2004 Boys Basketball Team
The 2004 state
championship run for
this Penn Hills Indian
team started well
before the 2003-2004
season. This team
began its
championship quest
in the old gyms of
Washington,
Shenandoah, Dible and Penn Hebron Elementary Schools. With Mark
Ionadi, Sean Farris and Doug Travis pushing for hard work and
commitment, these budding champions traveled from dusty gym to
blacktop court competing and learning the game. Then from various travel
leagues and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) boys basketball tournaments
the group grew into not only a local juggernaut, they developed into a
regionally successful team. Upon reaching the eighth grade and playing for
Coach Henry Gonsowski, the team completed an undefeated run over all
middle school competitors. Their success over foes such as Plum,
Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Gateway and others proved to be a
foreshadowing of their upcoming high school years.
Once in high school, Devon Knight, Matt Ionadi, Byron Knight, Justin
Travis, and Anthony Morelli, took the reins and solidified a high school
experience that resulted in the 2003 AAAA WPIAL Championship and
culminated in the 2004 AAAA PIAA Championship.
During the 2003 WPIAL AAAA Championship run, Penn Hills was led by
a strong senior class of Ryne Liggens, Justin Travis and Byron Knight and
longtime Head Coach and Penn Hills product Jim Rocco. Coach Rocco has
already helped lead the Indians to the 1994 and 2000 WPIAL
Championship teams along with several appearances in PIAA and WPIAL
Final Fours. This particular championship run was capped by a 51-41
defeat of Upper St Clair High School. USC featured two Division I players
including Sean Lee, a future
Dallas Cowboy Pro Bowl
Linebacker. The game was
punctuated with a
thunderous dunk by Byron
Knight as he caught an
errant shot by his brother
Devon. Byron later took his
talents to Robert Morris University.
As the 2004 season began, Penn Hills was
lauded as one of teams to beat, as they returned
the likes of Devon Knight, a seasoned lead
guard with great court vision and savvy, Matt
Ionadi, the heart and soul wing guard with skill
and a deft shooting touch, Gerald ‘Scoot”
Warrick, a long, athletic offensive rebounding
machine, David Harvey, a super athletic wing
guard with jolting stop and start quickness and
Akida McLain a highly recruited, 6’7, power forward who possessed a
powerful post game along with the ability to deter playmaker from the lane.
Along with the starters, Coach Rocco’s team featured reliable reinforcements
that included Jason Stanko, a 6’1 soft shooting swing guard and Jeff
Abraham, a 6’3” skilled, high IQ, sophomore post player. They however had
stiff competition in AAAA as Plum, Pittsburgh Central Catholic,
Connellsville, Chartiers Valley and State College, featured talented, seniorladen teams. As the season wore on, Penn Hills took all challengers, gaining a
share of the Section title before bowing out in
the WPIAL AAAA Quarterfinals to
Connellsville. They were led by first team allstate guard and Robert Morris recruit James
Hairston.
As the PIAA playoffs began, the Indians
regained new life in the State playoffs with a
first round, 69-58 victory against Pittsburgh
City League Champion Schenley High School,
who featured future NBA players DJ Kennedy, Djuan Blair and Deandre
Kane. They followed up with a dramatic 55-54 payback win against District 7
runner-up Connellsville High School and a convincing 11 point drubbing of
Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Akida McLain led the way in that contest with
26 points and 17 rebounds. As the Indians
rolled into the PIAA semi-finals they were met
by their Western Pennsylvania rivals, the State
College Little Lions. In the regular season,
Penn Hills beat State College at home to
extend a five-game winning streak against the
defending AAAA State Champions. This
particular game, the deck was stacked against
the Indians as they faced off at Altoona High
School, a relative home court for State College.
With a clear strategy for
creating defensive chaos
and isolating Akida McLain
and Devon Kinight on
offense, the Indians battled
back and forth with their
Central PA rivals only to
cling to a one-point lead
early in the fourth quarter. But a flurry that included
Jeff Abraham creating an offensive charge, Devon
Knight with a half court leap and steal and another
Matt Ionadi steal, the Indians came away victorious.
This earned Penn Hills their first ever State
Championship appearance.
In the state championship game, the Indians faced
off against District 11 Runner-up Parkland High
School, Allentown, Pennsylvania. After a slow start,
Penn Hills took an 8 point lead into half-time. As
the second half began, Penn Hills went on a run
spurred Matt Ionadi and David Harvey and took a
lead of 15 into the late stages of the game. The
Indians held on for a 57-48 victory as Akida McLain led the way with 18 points
and 14 rebounds. The win earned Penn Hills their first ever PIAA
Championship. In the aftermath of this historic run, Akida McLain was named
the Pennsylvania State Player of the Year and signed to play for Boston
College. Matt Ionadi and Devon Knight received all WPIAL Section honors
and signed with Pitt-Johnstown and Edinboro University respectively. Coach
Rocco earned State and Regional
Coaching Awards for his team’s
magical run.
As we reflect on the
accomplishments of this group
and our school’s first ever PIAA
Boy’s Basketball Championship,
we will remember this group for
their comradery, charisma and
respectful dedication to the game
of basketball and Penn Hills.