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When Sports Were Played: Abel’s big game not enough for IC against Blue Devils

4 min read

For today’s “When Sports Were Played,” we revisit a basketball section tiebreaker game from Feb. 18, 1978. Immaculate Conception’s John Abel tallied what was then a WPIAL postseason record 49 points, but the Comets lost the game to Burgettstown.

HEIDELBERG – John Abel saved the best for last, and Harry Pappas caught the eye of college scouts in attendance, but Burgettstown won a basketball game and a date in the WPIAL playoffs.

The Blue Devils advanced to the first round of the playoffs Saturday with an 83-75 victory over Immaculate Conception in a classic run-and-shoot thriller.

But it was the one-on-one battle between Abel, who courageously carried IC’s playoff bid on his thin but strong back, and the brilliant all-around game by Pappas that provided most of the action at the Chartiers Valley gym.

Abel finished with a career-high 49 points on 22 field goals and five free throws, while Pappas booked 29 points and added 11 assists.

“In my book, John is the greatest high school player I ever saw,” commented IC Coach Phil Watson. “My game plan was to go to John, and he didn’t let me down. There are not many people who can watch him man-for-man.”

Pappas, who was assigned to guard Abel for most of the game, added similar words of praise for the Comets senior.

“Coach (Chal) Mahoney told me to just stay on his right and make him drive to the left,” Pappas explained. “We figured we would be able to move another player over to the lane and draw a charging foul against him. But he drove to his left on us and still scored. He’s tough, and there’s nothing fancy about him. He just puts the ball in the hoop.”

“The first half was the best shooting game I’ve ever had,” the senior guard continued. “We were really confident going into the game that we could beat IC. They say if you stop Abel, you stop IC, and that may be true but if you stop me from scoring, we have other guys who can score points. We showed that in the second half.”

Abel and Pappas each scored 12 points apiece in the first quarter, as both teams started on a torrid pace. The Devils grabbed a 22-15 lead by virtue of six turnovers in the last four minutes of the period.

The senior guards kept exchanging baskets in the second quarter, but Burgettstown forged in front by nine at 34-25. IC fought back to close the gap to 34-33 with 1:46 left, but was stunned by five quick Burgettstown points to trail 39-33 at halftime.

The Comets did creep to within one point again, 39-38, early in the third quarter, but was never able to gain the lead. Abel continued his streak shooting, scoring 20 of his team’s final 24 points, but the inability to stop the Devils Tom Schlinski from grabbing two key offensive rebounds and turning them into field goals in the late stage of the fourth quarter sealing IC’s fate.

“Our big guys came through offensively, finally,” said a smiling Mahoney. “That was certainly a key to our victory, but another thing I thought was important was holding (IC’s Ray) Natili to just seven points. You’ve got to concede Abel his points, although he certainly scored more than I thought he would. But our man-to-man held the other IC players down in their scoring.”

“We were hurt on the boards, no question about it,” said Watson. “The inexperience of our big guys hurt our rebounding. (Mike) Robinson had 10 rebounds in the first half and eight points on offensive rebounds for them, and Schlinski beat us twice on missed free-throws. If we rebound a little better, we might win the game.”

Ron Froats, despite being saddled with four personal fouls, finished with 18 points. Robinson added 14 and Schlinski 10 to complement Pappas’ 29.

Abel was the only Comet to finish in double figures.

“I think this was my best game of my high school career, and I’m glad it came now because I guess this was my last game at IC,” Abel said quietly. “But the 49 points don’t really matter. I just wish we would’ve won.”

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