(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Two teams, two different records, two different reasons to achieve their goal, and one goal to achieve.

And that’s just the home teams.

In this case it was the men’s and women’s Titan basketball squads representing the Community College of Beaver County, and both teams achieved that goal–a win–last night in their matchups against Butler County Community College. The ladies started the night by rallying for a 49-39 victory that improves their record to 8-9 on the year, and breaking their two-game losing streak.

In game two, Yazid Powell powered the the men’s offense by scoring 75 of CCBC’s 100 first-half points. Powell then added 6 more in the second half to reach 81, letting that total stand in honor of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant (who reached that career high back in January 2006 against Toronto). The men cruised to a 147-61 victory–their 17th straight–and now hold an overall record of 18-1.

Photos from last night’s contests, courtesy of Bob Barrickman, can be seen below:

Diamondbacks acquire OF Starling Marte from Pirates
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
Starling Marte is heading to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pittsburgh Pirates sent the two-time Gold Glove outfielder and 2016 All-Star to the Diamondbacks for prospects Liover Peguero and Brennan Malone. The Diamondbacks received cash considerations as part of the deal Monday while Pittsburgh obtained $250,000 in international signing money. The 31-year-old Marte is coming off a stellar 2019 in which he hit .295 and set career-highs with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs. He has two years left on a contract extension he signed on the eve of the 2014 season.

60 years since Joe Namath and Larry Bruno guided Beaver Falls to WPIAL gold. 50 years since Frank Chan led the Tigers to PIAA gold on the hardwood. 10 years since the Larry Bruno Foundation began celebrating the history of the coach and the town he called home.

2020 has presented a lot of reasons to have a celebration.

Those plans were explained and discussed as Foundation director Ron Main joined Greg Benedetti & Matt Drzik in the St. Barnabas Studio on the January 25 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam. Main announced the 2020 class live on air:

• Dwight Collins
• Lou Cynkar
• Mike DeChellis
• Elizabeth Asche “Betty” Douglas
• Cheryl Main
• Rich McMillen
• The Granati Brothers

Main made clear that the inductees were a mix of both athletics and arts, which both have had major impacts on the history of the city, county, and culture–the latter word being indicated and used several times in presenting the understanding behind what bases the Larry Bruno Foundation.

The induction ceremony will be on July 25, site and time to be determined.

Also brought up during the interview was Main’s announcement of the Bruno Foundation’s expansion to its new building on 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls, which will include a retail store, museum and conference center, and learning center. The plan, according to Main, is to expand the learning of the culture of leadership and tradition that Coach Bruno had on his players and students, and to pass that on to future generations.

To listen to the full interview, click on the player below!

After nearly two decades as an athletic director in Allegheny County, Amy Scheuneman has rapidly ascended heights in the WPIAL chain of command. After being hired as an Executive Assistant in 2019, it was only several months until the announcement came that she would succeed Tim O’Malley as WPIAL Executive Director in July 2020.

So what does that mean for the future of District 7?

Scheuneman herself answered these questions during an interview with Matt Drzik & Greg Benedetti on the January 25 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam. She spoke about her transition to the role, along with the plans she has to expand the brand into social media, and the ways she plans to keep certain elements as is. Amy also spoke about her thoughts on football realignment, transfers, working with the PIAA, and enticing students to enter sports more than ever.

To listen back to the interview, click on the player below!