The Win Palmer Memorial Classic was a two-day basketball event held Feb. 1-2 at Sewickley Academy.
It was held to pay tribute to Palmer, Sewickley Academy’s former beloved coach and director of athletics.
“The weekend went wonderfully,” Sewickley athletic director Mike Scerbo said. “We had 11 games over two days including Sewickley Academy’s JV boys, varsity boys and varsity girls.
“The marquee matchup had Nazareth Prep, one of the top (Class) A schools, facing our Sewickley Academy boys team, which is one of the top 2A schools. The game came down to the wire with Naz Prep stealing a one-point win.”
The high-flying Panthers — winners of their previous six games and 15 of 16 — lost a slow-paced 26-25 decision to Nazareth Prep to go to 15-3 overall.
Sewickley’s leading scorer was freshman forward Rob Southall with eight points.
The Panthers, at 10-0, led second-place Northgate (7-1) in Section 2-2A with two games to play.
Nazareth Prep also edged the Panthers, 42-40, in their 2024-25 season opener. Sewickley then ran off nine wins in a row.
“They have been tough games. Both sides have played hard and competed,” coach Mike Iuzzolino said. “These games prepare you for playoff basketball. We have five guys that have never played in a playoff game and five that have played in one playoff game in three years.
“So to have games like this where every possession matters is great for our team. I don’t think people understand how important that experience is.”
The Panthers’ roster is made up of three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and five freshmen.
In an earlier classic contest, Sewickley Academy’s short-handed girls team lost to Beaver Falls, 74-9, to drop to 4-13 on the year. Molly Cephus, a freshman guard, led the Panthers with eight points.
Also, Eden Christian Academy split decisions with Ellwood City. Eden’s boys team defeated the Wolverines, 62-50, and the girls team lost a 65-13 verdict.
Sophomore guard Mason Dean racked up 33 points for Eden, and senior forward James Wilkin chipped in with 11. Sophomore forward Leah Wallace was the girls’ leading scorer.
Six boys and four girls teams competed Feb. 2 at Sewickley Academy.
Locally, Harrison Kerley, a freshman guard, poured in 28 points to spark Quaker Valley’s boys team to a 74-54 victory against Aquinas Academy.
Two other backcourt players, freshman Nic Cohen and junior Sam Chapman, added 15 apiece for the Quakers.
The QV girls also beat Lincoln Park, 48-35, behind junior G/F Mimi Thiero’s game-high 25 points. Thiero was complemented by freshman guard Keira Watson, who scored 10 points.
The two-day event was conducted by Run the Show Sports, which is operated by Allen Deep, a long-time friend of Palmer.
“It was a wonderful tribute Win,” Scerbo said. “To have many high-level high school players, both boys and girls, competing on a court named after him was a special way to honor his legacy here at Sewickley Academy.”
Jill Capozzi is in her third year as the Sewickley girls coach. She guided the team one season during Palmer’s tenure.
“Win was loved by all and was an inspiration to so many of us who coached under his leadership,” Capozzi said last year. “The gym dedication in his name is an indication of Win’s legacy and the impact he left on the Sewickley Academy community.
“Those that have the privilege of playing on his basketball court will be reminded of the integrity that was synonymous with the name Win Palmer.”
Palmer coached three sports — basketball, golf and softball — in his 22-year tenure at Sewickley Academy and won 12 WPIAL championships. Under his direction, the Panthers amassed 16 PIAA titles, 55 WPIAL championships, 108 section crowns and 15 Trib Total Media/MSA Sports Cups.
Palmer was one of the winningest coaches in WPIAL boys basketball history and reached double digits in leading his boys golf team to WPIAL championships.
He was named Pennsylvania Basketball Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2010 and 2017. His career coaching record was 704-317.
“I think it is tremendous that they honor Win with an annual classic,” said Iuzzolino, the Panthers’ first-year boys floor boss. “He had a great impact on a lot of young men, especially at Sewickley Academy.”
Spirit Day was celebrated last year at Sewickley Academy on Jan. 20, 2024, when the basketball court in Means Alumni Gymnasium and Events Center was dedicated and named for Palmer, who died Aug. 31, 2023, at Allegheny General Hospital at age 65 from cardiovascular complications.
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A scholarship fund has been established in his name, the Win Palmer Excellence Fund, which is used for tuition support.
In other classic results Feb. 2, the Avonworth boys socked Plum, 65-38, behind Rowan Carmichael’s 36 points, and Woodland Hills edged Burrell, 57-51, in overtime. Calvin Barksdale netted 15 points for the Wolverines.
Avonworth’s girls team also defeated Aliquippa, 39-29, as Greta O’Brien paced the Antelopes with 14 points.