Central Catholic High School Athletic Program offers students an opportunity to show off their talents while participating in competitive environments that promote pride, teamwork, and dedication. Varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen competitions are available through this program.
Sophomore guard Lucas Mushrush hit an impressive 3-point shot while classmate Jahrel Vigo drove for an easy score in transition.
Coach Ericka Haney
Central Catholic High School Boys Basketball program provides an interscholastic opportunity for students to develop their basketball skills through WPIAL and PIAA league competitions, playoffs, and off-season summer leagues. Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman levels of competition are available; preseason weight training/conditioning programs, as well as rigorous practice schedules, round out its curriculum. Guided by St. John Baptist de La Salle educational principles and committed to cultivating leaders rooted in integrity, respect, service, and peace, this team also features weight training/conditioning programs as part of its curriculum.
Ericka Haney enjoyed an exceptional career at Toledo Central Catholic High School, being named Metro City Player of the Year and twice earning first-team all-state recognition. Subsequently, she went on to play under Muffet McGraw on Notre Dame’s 2001 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship team and set numerous school records for points and rebounds during her collegiate career. Now inducted into the Ohio Girls’ Basketball Hall of Fame 2020, as well as recently back as head girls’ coach, she continues transforming players and schools today!
Haney is known not only for her success on the basketball court but also for being an all-around athlete who excels at multiple sports. She was state champion in track and field as well as volleyball, earned first-team all-American status in a way, and even competed at an Olympic level for both 400 and 800-meter events.
Haney may soon leave her position as coach after she was removed from this year’s state tournament due to multiple recruiting violations within the team’s program. According to reports, Haney is being pressured into leaving and being replaced with another coach.
Haney could not be reached via phone, and emails sent to her school email address bounced back as undeliverable. Attempts at getting her via telephone were futile. Although Haney has yet to address the situation publicly, sources tell WTOL 11 school officials have instructed her to remain quiet about it. A message was left for one school official, but no response was forthcoming – although hopefully soon enough, the Raiders hope to find someone, a new coach!
Coach Guy DiBacco
Central Catholic High School sports program is proud to offer 27 Varsity sports governed by Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Merrimack Valley Conference competitions, where our student-athletes often win State, Sectional, or Conference Championships and represent our Raider community with pride.
Corri Stanley, an outstanding player from Central Catholic who served on their coaching staff for 12 years and led them to two Three Rivers Athletic Conference championships and five district tournament appearances, has been appointed head coach for girls’ basketball at Central Catholic this season. On Monday, she was officially honored as head coach.
Catholic Central has shown it can overcome opponents through both 3-point shooting and aggressive defense, as evidenced by their 72-34 win against Potsdam (Section X champion). Catholic Central now advances to next Saturday’s Class B state semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena.
Mark Dunham may not have lived long in New Hampshire, but his time spent coaching Central Catholic has given him an in-depth appreciation for its program. Growing up here and playing at Pinkerton Academy was influential to his development as a coach at Central Catholic, and his time on its sidelines has further cemented his convictions that Central Catholic is among the premier programs in New Hampshire.
Coach Pyne has had great success coaching eleven All-Americans during his eight-year coaching tenure: Myles Wade ’07 from the U.S. Army Game; Alex Balducci from 2012 (U.S. Army All-American Game); Connor Humphreys ’14 (U.S. Army All-American Bowl); and Blake Brandel ’15 from Polynesian All-American Game). In addition to this impressive accomplishment as a coach, Coach Pyne is well known in Portland, having hosted the Oregonian All-American Game each year since 2010. Additionally, he serves as head coach of the Portland Elite summer league, which hosts some of Portland’s finest college-prep talent.
Cole Certa
Central Catholic’s boys’ team has enjoyed remarkable success over recent seasons, reaching the WPIAL Semi-Finals twice in three seasons and qualifying for the PIAA State Tournament. This noteworthy accomplishment can be credited to their dedication and commitment, both on and off the court. Central Catholic athletic programs offer students an opportunity to develop into well-rounded men of faith, scholarship, and service; their successes extend well beyond the campus walls to local showcase events and holiday tournaments where student-athletes often shine brightly.
The team has traveled widely to compete in high-profile out-of-state tournaments like Elite 80 and Lehigh Valley Classic, forging strong relationships with their coaches and bonding well with teammates, winning several awards, including the 2018 WPIAL Class A championship, as well as participating in the Nike Tournament of Champions San Antonio.
Cole Certa stands out not only because of his incredible shooting ability but also due to his remarkable versatility; he can play both guard positions. The 6’5 combo guard boasts quick release of the arc and an excellent touch around the basket; his immediate release of the angle allows him to hit deep or mid-range shots seamlessly while creating his image off the glass using spin moves.
He has a fierce competitive spirit that pushes him to get the most out of his abilities. He possesses an in-depth knowledge of the game and strives to perfect his skills every day in practice sessions at his gym, working tirelessly from morning to night.
Certa has made significant strides since his freshman season and represents an attractive prospect for Illinois. Though not possessing the size or strength needed to become a dominant scoring presence in the Big Ten, Certa could serve as an indispensable role player on an undersized Illini team. He boasts good court vision and perimeter shooting prowess – however, in order to become genuinely effective, he needs to focus on honing his inside game and getting stronger.
Conor Gemmill
Central Catholic High School currently provides 27 varsity sports that compete under the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and Merrimack Valley Conference rules, offering student-athletes an experience rich with tradition, excellence, and Catholic ideals of the school. Athletes are encouraged to excel academically, socially, and physically as they proudly represent Central Catholic as Raiders.
Success on the court for the CCHS Boys’ Basketball program rests upon a team effort involving committed coaching staff members, a supportive administration, generous alumni and parents, regular competition in showcase events and holiday tournaments, state tournament appearances, as well as state tournament preparation. We aim to prepare each of our players for more significant challenges ahead in life and competition.
CCC’s defense has been the cornerstone of their season, and it truly shone through Saturday in their NYSPHSAA Class B state semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena. CCC routed Section X’s Potsdam 72-34 in an exciting game featuring exceptional play at both ends.
Catholic Central executed an outstanding first-half performance against Potsdam by sinking nine 3-pointers and forcing 19 turnovers, leading to an overwhelming lead for themselves over their opponent. Anytime any player from Potsdam attempted to touch the ball; they were met with either an aggressive defense or with knocked-away attempts from Catholic Central; their ability seemed more like 3-on-2 than 5-on-4 play!
Catholic Central’s offense was distributed, scoring points from multiple players outside its starting five. Darien Moore and Sei’Mir Roberson excelled in the backcourt, while Nick Riley hit some massive threes early to help Catholic Central gain an overwhelming lead.
The Crusaders are eager to take on their next challenge: winning a state title for the first time in school history. Next Saturday at 9 a.m. at Cool Insuring Arena, they will play Southampton of Long Island of Section XI; both teams have shown plenty of poise throughout their seasons, but only one will face Ichabod Crane (Section II) in the final.
