to end coach Hamilton's career.
----Senior player at Ben Franklin
    (Ted's note: Franklin indeed had an amazing playoff run that season.)

    My Moment was at the Haverford Summer Tournament before I was a senior at FATHER JUDGE and "Puck" was running it. We were the next game and were sitting up on the hill waiting and our assistant coach, coach BROWN yelled at puck, "Hey, Nut, how much time's left?" Puck replied, "Hey, Bown, (I guess he meant BROWN), you got your own watch. You tell me!!!!!!!" That was one of the funniest things I have ever heard at a basketball game! And when his pen ran out of ink, he licked it to try to make it work on his tounge!!!! Yeah, Puck is a one of a kind. We used to say he was Jim Reeves' uncle!!!!!!!
JUDGE1

    My memorable moments (plural) are when my dad would always take me to the Palestra for the PCL championship.  It is the greatest place for a Highschool game.  I've seen some great ones there along with some great players.  Some notables: Carroll vs Roman-- It was Ketner's senior year in '95.   They were two great teams.  There was over 5 Division 1 players on the court ( Donnie Carr, "Ya" Davis, Ketner, Ingelsby, Bigus). Neumann vs Carroll in '97--Everyone expected Carroll to win the game with Ingelsby and Bill Phillips but Neumann came out victorious with the Fowlers and Victor Thomas.  My favorite  Judge vs O'Hara in '99.
Many expected the taller faster Southern division team to win (Randazzo, Sazonov), but Judge (with Reeves, McKeever, Burns, Dufner) brought the title back to the north.  That is also my favorite because my cousin Matt McKeever made the family proud. 
The PCL has seen some great championship games over the years and will have many more to come.
--Pat McKeever
(Ted's note: This is the first "Moment" in a long while. Join in, folks. I'd especially think it would be cool to hear from parents.)

    My memorable moment was my whole high school career. I started out playing basketball for the fist time as a freshmen at Roman. I did okay for the first time ever really playing basketball, but i needed a lot of changes to become a better player. I was overweight became i was a former football player. I decided that i was going to lose weight in order to play on Roman's
big time basketball team. I dropped form about 260 pounds to 205 in the span of one summer. As i came back for my sophomore year I thought I was a lock to make the j.v. team at Roman, but i didn't happen. I remember crying on the bleachers and Rasual Butler telling me that i should try out next year. I wanted to transfer because i knew that i didn't have a chance to play basketball there. My dad just happened to know Mark Heimerdinger and he told him that if i went there would i have a chance to play. He saw me play in a summer league game and he
told me the best chance i had of making the team was playing junior varsity. I thought that I had to work harder in order to play varsity, and that's what I did. I eventually made the varsity team which made me feel good seeing that i was cut from the j.v. team at Roman. By the time i made it to senior year our team was one of the better teams in the catholic league north. Our team had players such as Khavaughn Shannon (plays with me at Manor College now), Rob Carter, Jon Davenport,and Mark Goetz. For all the hard work that I did i wound up going third team
all-catholic. If i could go back, and talk to the coaches at Roman i would tell them look at me now.
---- Greg Mayo Cardinal Dougherty '99
    (Ted's note: Greg was a productive hustler. Good for a team. We thank him for participating.)

    when i think of excitement, its pretty hard to beat
the 1994 PL championship game at st. joe's when mike
robinson fired the shot around the pub from beyond
halfcourt while guarded by 3 gratz players . . .. .
and the hed in the daily news was, you had to FLC it
to believe it . . .
the unbelievable brawl in 1991 after the southern-flc
game between fans . . .i have a video from the local
news with some of the action . . .
and then anything laurence "l" pembrook was able to do
with his high-flying pyrotechnics . .i was at olney
for the overbrook-olney playoff game when pembrook
torched jason lawson's crew . .
then i was at overbrook for the west phila=overbrook
game in pembrook's senior year . .he had a fastbreak
where he was the only one on his side of halfcourt . .
. the anticipation was almost as heart-stopping as the
unbelievable cloud-seeding dunk he threw down . .
he was also spectacular in both PL final fours . .just
an unbelievably exciting player to watch . .who knew
when overbrook played gratz there were not 1 but 2
future NBA players . .rasheed wallace was a lock, but
ron kenan, lawrence pembrook and andre howard seemed
more impressive than malik rose . . .
archbishop carroll's upset of roman the first time
when martin inglesby played a flawless floor game at
the palestra . . . and rafal bigus, tom dearborn and
paul romanczuk were also impressive . .  especially
after roman had won twice in the regular season . . .
---- Aaron Rivers
    (Ted's note: Thanks, Aaron. About that FLC-Southern
brawl. I didn't see it because I'd gone to the locker room.
But when I came back, one table was still standing -- the
one where Hockey Puck McKenna was adding up the
post-game stats. The other guys told me Puck didn't
even lift his head as the mayhem swirled around him. By
the way, the brawl was between groups of Southern fans.
One side of Broad Street vs. the other.)