1984: The Arrival Of Coach P
Future all time wins leader Joe Pangrazio arrived at East Canton in the fall of 1983. He inherited a talented team led by senior All-Ohioan Tony Moldovan and senior point guard Tom Crank. This combination produced immediate results, as the Hornets would post a 17-3 regular season and win the first Senate League title since the ’71 team. Coach Pangrazio’s first edition of the Hornets would end the season ranked ninth in the state. They were ranked #1 on January 10th, an East Canton first. Tony Moldovan led the offense by averaging a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. Tom Crank set single season records for assists (215) and steals (84) that still stand today. Tom also graduated as the career leader in those two categories.
Coach Pangrazio subjected his players to twice a day practices as his August hiring had left little time for summer workouts. Moldovan and Crank, along with Lonnie Horton, Rich Tharp, and Don Shimek took to his running style of play very quickly. The Hornets got out of the gate well, losing only a road game to Sebring during the season’s first half. The second half of the season brought similar results, with only a one point loss to Claymont and a four point loss to Minerva blemishing the record.
East Canton clinched the Senate League title on the road at Lake late in the season. Tony Moldovan put an exclamation point on the evening by running a perfect back door play for a slam as time expired.
The Hornets avenged their loss to Sebring in the tournament, and faced a very talented Woodridge team in the district finals. Woodridge came in averaging nearly 90 points per game, but East Canton held them to just 54 points, winning the title 72-54.
The Hornets faced Skyvue at the Canton Field House in the regional semi-finals, falling 63-53.
Pictured above: Tom Crank
Below: Tony Moldovan
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12 comments:
This, and other great stories of East Canton basketball will be available in the upcoming 75th anniversary edition of the Hornet Hoop Guide, a complete statistical history of East Canton Basketball available for order at the completion of the season.
History Tidbit of the Day:
The current Woodridge head coach was a member of the Woodridge team that EC beat in the district final. Until Friday, I assume it was his most crushing defeat....
Do the tens of readers really enjoy these fluff-type articles? Let me know and give me some suggestions on what we here at the Hive could do better...
I'm digging the fluff. I can't get enough Hornet trivia. This is awesome!
I wouldn't call that article fluff. Many of the names of the players from that team are successful. Great models for the youth of the program to be influenced by. Plus I was at those games and the excitement of that team was quite an experience.
I remember getting to go the with my friend as his older played on the team and his parents were able to take us. I remember big T MO jamming it at the buzzer. It was an intense game - you had to understand the make up of the team to understand how physical every game BECAME as teams tried to match the physical play of that EC team. Wish Tom Crank could have shot with a 3 point line - I think he would have earned many other records as well.
Walter Sobchak
I would love to be able to read the deleted comments.Is there an archive somewhere we could view them? Also , more photos would be cool,either present or from days gone by.
P.S. Speaking of photos ,I may be able to get a photo of the whiteout to you,as soon as i get it
Many memories from watching this team (for the record I was in 7th grade):
- Crank's smooth top of the key jumper that was almost as smooth as his wraparound behind-the-back dribble
- Moldovan and Ray Flannigan working the "high-low" interior passing for layup after layup.
- Rich Tharp "high stepping" as he dribbled on a fast break.
- Coach P's hair (yes, he had some)
- The size, strength amd agreession that Horton, Shimek and Mark Wardle played with...These guys were HUGE
This town was on it's ear back then...Just like now. Thanks for stroll Matt....keep up the fine work.
I believe the AD is Joe Bogdan.....Joe Bogden is his alias....
I would like to thank everyone for remembering our team from 84. It was a very special time to play and to keep the Tradition of East Canton Basketball going. The one wish I would have currently is to see more Alumni at the games. I have been a strong supporter of this program from a 19 year old Junior High coach, to a Assistant to Coach P, to a Youth Coach currently. I see Alumni that have been comming since I played, and It is allways great to see everone getting behind the current team. This Team can keep the Tradition going and have a Chance to make this year Very Special. Everytime I go to the games, I watch pre-game warm-ups and want to put on #40 and get after it. Good Luck Men.
Thanks.
Tony Moldovan
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