Pleasant Valley head boys’ basketball coach Bob Hahn, Northwestern head boys’ boss Pat Wanamaker, and Palmerton head boys’ chief Joe Egan all have their programs headed in different directions.

Through 17 games, Hahn’s team had a 9-10 record in the District 11 hunt, Wanamaker’s group had a 18-2 slate and in second place in the 4A standings, and Egan’s unit has a 7-13 record and is in a transition period.

Yet, all three head coaches share a common bond of playing at Northern Lehigh. They never played together on a team, but at some point their paths crossed along the way.

Current Lehighton head boys’ basketball coach Trevor Miller was an assistant coach under his dad, Jeff, who once was the head coach at Northern Lehigh.

All of them, though, can feel, understand, and appreciate the atmosphere and compassion of once being a Bulldog player and/or coach. It is a lasting presence that has crossed the paths of those with a similar state, and has helped shape and mold all of their current players under their tutelage.

“Pat Wanamaker was a senior when I was a freshman,” recalled Hahn. “We worked many camps together that Northern Lehigh would run. He also was an assistant coach for the team my junior and senior year. We never played on the court together in a varsity game, but did at practice and in adult summer leagues after graduating.

“Joe Egan is a few years younger than me. His brother was in eighth grade when I was a senior, and they were always attending camps, clinics, etc. that we would have at Northern Lehigh. Even though we did not play together, I knew him and his brother. I also coached against him when I was an assistant coach at Lehighton.”

Wanamaker, who played at Northern Lehigh from 2003-06, also felt fortunate to be an assistant and head coach at Northern Lehigh before his current post.

He has fond memories of being a part of a team that won 26 games his senior year, losing to Notre Dame-Green Pond in the district final and falling in overtime to Lower Moreland in the first round of states.

One common bond between Hahn and Wanamaker was their time under longtime and legendary Northern Lehigh head coach Rich Oertner.

“I played basketball every day with guys who remain my close friends to this day - Jake Waylen, Aron Duncan, Phil McEachron, Trevor Behler, and many other guys who made up that team,” reflected Wanamaker. “I was the only senior starter on that team, so with my teammates and friends returning to play another year I wanted to stay close to them and the program.

“Thanks to coach Rich Oertner, I was provided a chance to be a volunteer assistant at Northern Lehigh, sparking my love for coaching and launching my coaching career. This current year at Northwestern is my 18th year on the sidelines in some capacity as a coach. I have been coaching each year since my graduation from NL in 2007.”

Wanamaker also coached the Bulldogs for three seasons before his present gig, and those years proved to be life-changing ones.

“As thankful as I am for my time at Northern Lehigh, as a student, player, coach, and community member for all of my childhood and early stage of my adult life, I could not be more thankful for my current coaching opportunity at Northwestern,” stated Wanamaker. “Every moment spent at Northern Lehigh taught me valuable lessons that led to a chance to continue my coaching career for as long as I have been able to so far.”

While Egan played for Jeff Miller, both Hahn and Wanamaker logged their minutes under Oertner, who was revered by both.

“My senior year I won the Coaches Award at our banquet,” reflected Wanamaker. “This was the time Coach Oertner invited me to be an assistant on his staff and really made me think coaching was in my future. When I was hired at Pleasant Valle, I was the youngest coach to have ever been hired in the EPC/LVC/MVC at age 26. I owe that to the experience I accumulated from my dad, and Coach Oertner.

Hahn also has a vivid range of experiences under Oertner.

“Rich Oertner was a great coach to play for,” gushed Hahn. “He was the most committed coach I knew. We would practice all year long, and play in many leagues and tournaments throughout the offseason to be prepared for the season. I had a great team with very nice and respectful players. They were so fun and easy to get along with. The camaraderie is a great memory with all the time we spent together. We were like a family.

“Coach Oertner was never afraid to try anything strategically in a game, and was very fun to play for. My senior year we only really played five players, and we earned the name the “Iron Five” in many newspaper articles. I have many fond memories of the games Coach Oertner coached, advice he gave, and times we spent together.”

Wanamaker shared Hahn’s sentiments.

“My experience playing for Rich Oertner was a very good one,” added Wanamaker. “He and his staff, Denny Rehrig, Richie Mantz, Pete Reese, they all were amazing mentors and teachers of the game. They worked together to build the Bulldog program into what it was in the 2000s.

“Rich was very much in my opinion a “players coach” in that he supported us and allowed us to be ourselves, ultimately bringing the best out in each other. We played a lot of basketball throughout the entire year, summer leagues, summer tournaments at Cedar Beach, team camp at Albright every year, and lots of pick up hoops at the “Rosie” or Roosevelt Park any chance we got.”

Egan played under Jeff Miller, but the Palmerton boss also has a cavalcade of memories from his Bulldogs days.

“I didn’t cross paths with Pat Wanamaker or Bobby Hahn much,” remembered Egan. “They were a bit older than me, but I remember going to plenty of Northern Lehigh games as a kid to watch their teams play.

“My favorite basketball memories are centered around the relationships built and memories made by teammates over the years. Some of my best friends to this day were made through Northern Lehigh basketball. One of my favorite basketball memories was being able to share the court with my brother, Matt, my freshman and his senior year.”

For Egan, the thought of coaching someday certainly was in the backdrop.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I wanted to pursue coaching when I was in high school,” pondered Egan. “I loved the game of basketball, but I never really saw myself becoming a coach.

“During my senior year of college, my brother was coaching JV basketball at Northern Lehigh during COVID, and I had some extra time available, so I figured I would give it a shot and see if I liked it. (Former Palmerton head coach) Ken Termini gave me my first opportunity at Palmerton, and I’ve loved coaching ever since.”

Unlike the others, Miller doesn’t have any deep Northern Lehigh roots. But he does have plenty of lasting memories from his time on the bench and from some familiar faces.

“Being able to coach with my dad at Northern Lehigh was one of the best times I’ve had in coaching,” noted Miller. “We had quite a bit of success, and being able to coach with your dad for seven years is even better.

“I remember our state playoff game in 2012, which was played at Lackawanna Junior College against perennial powerhouse Abington Heights and we were led by Caleb Johnson, Josh Eden, and Lucas Pierce. We had the lead in the fourth quarter before eventually falling 62-54.

“When I go back to coach at Northern Lehigh there are so many familiar faces. Denny Rehrig keeps the clock, who was the long-time JV coach. Bryan Geist, the Athletic Director, is a great AD who always treated my dad and I with the utmost respect. Coaching there as the opposition feels a little strange, but it’s always nice to go back there because everyone treats you so well.”

All in all, their Bulldog recollections can still pack a bite in many ways.

**********

SOME THINGS ARE FREE ... Last Friday against Pine Grove, Tamaqua made 21 free throws to help gain a 69-56 Schuylkill League victory.

Cooper Ansbach led the way for the Blue Raiders with a 6-of-6 effort at the stripe.

The 21 foul shots tied Panther Valley for the most made by an area team in a game this season. The Panthers made their 21 in their first game of the season against Marian.

**********

DOUBLE TROUBLE ... Twins Jacob De La Cruz and Justin De La Cruz have both had similar successful endings to Marian games this season.

When the Colts played Blue Mountain on Jan. 11, Justin hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift his team to a 48-47 victory.

Not to be outdone by his brother, Jacob delivered a very long-range triple at the buzzer this past Friday against Lourdes, giving Marian a 72-69 win in overtime.

**********

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS ... In the Winter Sports Notebook from two weeks ago, it was noted that Panther Valley continued its streak of at least one three-pointer in 339 consecutive games.

While that figure was extended to 343 last Friday, another interesting note about the streak is worth sharing.

Nick McArdle hit a trey in what was the fifth game of the streak on Dec. 14, 2010. In this past Friday’s game, it was his younger brother Chase that hit the Panthers’ first three-ball that extended the streak. The gap between those successful shots is obviously 338 games and 5,515 days — or 14 years, one month and 10 days.

**********

NW’S OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION ... The Northwestern boys had six players score in double figures last Wednesday when they posted a 99-63 victory over host Northern Lehigh.

The last time the Tigers reached at least 90 points in a game was Dec. 9, 2000 when they registered 92 against Panther Valley.

Since 1988-89, there have 12 instances that an area team has reached at least 100 points in a game. Marian has done it five times, including the highest total over that time span with 111 on Feb. 17, 1994. The most recent time a TN team reached the century mark was Jan. 22, 2019 when Panther Valley put up 101 against Blue Mountain.