`free' Meter Time Runs Out For Motorists 
Unlike The Past, Cars Parked At Unplugged 
Meters Between 3 P.m. And 6 P.m., Sundays Excepted, 
Likely Will Be Ticketed Now That The Police 
Department Has Additional 
Manpower

By Dave Konopki
 Friday, January 27, 1995 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





Although he isn't Bishop O'Reilly's leading scorer, Ted Babowicz's
blue-collar style of play makes him one of the Queensmen's most vaulable
players. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His value won't be found in any boxscore. His worth can't be measured by
statistics. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In fact, some of his greatest accomplishments on the basketball court have
gone virtually unnoticed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And Ted Babowicz has never complained. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 You won't find the name of the Bishop O'Reilly senior among the scoring
leaders of the Wyoming Valley Conference. But Babowicz is a major reason the
Queensmen are one of the best high school basketball teams in Northeastern
Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Without Teddy we're not nearly as good," said O'Reilly head coach Abe
Simon, whose Queensmen are the top team in the WVC Division III with an
overall record of 16-2. "He does so many things well on this team. He can
dribble, pass, rebound and play outstanding defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Ted Babowicz has been an outstanding player for us this season." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Babowicz is your typical blue-collar player. He plays in the shadow of the
spotlight, punching his time clock at practices and games with the same
anonymity of a steelworker at the local mill. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The lack of attention hasn't dampened his intensity or desire to win. In
fact, the 18-year-old has found a way to keep his sense of humor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Sometimes I have to laugh," said Babowicz. "There was a game this year
(against Wyoming Area) when I had seven assists, six rebounds, five steals and
I played good on defense. But I didn't score in the game and the next day at
school someone who had seen the boxscore asked me if I even played in the
game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I didn't know what to say at first, but I guess it's kind of funny." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This could have been a season when Babowicz placed his name alongside the
scoring leaders of the WVC. As a junior, the son of Barb and George Worden
averaged nearly eight points per game last season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But early in the season Simon approached Babowicz, asking him to accept a
new role on the team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I was walking out of the locker room after I scored 16 points in our first
game of the year against Scranton Prep," explained Babowicz. "Coach Simon came
up to me and we talked about my role on the team. We have a lot of guys on the
team who can score, and he told me our team would be a lot better if I
concentrated on doing other things besides scoring. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That's fine with me. I really don't care about getting all the attention.
I just want our team to win." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The O'Reilly coach says Babowicz's statements are more than just words. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Ted is a great kid. He's done everything I've asked him to do," said
Simon. "He's never complained. He'll do whatever it takes for us to win, and
that's all he wants -- for our team to win. He makes everyone around him a
better basketball player." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Babowicz, one of the best defenders in the conference, plays the game with
a nearly unparalleled emotion. But there was a time when the 5-foot-8 senior
guard had to learn to control his emotions on the court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "When I first came to O'Reilly, I think my emotions got the better of me,"
Babowicz said. "I would try to do things I couldn't do or shouldn't even try
to do. But the coaches and some players helped me realize that when you calm
down a little, it will help you in a strong way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I still play with a lot of emotion. But now it's controlled emotion and I
use it to fire up my teammates." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Simon feels he almost has a coach on the floor when Babowicz takes the
court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He studies the game and he knows the game very well," said the Queensmen
coach. "That's one of the things that helps make him a better player. He'll
find a weakness in an opposing team's offense and he'll exploit it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think that somewhere down the line, Ted might end up being a very good
basketball coach." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The O'Reilly coach says he's placed a lot of responsibility in the strong
hands of Babowicz. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have a lot of faith in Teddy," said Simon. "Almost every offense we run
goes through him and he's our leader on defense. We felt that if Ted would to
take control of our games this season and set the tone, defensively, we'd be a
much better basketball team. And that's exactly what's happened." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Babowicz doesn't talk about personal goals this season. And he'll only
measure his success by his team's wins and losses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't care about what kind of numbers I have," said Babowicz, who hopes
to continue playing in college. "All I want is for our team to win our
division and to win a district championship. As long as we're winning, that's
all that matters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "And I'm going to do whatever I can to help our team win." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Working Class Hero Story