Friday night’s Council Rock North/Council Rock South boys’ basketball game is an SOL Featured Game, sponsored by the CR North Booster Club. Check back for photos and a game story.
By Mary Jane Souder
There’s nothing quite like an intra-district game to get the competitive juices flowing, and Friday night’s Council Rock North-Council Rock South showdown promises to be another war between the neighboring rivals.
“Everyone knows each other on both teams,” Rock North senior Kyle McCloskey said. “It’s like a rivalry just in the name.
“Everyone from both schools comes to the game, and it’s a lot different atmosphere because everyone is actually interested in the game instead of just socializing. It’s a lot different feeling, and it’s always a lot of fun.”
Fun is something McCloskey has been having a lot of this season after a difficult season last year when the senior captain struggled with serious back pain.
“I went to the doctor because at one practice I really couldn’t move,” he said. “I had complained about it before, and when I went to the doctor, they said I had to get an MRI.
“They figured out that a bone in my lower back had been broken for over five or six years. They can’t really pinpoint what caused it, but scar tissue built up over the years, and I ended up wearing all that down, and that’s why it started to hurt.
“I wasn’t aware of it. I didn’t know until the scar tissue went away, and it eventually started happening.”
The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for McCloskey or the Indians.
“He had a real nice first half of the year for us,” coach Derek Wright said. “We had a real long win streak from the end of December to the end of January when he was playing really well, but it was one of those things that gradually was getting worse and worse, and we didn’t have a whole lot of time off to give him some rest.
“It got to a point where he had to get it checked out. The treatment he was getting wasn’t making it any better.”
McCloskey’s options weren’t especially appealing – have surgery at the end of the season or shut down for several months and play as long as he could withstand the pain. He chose the latter.
“We tried to do the best we could to limit his practice time and just play him in short stretches and maybe play him more on the perimeter so he wasn’t getting as much contact,” Wright said. “Overall, it really affected his ability to get the most out of his talent. It hurt us a little bit as a team. We depended on him a good deal last year.”
After the season, McCloskey took some time away from basketball.
“I didn’t do anything physical for 90 days so the tissue would rebuild,” he said. “I did a lot of building up my muscles in my back and abs to support my back.
“Ever since then, I’ve been good. I never was flexible until I started stretching and learned the importance of that. I think it’s really helped me. I feel probably better than I ever have in my lower back.”
McCloskey is back to banging under the boards and has been a key piece in the Indians’ strong regular season showing.
“It’s the nature of the beast with the team we have this year – we need his size down low,” Wright said. “He sacrificed a little bit in terms of where he wanted to play, but it’s no coincidence that the games he’s had double-doubles, we’ve had big wins. We really need his rebounding.”
McCloskey’s personality, according to Wright, has also been a plus.
“He’s a really nice kid, really likable,” the Indians’ coach said. “He gets along with everybody.
“The other night was a perfect example with our Senior Night. I could tell he was so focused on getting our two seniors that never play much shots. He was finding ways to try to screen for them and looking for ways to get them the ball. It really is how he is. There’s nothing phony about it.
“We get on him a little bit, especially I do, with trying to be a little more intense and focused. That’s just my personality. He’s more of a free (spirit) kind of kid, but he really is a genuinely good person. He really brings everyone together.”
As he is coming down the homestretch of his high school career, McCloskey has special memories of the time he shared on the court with his old brother Matt.
“We had played together before in summer leagues, but it wasn’t the same as playing together (in high school),” he said. “It was just really easy.
“I felt he was always looking out for me. I miss that.”
The reality that his playing days at Council Rock North are winding down is also starting to hit home for McCloskey, who has made a verbal commitment to take his talents to York College next year.
“It’s pretty said,” he said. “I played all four years, and it’s really been special.
“I’ve had a great time every year, and this is probably my favorite year out of all of them.
“At least I’m going out on a good note. I just want to get this one last regular season game in and hopefully continue to play in the playoffs.”
Before the playoffs, there’s the not-so-little matter of the Indians taking on their archrivals on Friday night.
“I’m always a little jealous that when I went to Council Rock it was one school,” Wright said. “We had our rivalries, but it was nothing like an intra-district rivalry.
“I always like to challenge the guys that before we go into any other goals for the year we have to make sure we’re the best team in the school district first. It’s pretty cool to have that challenge.
“They always play their best game against us, which is a credit to them. I’m sure it will be the same on Friday night. It’s always a fun game.”
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Just the facts:
This year’s record: Council Rock North 10-3 SOL (16-5 overall); Council Rock South 4-9 (7-13 overall)
Last year’s record: Council Rock North 21-7 (11-3 SOL National Conference champions); Council rock South 6-15 (2-12 SOL)
Last meeting: Jan. 15, 2013 – Council Rock North 54, Council Rock South 50 (CR North: Rip Engel – 20 points, Brandon Knotts – 17 points, Kyle McCloskey – 10 points; CR South: Tom Townsend – 20 points, Christian Crane – 17 points, Will Faccenda – 7 points)
Last game: Council Rock North 68, Neshaminy 30 (Rip Engel – 18 points, Chris Rowland – 14 points, Kyle McCloskey – 9 points, Ryan Baker – 8 points)
William Tennent 68, Council Rock South 51 (Christian Crane – 16 points, Will Faccenda – 11 points)
Council Rock North
#2 – Josh McWilliams (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#3 – Josh Josephs (Sr., Guard)
#10 – Rip Engel (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#12 – Matt Margolis (6-0, Soph., Guard)
#14 – Ryan Baker (6-2, Sr., Forward)
#20 – Nate Kardos (6-1, Sr., Guard)
#21 – Chris Rowland (6-1, Jr., Guard)
#22 – Brandon Knotts (5-10, Sr., Guard)
#23 – Steve Nowmos (6-3, Soph., Forward)
#34 – Quinn Johnson (6-4, Jr., Forward)
#40 – Will Desautelle (6-1, Fr., Guard)
#50 – Tyler Madison (6-6, Jr., Forward)
#32 – Kyle McCloskey (6-6, Sr., Forward)
Council Rock South
#1 – Jack Wheatly (5-5, Fr., Guard)
#2 – Dylan Shorr (5-7, Jr., Guard)
#3 – Jake Gross (5-9, Jr., Guard)
#5 – Christian Crane (5-10, Sr., Guard)
#10 – Mike Stuski (6-1, Sr., Guard)
#11 – Dan Kockott (6-0, Jr., Guard)
#13 – Will Faccenda (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#24 – Matt Stewart (6-2, Soph., Guard)
#30 – Dan Bushnik (6-3, Soph., Forward)
#32 – Tom Townsend (6-3, Jr., Forward)
#34 – Dean Blank (6-0, Jr., Forward)
#43 – Zach Bergman (5-10, Sr., Guard)
#44 – Mike Colajezzi (6-1, Soph., Forward)
#55 – Eric Gallo (6-2, Jr., Forward)
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