High School Boys Basketball:
Pitman Looks To Restart Winning Tradition

Saturday, December 11, 1999

By Boog Williams
SJSports Staff Writer

The Pitman Panthers Boys Basketball team is coached by Mr. Craig Harper. This is the start of the 9th season for Coach Harper who has a 123-86 lifetime record. Pete Byers, Gene Reid and Bryan Smart will assist Coach Harper.

The Panthers, colors black and orange, lost three players to graduation, but will have 5 returning. They are Sophomore Steve Branosky 6'2", Senior "Chuck" Lang 5'10", Junior Frank Redrow 6'2", Sophomore Ron Redrow 6'1" and Junior Cale Shoemaker 6'3". Also on varsity are Sophomore Sean Cunningham 6'5", Senior Frank Snyder 6'0", Sophomore Evan Stuart 5'10", Senior Andy Whitley 6'0", and Junior Rich Wisneiwski 5'7".

Last year the Panthers were 9-15 and hope to rebound this year. Coach Harper believes the teams to beat in the Tri-County Classic Division are Glassboro and Gloucester.

A Special Event for the Pitman program is the "Tournament of Peace" played on December 28th and 29th. The lineup for the tournament is:
Tuesday, December 28th at 6pm Lenape plays Holy Spirit, at 8pm Triton plays Pitman.
Wednesday, December 29th, the consolation game will be at 6pm followed by the Championship at 8pm.

A little recent history of the Panthers basketball program: New Jersey Group 1 State Champions in 1997 and 1998, South Jersey Champions in 1997 and 1998, South Jersey Finalist in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Some players that have moved on to the College ranks are Joe and Jon Crispin, both at Penn State University, and Ron Myers at the College of New Jersey.

Photos by Boog Williams