MCA b-ball bashed

By Mark Gilger (Staff Writer mark_g@newsitem.com)

Published: February 17, 2012

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MOUNT CARMEL - A disgruntled parent heavily criticized the varsity boys' basketball program at Mount Carmel Area High School during a school board meeting Thursday night, while the veteran head coach defended his record and his ability to get his players to compete in a very tough division.

During a lengthy school board meeting, Sam Scicchitano of Oak Ridge Estates chastised basketball coach John Lazicki for not achieving the same level of success as other sports at Mount Carmel Area. "My intentions are not strewn from anger or bitterness toward anyone, but I feel the urgency to try making a difference while hoping to turn around one of our major sports programs," Scicchitano said.

He added, "This board needs to re-evaluate the direction of the team. It's at a level of embarrassment. The players lack confidence and the team tends to accept being mediocre."

Scicchitano also criticized Lazicki for pulling the team out of the annual Shamokin Knights of Columbus Christmas Tournament, in which Mount Carmel Area competed for many years.

"Most everyone was extremely hopeful for victories to finish out this season strong while seeing some improvement," he said. "Now, as another unsuccessful season comes to an end, is the best time to try and bring this from the back burner. Many are hopeful the new board of directors will show concern and do what is necessary for MCA boys' basketball to become successful, instead of just accepting it as an off-season sport."

Scicchitano's youngest son, Ben, is a sophomore on this year's team. His two other sons, Jacob and Seth, also played for Lazicki. Jacob Scicchitano has served as the eighth grade boys' basketball coach in the district for the past two years.

When contacted after the meeting, Lazicki, who has served as head coach at Mount Carmel Area for 13 years while guiding his teams to nine district playoff appearances, called Scicchitano's comments a "pack of lies and fabrications of the truth."

"He (Scicchitano) never once came to me about a concern," the coach said. "He belittles players on our own team by yelling at them and now he goes to the school board to complain and causes turmoil. We haven't made the playoffs the past two seasons, but it hasn't been for lack of effort or coaching. We didn't have a lot of experienced players and we compete in a very tough division."

Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Brian Carnuccio, who serves as the school resource officer in the district, defended Lazicki at the meeting. "He puts a lot of time in with those kids," Carnuccio said. "His heart and soul is in the program. These accusations are ridiculous."

Scicchitano spoke for about 15 minutes without much response from board members. But when he was done, Dr. Ray Kraynak accused him of berating the coach because he wanted his job.

In other business

Directors approved the 2012-13 proposed preliminary budget totaling $16,652,292.76 and will make it available for public inspection before its up for approval next month.

The board also approved a resolution limiting the local tax increase to the inflation index of 2.6 percent for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Director Michael Brinkash was appointed as the district's second alternate voting delegate to the tax collection committee.

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