Texas Toast

BERNADINE FRANK, 70, of West Hartford Street, Ashley, died Friday

The busiest week in Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball starts Tuesday with 30 games in five days.
And while the week will likely juggle the standings &ndash; especially in a hotly contested Division II hunt &ndash; it won&rsquo;t solve the first-half championship.
Holy Redeemer, the defending champion and 0-1 in the division, could regain its footing with victories against contenders Wyoming Area (1-0) Tuesday and Dallas (1-0) on Saturday. But then the Royals run into a major roadblock the following week &ndash; crossover games with Division I.
Next week, Redeemer plays the two best teams in Division I &ndash; Crestwood and Hazleton Area &ndash; and both games are on the road. Dallas has a tough Pittston Area team, while Wyoming Area has Hazleton Area. 
Coughlin (1-0) appears to have the least strenuous crossovers &ndash; Tunkhannock and Wyoming Valley West.
The crossover games (Divisions I and II cross over and Divisions III and IV cross over) add a new and much-needed dimension to high school basketball. District 2&rsquo;s decision to hold an open tournament watered down the importance of the regular season the past few years. The crossover contests now make the regular season more interesting.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Tunkhannock will be making up two exhibition games postponed in mid-December. The Tigers will travel to Montrose on Jan. 17 and host Abington Heights on Jan. 19.
Also, Dallas and Holy Redeemer have switched home games. Thursday&rsquo;s game will be Dallas&rsquo; home contest and be played at Misericordia University as part of a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser. The Jan. 22 game will be played at Holy Redeemer.
JUST THE FAX (NUMBER)
Apparently, there is still some confusion to which number boxscores should be faxed.
The Times Leader sports fax number is 831-7319. It&rsquo;s the only fax number that should be used.
Please, tell your coach, tell your scorekeeper, tell your athletic director, tell the person sitting next to you at the game. The more people who know, the better chance the message gets across. 
FROM THE ARCHIVES
There have been some memorable moments &ndash; and some not so memorable moments &ndash; in local boys basketball throughout the years. Some of them will be featured each week.
First up, the three PIAA boys state championship games played in the area.
The first was 1946, when District 2&rsquo;s champion Fell Township defeated District 5&rsquo;s Stoneycreek Township 37-34 for the Class 2A title at the 109th Field Artillery Armory &ndash; aka the Kingston Armory.
The 1960 and 1964 Class 2A championship games were played at the Scranton CYC. Wampum of District 7 defeated District 12&rsquo;s Montrose 57-51 in 1960, and Montrose defeated District 10&rsquo;s Mercer 73-65 in 1964.
District 12 is now Philadelphia, while District 12 back then was essentially rural communities outside of the Scranton area.
Wampum featured Ron Allen, who played Major League Baseball briefly in 1972 for St. Louis. Allen&rsquo;s two brothers who were part of Wampum&rsquo;s 1958 state championship team were more successful in pro baseball.
Dick Allen played first base, third base and outfield for five teams &ndash; most notably the Philadelphia Phillies &ndash; from 1963-1977 and was a seven-time all-star selection.
Hank Allen was an outfielder for the Washington Senators, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox from 1966-1973.
Wampum High was eventually absorbed into two other school districts &ndash; Ellwood City and Mohawk Area.

Most Hectic Week In Wvc Boys Basketball Is Here John Erzar H.s. Basketball Notes