Three Basketball Wildcats Earn Postseason Honors
Published 03.30.2002
Brian Schneider, Robert Groves and Jessica Weaver stood out all season for their respective Pennsylvania College of Technology men's and women's basketball teams, so the postseason accolades they have received are little surprise.
Schneider and Weaver each was named to the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association all-star team and Groves was named to the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference all-star squad.
"Brian was the best point guard in the league," exclaimed Wildcat coach Gene Bruno. "He gave us a lot of dimension he could score, he could dish, he could play great man-to-man defense and led us in steals and assists. He's a hard-worker and I think he's going to go onto the next level (transfer to complete his education and continue playing ball at a four-year school).
A 5-foot-11 sophomore from Hatboro-Horsham, Schneider averaged 16 points, nine assists and five rebounds per game during his team's 14-11 season.
"Groves (a 6-5 sophomore center/forward from Shenandoah Christian High) was heaven-sent for us in two years. In my book, he was the most improved player on the team," Bruno said. "He went from averaging six, eight points a game to double figures (10) this year. He always was an impact player as far as grabbing rebounds and he's a tough, clean, but physical kid.
"If those two kids aren't there, we don't win 27 games (over two seasons) and make the playoffs," Bruno added.
Weaver, a 5-8 sophomore guard from North Clarion High, was the captain of the Penn College women, who finished 12-12, and led the team in scoring (17 points per game) and rebounding (seven per outing). During her two-year career, Weaver scored a school women's-record 655 points.
"She's been the glue that held the team together," said Lady Wildcat Coach Jeff Chamberlin. "She's been an emotional and physical leader on and off the floor. She's been an inspiration, not only to her teammates and coaches, but also the school. She's the type of player that only comes along once in a long time."
Weaver is expected to return to the team next season as a graduate assistant coach.