JOHNSTOWN —
Johnstown native Justin Lasky removed a major item from his personal bucket list this past Saturday.
The Bishop McCort graduate was part of the winning team in the DRIVE4COPD 300-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Daytona International Speedway.
The 29-year-old University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown graduate watched from the pits as rookie James Buescher, a part-time competitor in the Nationwide Series, scored a storybook win at the 2½ mile tri-oval after race leader Kurt Busch crashed coming off of Turn 4, eliminating the top six front-runners.
Buescher, a former ARCA Daytona winner, who was running in the 11th position when the accident occurred, maneuvered his way through the melee to capture the win.
Lasky, who works as a road mechanic for Turner Motorsports of Mooresville, N.C., is the grandson of the late Stanley “Piney” Lasky, former owner of Jennerstown Speedway, and the son of current Motordrome Speedway promoter Stan Lasky.
A district driver also fared well in the Nationwide race, as Benny Gordon of DuBois came home 12th in the contest.
Gordon was a former champion in the Hooters Pro Cup series, which competed regularly at the Jennerstown Speedway.
One item that seems to have gone unnoticed in the Nationwide race was the fact that while Danica Patrick did finish a disappointing 38th, she was not the highest-placing female competitor.
That honor went to 19-year-old rookie driver Johanna Long of Pensacola, Fla., the youngest female to ever compete in the Nationwide Series, who was 21st.
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Pat on the back: District 6 basketball chairman T.J. Kakabar is to be commended for the scheduling for this year’s playoffs.
The district has taken great pains to try to keep boys and girls teams together. Teams have either been scheduled at the same venue or close enough that the crowds following a certain school can easily move down the road.
Also, with the price of gas skyrocketing, the actual site selections have been very reasonable and I have heard very few rumblings regarding that issue.
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On the run: After having seen several of the teams involved in this week’s basketball playoffs, some of the contests could end up looking more like track meets thanhoops classics.
The Greater Johnstown and Somerset boys will play for the District 6 AAA title on Thursday at Richland and the big floor should be conducive for both teams’ offensive escapades.
The Class AA boys semifinal between defending champion Bishop McCort and top-seeded Tyrone will feature another group of talented athletes that can be expected to keep heads swiveling as the teams get up and down the court.
Cory Isenberg
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CORY ISENBERG| Lasky part of Daytona victory
- Cory Isenberg
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CORY ISENBERG| District playoffs command spotlight
District 5 gets set to jump into the baseball and softball playoffs this week.
Class A softball opens with four games on Wednesday, all set for 4:30 p.m. -
CORY ISENBERG| Stakes rise as schedules shrink
There are fewer events on the daily high school sports schedules, but the stakes are going up for area athletes as the spring season heads into its final weeks.
In track and field, the three area conferences will hold their championship meets this week.
In Portage today, the WestPAC athletes will gather for their championships while the Laurel Highlands and Heritage meets will be on Tuesday at Somerset and United, respectively. -
CORY ISENBERG | Area athletes shine at NBC meet
The Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference track and field league-leading Bedford boys and Forest Hills girls were the big team winners at Friday’s Northern Bedford Invitational.
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CORY ISENBERG| Leechburg may join Heritage Conference
According to the Heritage Conference website, Leechburg is getting closer to joining the league in July 2014.
The Blue Devils, who are currently part of District 7, received permission in a unanimous vote from the WPIAL Board of Control to allow them to move to District 6. -
CORY ISENBERG | The Price was right in Meadville
After an outstanding 23-year coaching career at Meadville High School, former Ferndale basketball player Norm Price is stepping down as the Bulldogs boys’ basketball coach - again.
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CORY ISENBERG | Nine area basketball teams still alive in PIAA playoffs
Following the opening weekend of the PIAA basketball playoffs, nine area teams - six boys and three girls squads - remain in the march toward Hershey.
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Fourteen area teams headed to states
District basketball champions have been crowned and there are 14 area squads that move ahead into the week’s PIAA playoffs.
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CORY ISENBERG | District basketball moves into Week 2
The first week of the district basketball playoffs was filled with excitement and its share of surprises in District 6.
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CORY ISENBERG | District basketball playoffs set to tip
With the conference championships in our rear-view mirrors, the district basketball playoffs in 5 and 6 get underway this week.
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CORY ISENBERG| No love lost in hoops rivalries
Valentine’s Day is this Thursday. I received my gift last month when my sweetheart bought me new front tires for my car so I can get around on the area roads to cover sports events.
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CORY ISENBERG| District playoffs command spotlight
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